Great Satan, Inc.

Arizona State Rifle and Pistol Association (ASRPA) held their annual meeting and dinner Saturday, May 7th, in Phoenix and featured Mr. Otis McDonald, of McDonald v. Chicago Supreme Court case fame, as the keynote speaker. ASRPA is the Arizona affiliate of the NRA, (essentially the Arizona arm of NRA) overseeing competitive shooting, training of juniors, and other firearms related issues in Arizona since 1909.

Motivational Speaker Beth Terry was an exemplary emcee for the evening, along with ASRPA President, Noble Hathaway. Noble’s lovely daughters, Ashley, Andrea, and Payne graciously assisted with the event and the fundraising raffles that were held throughout the evening.

Sandy Froman presents NRA 100 Years of Excellence Award

During the dinner, past NRA President Sandy Froman formally presented ASRPA with the 100 Years of Excellence award from the NRA. Mr. Hathaway was joined on stage by several past presidents of ASRPA to receive the award from Ms. Froman.

One of a kind Colt Single Action Army Pistol.

ASPRA President Noble Hathaway thanked the state legislators in attendance at the dinner for their part in making the Colt Single Action Army pattern pistol the official State Firearm of Arizona. He also apologized for the minor controversy they endured, and explained that the intent of the state firearm was only to help celebrate Arizona’s statehood Centennial in 2012.

Colt SAA Presentation to the lucky raffle winner by Rep. Judy Burges, Gary Christiansen, Rep. Carl Seel, Rep. Steve Court, Rep. Jerry Weiers, and Todd Rathner.

The highlight of the evening was Mr. Otis McDonald’s very heartfelt and humble explanation of his journey to the Supreme Court. His story is one of a man who tried to make a positive difference in his neighborhood. He worked to get kids off the street and away from crime, but as his neighborhood declined and some of neighborhood kids turned to crime, Chicago banned handgun ownership. The Chicago ban left law-abiding citizens defenseless and vulnerable to criminals who defied the gun bans and terrorized the innocent. Mr. McDonald explained how he wasn’t trying to change the world, he was just standing up for what he felt was right.

I once heard Ken Blackwell say something to the effect that the Declaration of Independence states, ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident’ as the Founders way of saying, ‘Any knucklehead should be able to understand this.’

Unfortunately, the knuckleheads in Chicago did not understand these truths. In passing the handgun ban in 1982, Chicago enabled the jewelry theft ring run by Chicago Police chief of detectives William Hanhardt, and the mob, ensuring the safety of the thieves. Hanhardt’s jewelry ring stole millions in the 1980s and 1990s, unopposed by their disarmed victims. The gun ban should have been named the Occupational Safety for Criminals Gun Ban. Mr. McDonald’s case was supported by an amicus curiae brief signed by 58 senators and 251 representatives, with more members of Congress signing than any amicus curiae brief in history.

Otis McDonald at the 102nd Annual ASRPA Dinner

He appeared surprised that people in a state with a Brady Campaign score of Zero would be so grateful for his efforts, but we understand how much he has done for securing our right to bear arms. The Supreme Court’s ruling will have a positive affect on gun laws and legislation for decades. Mr. McDonald appears to still be processing the full significance of his victory at the Supreme Court, where the court ruled that the Second Amendment protects the right of the individual to keep and bear arms.

Mr. McDonald acknowledged that this was just the beginning in the battle to restore even the most basic gun rights in the Chicago area, but he emphasized the role of the individual in determining the future. Throughout his talk, he spoke highly of his lawyer Alan Gura and of Alan Gottlieb, both of the Second Amendment Foundation and the enduring support of the Illinois State Rifle Association.

Otis McDonald Master Sponsors

It is amazing that ASRPA could persuade Mr. McDonald to speak to our group, and it was an honor for everyone in attendance to hear his story. It is rare to hear a victorious story of a hard fought battle to win such an important case. A case that signifies the first major national gun rights case the Supreme Court has heard since 1939’s United States v. Miller. Mr. McDonald’s message was clear – ordinary people can accomplish the extraordinary, just by following through on their beliefs and trying to make their part of the world a better place.

Otis McDonald Master Donor Medal – 102nd Annual Meeting of ASRPA 2011

Visit the ASRPA website to see more photos from the banquet, check out current shooting events, and to join ASRPA today.

I would also like to express my appreciation to the many members of AZCDL and the Arizona Game and Fish Department for their tireless support of the shooting sports in Arizona.

[Read more →]

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) appears to be attempting to bypass the Gun Control Act, in turn, creating a national firearms registry.

On December 20th, 2010, Acting Director of ATF, Ken Melson, announced Demand Letters for Multiple Sales of Specific Long Guns in Four Border States. This action would require Federal Licensed Firearms dealers in California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas report purchaser information when two, or more, of certain long guns are purchased (semi-auto rifles) within five days. These reports would include the purchaser’s personal identifying information, as well as specific information on the rifles.

ATF outlined their intent with these three points:

1. The reporting requirement will apply only to FFLs doing business in Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California, which are major source states for crime guns seized in Mexico and traced to federal firearms licensees.

2. The reporting requirement applies only to those rifles having all of the following characteristics:

• A semi-automatic action;
• A caliber greater than .22; and
• The ability to accept a detachable magazine.

3. We propose to implement this initiative as a pilot project for a period of one year.

While many take exception to the collection of this information, which is illegal under 18 USC §926(a), almost unnoticed is that this is a “pilot program” that would lay the groundwork for a nationwide gun registry.

The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) notes the Federal Register Notice does not limit the geographic scope of the reporting requirement.

Acting Director Melson noted in his 12/20 webcast that this is “a pilot project”.

The definition of a Pilot Program, courtesy of the National Institute of Standards and Technology:

The accepted definition of ‘pilot program’ means a limited roll out of a new system in order to test it under real world conditions, prior to use by an entire organization.

Almost all gun registries in history have turned into lists used by law enforcement to go door-to-door, disarming law abiding citizens by confiscating private property and a citizen’s primary means of self-defense. These confiscations were usually done under the guise of crime fighting measures, but in reality, resulted in oppressive control of law abiding citizens.

The ATF is seeking approval from the Office of Management and Budget to ignore the laws of the United States, for the greater good. Yes, a Federal Agency is asking another Federal Agency for permission to violate U.S. law and ignore Congress.

I doubt anybody would disagree with the stated goals of the ATF request, but there are ways to disrupt criminal smuggling enterprises without creating data files of law abiding citizens and burdening small businesses. Law enforcement operations that disrupt smuggling routes across our border with Mexico would surely accomplish more than additional paperwork.

NSSF recommends that you voice your concern by doing the following:

1. Call the Office of Management and Budget, Office of Information and Regulation Affairs, Department of Justice, Desk Officer at (202) 395-6466.

2. E-mail Barbara A. Terrell, ATF, Firearms Industry Programs Branch at Barbara.Terrell@atf.gov

3. Call your Senators and Representative: United States Capitol Switchboard: 202-224-3121

[Read more →]

Almost immediately after they were put up, the City of Phoenix has stripped down 50 “Guns Save Lives” illuminated bus-stop signs that had been placed at around the the Phoenix area. These signs were put up by TrainMeAZ, and were placed in conjunction with the “Guns Save Lives” billboards that began appearing around town just a couple of weeks ago.

AZ Central reports

Phoenix Public Transit Department spokeswoman Marie Chapple said the city’s policy doesn’t allow public-service announcements.

They also note that officials from the City of Phoenix took a look at the signs after receiving a “comment” about them.

Train Me, Arizona is an LLC, not a non-profit corporation. Their mission is to see everyone in Arizona who owns and/or uses firearms to be well trained and safe. Their website offers links to training, gun stores and both publicly and privately owned shooting ranges.

Like Alan Korwin, we are outraged that bureaucrats who despise the second amendment, have no trouble rejecting the first amendment too.

Update 10/22/2010 – Please take a moment to respectfully express your opposition to the removal of the Guns Save Lives signs by emailing or calling Phoenix City Council members. They need to know that this arbitrary act is inexcusable in a free society.

PHOENIX CITY COUNCIL:
Thelda Williams — council.district.1@phoenix.gov 602-262-7444
Peggy Neely — council.district.2@phoenix.gov        602-262-7445
Bill Gates — council.district.3@phoenix.gov               602-262-7441
Tom Simplot — council.district.4@phoenix.gov        602-262-7447
Claude Mattox — council.district.5@phoenix.gov    602-262-7446
Sal DiCiccio — council.district.6@phoenix.gov          602-262-7491
Michael Nowakowski — council.district.7@phoenix.gov 602-262-7492
Michael Johnson — council.district.8@phoenix.gov 602-262-7493

[Read more →]