Great Satan, Inc.

NRA Executive Vice-President, Wayne LaPierre, was at Scottsdale Gun Club today to announce NRA’s endorsement of Congressman Jeff Flake for U.S. Senate.  Representative Flake is running for retiring Arizona Senator Jon Kyl’s seat.

NRA’s endorsement is vital in a pro-gun state like Arizona.

Jeff Flake’s Democrat opponent, Richard Carmona, was personally recruited by President Obama to run for Jon Kyl’s senate seat.  Carmona supports gun control and does not view the Second Amendment as an individual right, in spite of two Supreme Court rulings to the contrary, and his own defensive gun use:

We want to make sure that anybody who owns a weapon legally has the appropriate training, education, and that we can be assured that society is safe with a person who owns a weapon.  We do the same thing for automobiles or any other technology, if you will, that the average citizen gets to use.  We ensure that they can use it safely, because we have to look at the greater good of society. – Richard Carmona to Democracy Now, Jan 11, 2011

Would Richard Carmona’s “greater good of society” approach lead to encroachments on rights?  Absolutely!

An aristocratic, megalomaniac mindset convinces the holder that he is the final arbiter of determining whether an “average citizen” gets to exercise a fundamental right.  Mr. Carmona doesn’t seem to understand the fundamental basis of  our nation – a government of the people, by the people, for the people.  We do not select politicians to run our lives for us or determine if we are worthy enough to protect ourselves from criminals.  What’s next for Carmona?  Internet access permits?  Privacy licenses?  Birth control permits?  Big Gulp possession licenses?

Representative Flake has an excellent record on gun control issues, along with his adoption of the Republican Liberty Caucus position statement in 2000.   The endorsement of Jeff Flake by NRA should go a long way towards reassuring Arizona voters that they can trust Flake to oppose infringements on our Second Amendment rights.  Vote for freedom, not “free” handouts.

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Ten of Arizona’s County Sheriffs joined together to demand accountability for those involved in Operation Fast and Furious, a Federally sponsored gun running program which supplied weapons to Mexican drug cartels from at least ten U.S. cities. The Justice Department and Eric Holder have been obstructing a House Oversight Committee investigation into the operation that went as planned.

Cochise County Sheriff Larry Dever called Operation Fast and Furious a dishonor to law enforcement and a betrayal of law enforcement officers everywhere. These weapons have been used in crimes on both sides of the border. One of the weapons passed to the cartels by the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF) was used during the murder of Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry in December 2010. Agent Terry’s brother Kent Terry said,”My family and I are very thankful for the Sheriffs of Arizona and the fact they are helping us demand justice for my brother’s murder.”

Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu held the press conference at the base of the Peace Officers Memorial, where Agent Terry’s name has been etched.

Sheriff Babeu was joined by nine other Sheriffs, four other Republicans and five Democrats. They made the call for a special investigator into the operation, Eric Holder’s resignation or firing, and criminal charges for those accountable. Sheriff Babeu also noted the Sheriffs found out about the operation through press accounts. (months after the Sipsey Street Irregulars blog broke the story.) He also suggested that the investigation needs to investigate other departments involved in the operation, such as the FBI, DEA, Department of Homeland Security, and the State Department.

Sheriff Larry Dever expressed his embarrassment that he had to apologize for the criminal actions of other elected officials.

One reporter noted a prior operation called Operation Wide Receiver, and mindlessly alluded to this being a partisan jab.  If the lazy, partisan reporter had bothered to spend a minute on Google, she would have found out that the firearms in Operation Wide Receiver actually had tracking devices and were under surveillance.   Operation Wide Receiver didn’t go as planned, the guns were lost and the program cancelled as a failure.  The lazy reporter could then understand that a plan to illegally sell firearms to felons to deliver to Mexican drug cartels, without tracking or surveillance, could not be the next step in an investigation.

Navajo County Sheriff KC Clark said, “I’m outraged that our own Federal Government has betrayed local law enforcement by arming violent foreign criminals and it now appears that Attorney General Eric Holder may have lied under oath.”

Yavapai County Sheriff Scott Mascher said, “The Attorney General can’t be trusted to fairly self-investigate these possible criminal charges of gun running which has resulted in murders of both individuals from the U.S. and Mexico.  A Special Counsel must be appointed.”

Previously, pro-second Amendment blogger Bob Owens was a lone voice calling for a Special Prosecutor.  As more and more evidence of perjury and White House participation are released, the chorus grows stronger.   Even congressman Paul Gosar has suggested that participants in this illegal operation are “vigilantes from DOJ going unchecked” and accessories to murder.

It is time for the President’s staff to stop playing politics with Operation Fast and Furious. This scandal is worse than Watergate, as people have been murdered in this scandal.  The President must appoint a special investigator to bring those responsible to justice, or have the history of his administration forever tarnished by this  corrupt, murderous operation.

You can watch part 1 of 2 of the Arizona Sheriffs Press Conference – Fast and Furious on Sheriff Babeu’s Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=845666435535

Part 2 of 2 of the Arizona Sheriffs Press Conference – Fast and Furious on Sheriff Babeu’s Facebook page.

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Does anyone in Pennsylvania want to win a nice gun? If so, get yourself to the Bucks County Friends of NRA Dinner this Thursday evening, September 15th at 5:30 PM. You can win a gun in a raffle, like we have, or win a unique collector firearm at the auction, while enjoying a tasty dinner with people that you’d like to hang out with. Doors open for raffles, games & silent auction at 5:30pm. Dinner will be served at 7:15 PM, at Spring Mill Manor in Ivyland, PA.

While online ticket sales have ended, you can still email Christie Caywood through bucksnratickets@pagunrights.com to get tickets to the best investment in the shooting sports you could ever make. The tickets are only $40 per person and half of all net proceeds go to fund projects within the state on youth firearm safety and education programs, hunter education, range development and improvement, women’s training seminars, and wildlife conservation efforts. The other half is used to fund similar projects with a national scope.

Enjoy a great meal, meet people who share your interests, and maybe even walk away with a new gun, what more could you want?

You want more? Well then, I’m glad you asked! You could also win a pro-gun toaster. No really, you can win an NRA toaster that makes divine, pro second amendment BLTs. Everyone loves this unique and rare item!

If you are on the East Coast, what are you waiting for? Get yourself to this Friends on NRA dinner and support the future of the shooting sports by emailing Ms. Caywood, right now!

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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.

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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

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Last Thursday, the President proclaimed, “More than 90 percent of the guns recovered in Mexico come from the United States, many from gun shops that line our shared border.”

Those of us who are concerned that our second amendment rights are about to be trampled on have more than a sneaking suspicion that this manufactured gun smuggling “crisis” is going to be used to justify gun bans and restrictions.

You can call me a conspiracy theorist and give me a tin foil hat,  but it turns out that 90 percent is really about 17 percent.

In a depends on the definition of “is” moment, Obama spokesperson Denis McDonough told FOX News on Saturday, “By recovered he means traceable, guns traced back to the United States.”   I admit, I haven’t had as much schoolin’ as most of the Obama administration’s posse, but I do know the definitions of both traceable and recovered, and they are quite different.

Follow this if you can folks, Here’s how they got to the 90 percent number:

In 2007-2008, the ATF submitted 11,000 guns to the ATF for tracing.

Those 11,000 firearms were part of the 29,000 firearms Mexican officials recovered at crime scenes.

ATF states that 0f the 11,000 firearms submitted to U.S. officials for tracing, 6,000 could be traced somewhere because of the serial numbers or other distinctive markings.

Of those 6,000 firearms, 5,114 or 90 percent, were found to have been smuggled from the U.S.

Wow, and I thought I had math defeciencies!

Let’s try that again without all of the BS:

29,000 firearms were recovered at crime scenes by Mexican officials.

Of those 29.000 firearms, 5,114 were found to have been smuggled into Mexico from the US.

That’s 17.6 percent.

The worst part about this story isn’t the blatant lying and manipulation of the facts, but that Obama’s spokespeople have repeatedly stated that they stand by the 90 percent statement.

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