Breaking News on Red's Trading Post

David Codrea at War on Guns is reporting this evening that the Twin Falls, Idaho Urban Renewal Agency has agreed to take over the property currently occupied by Red's Trading Post for $200,000.

According to Codrea, this is no indication that Red's is going out of business. The plan, apparently, is to relocate Red's to a better, more modern facility.

Read more about it at The War on Guns:
http://waronguns.blogspot.com/2008/06/breaking-news-twin-falls-ura-to-buy.html

Second Amendment News Roundup for 9/14/07

Focusing on guns and politics, here is today's Second Amendment News Roundup:

A Keyboard and a .45 informs us of a very intriguing conversation taking place on the question, why would a person pack heat in a church?"
http://akeyboardanda45.blogspot.com/2007/09/join-in-conversation.html

Alphecca reports that New Jersey officials are attempting to put the squeeze on Pennsylvania because of its gun laws:
http://www.alphecca.com/?p=416

The McCarville Report has some interesting news on Oklahoma's new immigration law. The law targets illegal aliens, which has resulted in a mass exodus of Hispanic students from the Tulsa school system:
http://wwwtmrcom.blogspot.com/2007/09/tulsa-sees-hispanic-student-exodus.html

The Jet Pilot has an update on the Washington state school officer who is charged with sexual offenses:
http://ajetpilot.blogspot.com/2007/09/school-officer-to-deny-charges.html

Blogonomicon posts a PSH Alert over some stupidity about guns in New York:
http://blogonomicon.blogspot.com/2007/09/thats-because-youre-idiot.html

Front Sight, Press has some very helpful info from John Farnam on exigent gun maintenance:
http://www.snubnose.info/wordpress/tactics/john-farnam-on-exigent-gun-maintenance/

Liestoppers published a great response to an op-ed in the Raleigh News and Observer. Those of you who followed the Mike Nifong-Crystal Mangum-Duke lacrosse set-up are perhaps familiar with the name of Joan Foster of Liestoppers. We came to appreciate Joan as an astute legal mind and a brilliant writer. This is Joan's response to the editorial:
http://liestoppers.blogspot.com/2007/09/joan-foster-comes-out-swinging.html

Red's Trading Post has the sickening news that the ATF has shut down even more gun dealers in Idaho (I think now they are just flaunting it in our faces):
http://redstradingpost.blogspot.com/2007/09/more-gun-dealers-in-our-area-shut-down.html

Say Uncle posts the quote of the day, and it is a MUST-read:
http://www.saysuncle.com/archives/2007/09/14/quote_of_the_day-157/

Sharp as a Marble has the latest 'pants shittin' hysterics' from Paul Helmke of the Brady Gang:
http://blog.robballen.com/archive/2007/09/14/Paul-Helmke-wants-federal-agents-to-endanger-your-children.aspx

Sebastian at Snow Flakes in Hell gives us a good report on the meeting of the NRA, of which he is a part:
http://www.snowflakesinhell.com/?p=1524

Nicki at The Liberty Zone blogs on the new controller for Wii that Nintendo has introduced, thus causing some more 'pants shittin' hysterics' on the part of some parents:
http://libertyzone.blogspot.com/2007/09/wii-makes-some-parents-wee-wee-their.html

The War on Guns posts this latest update as of today on Wayne Fincher:
http://waronguns.blogspot.com/2007/09/wayne-fincher-update-sept-14.html

Xavier Thoughts blogs on the Smith & Wesson Model 49 Bodyguard:
http://xavierthoughts.blogspot.com/2007/09/s-bodyguard.html

John Lott has written a new op-ed on the D.C. handgun ban:
http://johnrlott.tripod.com/2007/09/new-op-ed-on-dc-handgun-ban.html

Lott also opines that the Democrats simply can't distance themselves from Moveon.org:
http://johnrlott.tripod.com/2007/09/democrats-cant-distance-themselves-from.html

The Buckeye Firearms Association has this excellent read entitled, 'The Cost':
http://www.buckeyefirearms.org/article3952.html

Buckeye also provides this article on the updated law on concealed carry records in Ohio:
http://www.buckeyefirearms.org/article3953.html

Oscar Poppa provides this story of a murder by an illegal alien--a very common occurrence in America today:
http://oscarpoppa.us/?p=657

Michelle Malkin posts vital info for those living within easy access to the D.C. area. Tomorrow there will be a 'die-in' war protest featuring Cindy Sheehan and others. As a counter-protest, patriots will be holding a 'gathering of the eagles' at the National Mall:
http://michellemalkin.com/2007/09/13/gathering-of-eagles-iii-get-ready/

Idaho's Ryan Horsley for U.S. Senate?

The mounting woes of U.S. Senator Larry Craig, R-Idaho, stemming from his arrest in a sting operation at an airport restroom, has fed speculation that the Senator's resignation may be imminent.

In the event of such a resignation, the name of Red's Trading Post owner/manager Ryan Horsley has surfaced as a possible replacement.

Horsley has risen to both state and national prominence in his ongoing battle with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The BATFE has targeted Red's for unprecedented and unnecessary harassment as part of its modus operandi to drive gun shops out of business.

As reported on The Liberty Sphere, the BATFE often uses something as minor and insignificant as a misspelled word on a license application form to revoke the sales licenses of gun dealers.

The gestapo-like tactics of the BATFE was visited upon Red's in a series of clearly oppressive raids designed to 'catch' the gun shop in some violation of regulations.

Shockingly, the BATFE claimed harassment on the part of Red's during its last gestapo raid due to the fact that citizens who were present at the time began to video record the actions of the agents. The case is now in court, and Red's faces upwards of $100,000 in legal defense fees.

Not to be outwitted or oppressed into silence by a rogue arm of the Department of Justice, law-abiding gun owners across the nation came to Red's defense. Gun rights groups such as the NRA, the GOA, and the JPFO have stepped up to the plate in fine fashion to give Ryan Horsley a national platform from which to describe the unlawful harassment conducted by the BATFE.

The GOA even started a legal defense fund for Horsley.

Horsley has also appeared on several national radio talk shows. The national publicity given to Horsley and his fight against the BATFE has even caught the attention of several in the U.S. Congress who are now demanding an accounting on the part of the Department of Justice and the BATFE.

So what, exactly, does all of this have to do with the scandal surrounding Idaho's Senator Larry Craig? Craig has been caught in a hypocrisy scandal that the GOP can ill afford in the year prior to a national election. Clearly Craig is a liability since he has made public statements denouncing the very behavior for which he was arrested.

Several of the GOP Presidential candidates have denounced Craig. Some GOP Senators and Congressmen are openly calling for his resignation.

Word was received late Thursday that if Craig refuses to step down, the Republican National Committee itself may demand that Craig relinquish his Senate seat.

Enter Ryan Horsley. Despite the BATFE's attempts at character assassination in its vendetta against lawful gun dealerships, Horsley has garnered a stellar reputation among the residents in his local area of Idaho. He has been active in local government, serving on various committees, and is known to be an honest, reliable, and trustworthy public servant and private citizen, as well as a reputable businessman.

No doubt the fact that Horsley has become a major figure in Idaho in his fight against a very unpopular federal bureau is the impetus leading to calls for Craig to be replaced by Horsley.

It is our view that if Horsley feels that becoming a U.S. Senator is the best way for him to fight for his beliefs, then his ascension to the U.S. Senate would be an excellent turn of events.

The Department of Justice and its gestapo unit, the BATFE, could hardly continue to conduct its vendetta against gun owners, gun shops, and gun manufacturers with a member of the U.S. Senate who knows first-hand the underhanded and illegal tactics of the feds.

Ryan Horsley's selection to fill the vacated Senate seat of Larry Craig, if and when Craig resigns, could well be the very first nail in the coffin of an unfortunate and dangerous chapter in the history of the U.S. Government.

We may actually live to see the BATFE de-funded, dismantled, and buried for good.

The Bush Betrayal of Gun Owners

A popular political phrase that was dropped into the modern vernacular in the last 30 years of the 20th century was, 'It took Nixon to go to China.' The concept behind the phrase, of course, is that it took an avowed anti-Communist to open the door of capitalism to a Communist nation.

Had a Liberal Democrat attempted such a thing, such a summit probably would not have been successful. Critics would have decried the whole thing as a Communist love-fest initiated by Liberals who tend to be apologists for Communists to begin with.

Fast forward to the first decade of the 21st century. It has taken a gun-friendly Republican President to trample on the firearms and ammunitions industry in this country.

We would have expected this from a Liberal Democrat. We were not expecting it from the Bush Administration, and perhaps this is precisely the reason we have been thus far ill-prepared to handle the onslaught of an out-of-control, rogue arm of the Justice Department--the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.

Caught totally by surprise, and thus woefully unprepared for an effective and swift defense, the firearms and ammunitions industry has found itself in a fight for its very survival.

The statistics will reveal just how devastating the attacks of the ATF have been.

Since 2002, a whopping 85% of firearms manufacturers in America have been forced to close their doors for good.

Note that the alarming rate of shut-downs of gun manufacturers by the ATF coincides with the election of George W. Bush.

However, the Clinton Administration is every bit as culpable. From 1994-2005, 80% of gun dealers were forced out of business. Eight of those years were under the Clinton Administration.

Nonetheless, the Bush Administration has done absolutely nothing to stem the tide of this alarming persecution, and if anything the ATF has actually turned up the heat in the last few years.

The statistic that nails the Bush Administration is that from 2001 until 2006, the number of gun dealers who have had their licenses revoked by the ATF has risen by 6 times the number of revocations in the previous six years.

In short, the Bush Administration has been no friend to gun owners.

One of the reasons why Richard Nixon was forced out of office is not simply because he lied about covering up the Watergate Scandal but that he betrayed many of his closest friends in the Congress. Nixon in many ways represented a betrayal of the very values that put him in office.

It was Nixon who implemented a wage-and-price freeze to deal with inflation--an anathema to libertarian, free-market Republicans. Instead of focusing on winning outright in Viet Nam after he inherited Lyndon Johnson's mess, Nixon instead brought an end to the conflict and pulled out our troops, resulting in one of the most cruel and heartless blood-baths in the history of the world, perpetrated by the Khmer Rouge.

Thus, when he needed help the most, Nixon had no friends left to come to his defense over Watergate.

Like Nixon, in many ways George W. Bush has represented a betrayal of the very values that got him elected. This is not entirely true, for there have been some triumphs, such as the tax cuts.

Yet Mr. Bush suffers from the same disease that seemed to plague Nixon, i.e., talking and acting like a conservative while supporting measures that fly in the face of every known conservative principle.

The gun issue is but one example. This Administration has presided over massive government expansion and spending, meddling in local schools by the Feds through the 'No Child Left Behind Act,' failing to fight the War in Iraq to win, and of course, the immigration amnesty fiasco.

One has to wonder if Mr. Bush believes in the Second Amendment as much as he says he does. Perhaps he actually thinks that governments are the only ones who should have guns. We can only base our conclusions on what we observe.

Many Americans, this writer being one of them, had high hopes in 2001 that Mr. Bush could be another Reagan. Sadly, unless major changes are made, it appears he will be more like Nixon.

Second Amendment News Roundup for 7/27/07

Here is today's Second Amendment News Roundup:

Alphecca blogs on blatant media bias when it comes to the AK-47:

http://www.alphecca.com/?p=308

The Bitch Girls have more on the questioner whose inquiry about gun possession led to Joe Biden's tirade against gun owners:

http://www.thebitchgirls.us/?p=7189

Say Uncle provides documentation on the ATF's questionable (to say that least) activity in recent months:

http://www.saysuncle.com/archives/2007/07/26/credible_threats_and_bullshit/

Red's Trading Post manager Ryan Horsley was featured on the NRA News Thursday:

http://redstradingpost.blogspot.com/2007/07/reds-trading-post-on-nra-news.html

Red's Trading Post also sets the record straight on a barefaced lie told by the ATF in its dispute with Red's:

http://redstradingpost.blogspot.com/2007/07/let-me-tell-you-truth.html

The War on Guns says that the story of Ryan Horsley's dispute with the ATF over his shop, Red's Trading Post, has been making its rounds in the blogosphere (and I will add certain news reporting agencies as well):

http://waronguns.blogspot.com/2007/07/reds-making-rounds.html

The War on Guns also has information from Wayne Fincher's daughter about contact information and support:

http://waronguns.blogspot.com/2007/07/wayne-fincher-contact-and-support.html

Mike McCarville at The McCarville Report says a Congresswoman from Oklahoma, Rep. Mary Fallin, has been named by The Hill publication to the list of the 50 most beautiful people in D.C. When you see her picture, you will understand why:

http://wwwtmrcom.blogspot.com/2007/07/fallin-makes-dc-most-beautiful-list.html

Blogonomicon has been honored with the 'Blogger Reflection Award.' Congrats, Alan!

http://blogonomicon.eponym.com/blog/_archives/2007/7/25/3118411.html

Snow Flakes in Hell blogs on the reports of Philadelphia's escalating crime problem:

http://www.snowflakesinhell.com/?p=1141

Xavier Thoughts has a brief but poignant reminder of the importance of being armed within one's home:

http://xavierthoughts.blogspot.com/2007/07/1206.html

A Keyboard and a .45 has a neat motivational poster:

http://akeyboardanda45.blogspot.com/2007/07/motivational-poster.html

Of Arms and the Law says that in the insanity of today's world of political correctness, bloggers may find themselves dropped by their web host due to their being 'too controversial.' As a means of addressing the problem, here is a list of web hosts that cater to those that others deem too controversial (this is a FIRST AMENDMENT issue!):

http://armsandthelaw.com/archives/2007/07/web_hosts_that.php

Nicki at the Liberty Zone reports that the master of contradictions, Mitt Romney, appears to be getting desperate:

http://libertyzone.blogspot.com/2007/07/ummm-is-someone-desperate.html

LIBERTY ALERT! Feds Target Gun Shops

Washington, DC (TLS). This is an urgent 'Liberty Alert' concerning your freedoms as guaranteed by the Bill of Rights.

The Feds are going after the gun shops.

Having failed to disarm the citizens through the legislative process, by suing gun and ammo manufacturers, and by attempting to convince the public that the 2nd Amendment in the Bill of Rights guarantees no individual right, the jackbooted thugs of the vast, shadowy government bureaucracy--which operates with little accountability to the voters--has decided to target the stores that sell guns and ammo.

Their tactic? Revoke their licenses to sell guns.

Often gun shop owners are shut down for nothing more than a spelling mistake on their paperwork to the federal government.

It seems the Feds are using magnifying glasses and microscopes in going over the paperwork turned in by gun shop owners, looking for any reason whatsoever to justify their desire to revoke their licenses...even to the extent of shutting them down because of a spelling error on the license application!

My friends, the vast expanse of the Federal Government is so gargantuan that even our elected officials have little control over it. Employees with their civil service designations are basically there for life, and their supervisors have little recourse.

What this means is that through the years individuals with a vested interested in expanding the federal bureaucracy, it's power over the citizens, and it's lack of accountability, have infiltrated numerous agencies within the government. And they intend to advance their subversive agenda no matter what the law, the Congress, or the citizens have to say.

One gun shop owner in particular who was shut down by the Feds had this to say:

'No government agency should have the right to take away our right to do business. Without a gun license, we had no reason to continue our business… I believe government has been unable to take guns from the hands of citizens or sue gun manufacturers out of business, so they will use government agencies to revoke licenses one at a time until there are no stores to buy guns.

'I encourage every gun owner to step forward and let their senators and congressmen know how we feel about the ATF's power to revoke licenses and close up businesses. The ATF should be stopped before there are no guns left to buy. Let your voice be heard.'

Read the entirety of this sickening story here:
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=56389

GOA Issues Alert on Immigration Bill

Washington, DC (TLS). Gun Owners of America has issued a special alert concerning the new immigration bill backed by the White House, Ted Kennedy, and John McCain. This bill contains provisions that could shut down every gun shop in America.

In crafting this ill-conceived bill, gun-grabbers Ted Kennedy and John McCain could not resist including provisions that would target gun stores. If a gun shop with as few as 5 employees commits at least two violations of federal gun laws, including paperwork violations, that store could be designated as a 'criminal gang' and shut down.

In addition, if an anti-gun zealot in the government determines that the 'main purpose' of that gun shop is to commit gun violations, then it can be shut down.

My friends, ambiguous wording such as this, aimed at gun stores, is simply one more way the anti-gun bigots in Washington have determined to rob the citizens of their Constitutional rights.

Click here to go directly to the GOA alert, including info on contacting Congress:
http://www.gunowners.org/a052307.htm

Utah Targets Gun Dealers in Salt Lake Massacre by Bosnian Muslim

Salt Lake City, UT (TLS). The Associated Press is reporting that law enforcement officials in Utah have made some arrests in the case of the Salt Lake Trolley Mall Massacre, which was perpetrated by a Muslim immigrant by the name of Sulejman Talovic.

This time, however, the target is not accomplices in the crime but gun and ammo dealers who sold Talovic the goods.

The action by Utah law enforcement is simply another outgrowth of the mindset that holds gun dealers liable for what patrons do once they purchase the weapons. It is an intimidation tactic of the anti-gun bigots.

In like manner, gun owners are often targeted by law enforcement when their guns are stolen and then used in crimes by criminals. The serial numbers are traced back to the owners, who are then charged as accomplices to the crimes, although they had absolutely nothing to do with them.

This is what I call gun control by 'the backdoor method.' Intimidate gun owners and dealers by these kinds of underhanded, wacko tactics in an attempt to get people to think twice about either selling or owning a gun.

The mindset that leads to this kind of lunacy is epitomized by those politicians who would hold legally liable gun manufacturers for the crimes committed by criminals.

And by the way, if we are going down this trail, we had better start hauling bar tenders off to jail for selling alcohol to a person who then drives and kills someone on the road. Why not make Ford, GM, and Chrysler legally liable for the thousands of highway deaths this year! After all, they made the cars that caused the mayhem. And let's not forget to haul to the slammer those murderous car dealers who SELL those instruments of death!

Give me a freakin' break.

Read the full AP story here:
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/M/MALL_SHOOTING?SITE=FLTAM&SECTION=US