Update II: Supreme Court pushes the gun issue back to the forefront of the nation's agenda
Update: Candidates React to Supreme Court’s Gun Ruling
via mal contends - The Supreme Court reinterpreted the Second Amendment in its landmark decision, District of Columbia v. Heller (07-290), and found a right to own and carry a handgun.  

That's okay with me. I like the result.

Quote from ScotusBlog:

In a recent post on FolkBum, bloggers were discussing the merit of including similar regulations for guns as automobiles. I think this is an interesting idea. Similarly, Folkbum provided me with the reference info for an article related to early gun restrictions in the New England colonies.

David,

I am not arguing whether or not YOU, or possibly others like yourself are not seriously CAREFUL with your guns.  And as I said, I'm sure that your intent was not meant as some evil gun-totin' half crazed half wit. On the other hand David, have you actually given MY point reasonable consideration?  I don't feel you have.

Consider my point.  I don't say that you meant ill-intent.  And I think you "glossed over" my point in this regard.  Can I envision that someone might just have a spontaneous thought and act on it?  Of course I can, but that doesn't necessarily qualify it as a "good idea" for Joe Public. 

I agree that there is much misinformation concerning gun owners.  In this regard, for the most part the NRA has added to this.  Instead of educating the public of what type of people MOST gun owners are they've embellished and painted a picture that only invites hysteria.  Are there bad gun "owners", sure.  You know it as well as I. 

Hey, little miss!

Looking for a gun that doesn't look macho and have "lethal weapon" written all over it?

Jim's Gun Supply in Baraboo, Wisconsin has just the thing: A hot pink "Hello Kitty" AR-15, pictured above, also available in AK-47 and other models to accessorize any outfit.

It'll be the talk of the cafeteria, and you can be the first in your school to have one.

Looking for something a little less bulky, to fit in your purse? Try this model.

The "Hello Kitty" model seems to be missing from the shop's website today, perhaps because of this news report:

Of course a gun didn't kill people at an Omaha mall, pro-gun groups will tell us.  A crazy person with a gun did it.

And that's true, to a degree.  Jim Rowen, who once covered the firearms issue for the Milwaukee Journal, doubts that a steak knife would have had the same impact.

The weapon in question, Rowen says, was

The SKS is a military weapon that is often called an assault rifle, though because it's not manufactured to fire selectively in single or automatic bursts, it's just a plain old vicious, terribly deadly, non-assault rifle.

A carbine. To the general public, it's an assault rifle because it's military and devastating, and to the dead Nebraskans, it's of no consequence.

Anyway...

There are many SKS variants, having metastasized from the Soviet Union to China and throughout other former Eastern bloc countries, as a cheap, durable deadly, mass-produced and exportable military weapon - - a staple of the world arms trade.

Not with the ugly cachet of the true assault rifle, like an AK-47, but available from Africa to Asia...to southeastern Wisconsin, aina!

Wisconsin Anti-Violence Educational Fund

10th anniversary dinner

Thursday, Nov. 8, 5:30-8:30 p.m.

Milwaukee Hilton Monarch Room, 509 W. Wisconsin Ave., Milwaukee

Inaugural Freedom from Gun Violence awards to:

Governor Jim Doyle

Milwaukee County D. A. John Chiaholm

Rita Martinez Community Activism Award to Cynthia Martinez

Tickets $125

Call WAVE 414-351-WAVE for more information.

Location(s)

Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke, who said a concealed weapons law would "jeapordize ths safety of my deputies and the citizens they represent," today said people of Milwaukee should be able to carry concealed handguns.

Clarke's complete reversal came, as his pronouncements frequently do, in a hysterical email to rabid rightwing radio talker Charlie Sykes, a major Clarke sycophant and publicist.

At the end of a long rant against Gov. Jim Doyle, Mayor Tom Barrett, and Milwaukee aldermen, Clarke says:

If the police are no longer able to guarantee the personal safety of citizens, then reconsider your opposition to allowing law-abiding people the means with which to protect themselves. Yes, Governor, that means carrying concealed handguns.

Here's a Journal Sentinel story from Nov. 4, 2003:

Clarke calls for veto of concealed weapons bill

Sheriff tells Doyle in letter that change would put deputies in danger

Milwaukee County Sheriff David A. Clarke Jr. on Monday called on Gov. Jim Doyle to veto a bill that would make it easier for Wisconsin residents to carry concealed weapons.

In a letter to Doyle, Clarke says the change called for in the bill would jeopardize the "safety of my deputies and the citizens they represent" and says "there are better ways to fight crime than to flood the streets of Milwaukee with dangerous weapons."

Today, Clarke says the best way to fight crime is to flood the streets of Milwaukee with dangerous weapons.

In 1939, the US Supreme Court heard the last case for individual gun ownership rights. Today, the District of Columbia is fighting another claim. Initially the case was from 6 people who wanted to take guns outside. DC bans all guns outside the home, and required permits for any gun.

The case went through the lower DC courts and the city ban was overturned. The city is asking SCOTUS to hear that case.

Things have changed, since the original case was filed. Both the federal and city lawyers, have dropped 5 of the 6 people from the case...leaving one lone security guard as the sole plaintiff. He is not asking for a gun related to his work, as a security guard.

Here's the Catch 22 in this case. It all falls back on the 1939 case.

SCOTUS was brilliant in it's last ruling.

Wanna bet on how soon this gets canceled?

GOP Fundraiser Features Machine Gun Shoot

New Hampshire Republicans "will be packing some serious firepower at their next party fundraiser," the New Hampshire Union Leader reports.

"Tired of the usual chicken dinners, the Manchester Republican Committee is planning to arm supporters next month with Uzis, M-16 rifles and other automatic weapons for a day of target practice at a Pelham firing range."

Said the committee chairman: "The thought just struck me one day: a machine gun shoot. What the heck?"

Hat tip: Political Wire.