Snowflakes in Hell

A lot of people on forums have been pointing out this video by Joaquin Jackson:

Jackson released a statement through NRA about this video here, where he says:

In the interview, when asked about my views of “assault weapons,” I was talking about true assault weapons – fully automatic firearms. I was not speaking, in any way, about semiautomatic rifles. While the media may not understand this critical distinction, I take it very seriously. But, as a result, I understand how some people may mistakenly take my comments to mean that I support a ban on civilian ownership of semiautomatic firearms. Nothing could be further from the truth. And, unfortunately, the interview was cut short before I could fully explain my thoughts and beliefs.

…

But that comment should never be mistaken as support for the outright banning of any ammunition magazines. In fact, such bans have been pursued over the years by state legislatures and the United States Congress and these magazine bans have always proven to be abject failures.

I can accept that people misspeak at times, but that’s one hell of a misspeak! Folks have been calling for Jackson to be fired, or for the NRA to do something about him, but they can’t. Jackson is a board member. He serves on the board because NRA’s voting members have elected him to it. All we can really do is not elect him to another term when his term is up.

Others have called for the Zumboing of Jackson, which I don’t think makes sense. Jackson is not an outdoor columnist, or television personality. He has no sponsors. Plus, Jackson isn’t quite the hunting icon that Jim Zumbo is. Zumbo’s statements were dangerous precisely because of the audience he reached; an audience the anti-gun people have been trying to woo and pretend to speak for. Jackson represents law enforcement, and law enforcement have never been consistent RKBA allies.

I’m inclined not to get too worked up over this incident, and to consider both Jackson’s statement here, and his clarification when he’s up for the board again. Don’t get me wrong, I think what he said on Texas Monthly was pretty bad, but so have some of the accusations flying around about Jackson being anti-gun, or being a liberal gun controller. Let’s keep what he said in mind when elections come around, but let’s not get unhinged over this.

Looks like our folks did a good job for RealCo, the Prince Georges County gun shop that was under attack by the Rainbow Coalition. The Other Sebastian got there a bit late because of work, but still managed to debate a DC City Councilwoman.

The big problem with gun rights activism, especially in the face of an organization like Rainbow PUSH, which has the money to bring in there own protesters, is that we all have jobs, and have to make a living.

I was considering crashing the Philadelphia Brady event, seen here. Not crashing as in showing up and being obnoxious, but just listening to what they had to say and dutifully reporting it to all of you.

But I’m just finishing up my work for the day now, and this time of day it takes a while to get into the city from where I am. Given that I was out all morning yesterday, I was doubting I was going to be able to get out early enough today to make it over there.

I am working on making my contribution to the August 28th events though, which I will talk about later.

It looks like the PICS outage could end up being delayed.  Of course, I’d still like to understand why there needs to be a multi-day outage at all.  There’s no reason, other than sheer incompetence, why this should require several days.

Jeff Soyer has more.

I really wouldn’t want to be the guy who has to clean this up:

At that point, a 58-year-old employee shot Mies once in head with a shotgun.

Generally, at close range, you can only can shoot someone once in the head with a shotgun, because after that, they will no longer have a head to shoot again.

The NGLTF is calling out Senator Craig for his hypocrisy, which I think is only appropriate, but I do think the are going a bit far here:

“And by the way, why are Minneapolis tax dollars being used to have plainclothes police officers lurking idly in airport restroom stalls?”

Because people complained about lewd acts occurring in them. I won’t complain about NGLTF calling out Craig for hypocrisy, he deserves that, but let’s not go so far as to defend sex in public places. If I’m in an airport bathroom, and some guy starts peeping into my stall, and making hand gestures, then gets into the stall next to me, and starts with a “wide stance” that involves his foot and/or hand in my stall, you can bet it’s going to make me a little uncomfortable. I don’t think it helps build tolerance of gays to suggest that the police shouldn’t be investigating reports of lewd acts in public restrooms.

Hat Tip to Clayton Cramer.

From Dave Hardy:

Sylvester Stallone, a Brady Campaign stalwart, who’s said “”until America, door to door, takes every handgun, this is what you’re gonna have… It really is pathetic… We’re livin’ in the Dark Ages over there,” turns out to have a CCW permit, issued by the celebrity-loving LA County Sheriff.

Oh, and listing four handguns that he will be packing.

California has a discretionary permit system that the Brady Campaign upholds as a model for the nation. It’s always been the case that in these types of systems, the powerful and connected can get licenses to protect themselves, while the ordinary folk are left hung out to dry. As much as I might agree with the no issue systems of Chicago and Wisconsin, they are at least honest; no one gets a license, period. In the states, such as New Jersey, California, New York, and Massachusetts, the gun permits have become political patronage.

Anyone who takes Sly Stallone’s views on the gun issue seriously at this point is a fool.

UPDATE: Sigvald made the point that these statements were years ago. This is true, but this was a year ago. It’s a 2006 Brady event where Sly was in attendance. This would have been after he was issued a concealed weapons permit, so you have to wonder if he was packing to the event.