Memorial Day, 2003
If the new ["assault weapons"] ban passes, what will we call our rifles?
Liberty Tree Refreshment Implements
-- Zundfolge
U.S. Memorial Day History and Information on U.S. War Memorials reminds us that May 30 is the traditional Memorial Day. It is now observed on the last Monday of May. They have a How to Observe Memorial Day page and want us to Help Restore the Traditional Day of Observance for Memorial Day.
Real Guns has an External Ballistics Calculator and a nice links page, including reviews for many of the linked products. Free registration required to view content.
Justin at The High Road - Analysis of the new ban in the house- 2nd draft - an analysis in plain English of H.R. 2038, the "Assault Weapons Ban and Law Enforcement Protection Act of 2003", which is currently in the House Committee on the Judiciary. [highroad]
Bushmaster has an exciting announcement on their home page. Text below. Click for pictures. [ar15.com]
Bushmaster is proud to announce that it has acquired the assets of Professional Ordnance Inc. in Lake Havasu City, Arizona. We are very excited about the addition of this new product line to the Bushmaster family. These innovative, featherweight firearms will offer Bushmaster quality and accuracy in a versatile high-tech package. Imagine 5.56mm/.223 caliber power in a rifle weighing under 4 pounds - or a pistol weighing 46 ounces! These exciting firearms feature stainless steel barrels, molded carbon fiber Upper and Lower Receivers (and other components), and modular accessories to enhance their versatility. Bushmaster will also be offering a .22 Rimfire version unlike anything offered in the AR Type Rifle family before. These exciting additions to the Bushmaster product line will be available late summer, so check this website for updates.
New Scientist - Inkjet alert over forged banknotes - a modern $100 inkjet printer can forge paper money good enough to pass inspection in a dimly lighted bar or nightclub. [grabbe]
Ron Paul's Texas Straight Talk - The Federal Government Bully in State and Local Elections - on the importance of keeping the feds out of state and local politics.
Consider the medical marijuana debate. Federal law currently prohibits the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) from using its huge advertising budget for partisan or political purposes. In fact, a broader law prohibits federal agencies in general from using taxpayer dollars to influence the outcome of local elections. The need for these laws is obvious if we hope to maintain any slight degree of federalism. However, if Congress passes a bill pending before a House committee, ONDCP will soon be exempt from the rules against politicking. It already blatantly ignored existing rules in recent months by sending representatives to Missouri and Nevada to openly oppose local medical marijuana initiatives. The message to local voters was very clear: do not dare pass a law that displeases your superiors in Washington. To do so was to risk an outright raid by federal agents to make sure the new law was not implemented, as we saw two years ago in California.
...
The practice of allowing federal agencies to influence local elections certainly sets a dangerous precedent, and might lead to the labeling of "federally approved" candidates in both national and state elections. Exempting ONDCP from electioneering restrictions could be just the start. As one think tank director put it, "This would be like the IRS running ads against tax-cut proposals and the candidates that support them. Using public money to tell people how to think and feel about policy is the definition of propaganda."
Steven Yates at LewRockwell.com - World Order 2021 - a fictional account of where we're headed. I haven't finished it yet, but intend to do so today. Sierra Times discussion here. [sierra]