The Uninvited Ombudsman Report - No. 48
Taken from the most recent “Page Nine” Alan Korwin’s “The Uninvited Ombudsman Report”
STARTERS:
The Wall Street Journal online cites my research on gun-free zones in connection with B.H. Obama's proposal to close every gun store within five miles of a school or park. That would close virtually every gun store in the nation. http://tinyurl.com/4jecvs Though the Constitution doesn't empower anyone to do such a thing, it shows how that man thinks, and reporters have naturally refused to question him about the lack of authority. No, he did not propose compensation for the confiscated property. An interesting article in one of the last news outlets that discusses guns with candor.
Medical journal mindlessly attacks John Lott and then ignores his well reasoned, documented rebuttal. "Unfortunately, this shows what seems to pass for academic debate on guns these days," Lott says. http://tinyurl.com/4vlnsy "Note how they refuse to alter or explain any of their attacks but instead issue the simple statement that "We respectfully disagree with Dr. Lott's comments and stand by our editorial." Intellectual dishonesty rules.
1- Heller Insider Info
The lamestream media told you:
Nothing.
The Uninvited Ombudsman notes however that:
With thanks to deputy public information officer Estrada at the U.S. Supreme Court:
1. Heller does not have the highest number of amicus briefs in the Court's history, it is third, at 66. The highest was 107 in the affirmative action case Grutter (539 U.S. 306 in 2003), followed by the abortion case Webster (492 U.S. 490 in 1989) at 78.
2. The Heller decision could actually come later than June 23, the widely anticipated last scheduled day of proceedings for the session. The Court can add days to its calendar for additional decisions if it needs to, but these would typically come before the end of the week (June 27). Absolutely no way to know for sure until they act.
3. Lead attorney Alan Gura pointed out in an email to me (6/19/08) that the Court still has ten decisions left to issue, including three biggies, so it's highly likely they will add days to the calendar.
4. My conjecture: The decision must be signed and sealed now for at least days if not weeks, to allow for proofing, typesetting, printing, binding, pre-mail activity, web prep, syllabus draft, etc. My guess is they would rather release it at the end, so the national hub bub doesn't impinge on other work they have. Requests for interviews, phone calls from friends and close associates, shouting in the press, a ton of activity can be expected, might as well finish off the term first, no?
5. The best site for immediate download of the decision will be the Slip Opinions page, and web-traffic overload has not been a problem in the past according to the PIO (but we shall see on this one, eh?)
http://www.supremecourtus.gov/opinions/07slipopinion.html
Every "news" outlet on the planet will cover this story, where SOP is to a) read and partially understand only the Court's summary, or b) copy "wire services" which are routinely spin machines on this subject, and then release a mixture of fact, hype and editorial where the news is supposed to go.
6. My book on the Heller case is already underway, will include summaries and background on all 96 gun cases the High Court has heard so far, and the most thorough coverage of Heller you're likely to find anywhere. Many experts have agreed to contribute. Watch for the announcement when it goes on press.
2- RKBA Escapes Recession
The lamestream media told you:
Recession raised its ugly head again, and global economy faces disaster, as oil hit a record high, unemployment rose, food prices are skyrocketing and the stock market dipped against a backdrop of a weak dollar, home foreclosures, growth in China and global warming.
The Uninvited Ombudsman notes however that:
Defying incessant gloomy reports proliferating from "news" outlets, and curiously missing from lamestream financial "news," overall firearm sales increased by nearly 11% in the last quarter of 2007. Retail sales were up over 10% in May 2008.
Reported by the National Shooting Sports Foundation, growth was led by a 23.6 percent increase in ammunition sales, a 5.9 percent rise in handgun sales and a 4 percent increase in long gun sales, according to statistics from the latest federal excise tax collection report. http://www.nssf.org
The Pittman-Robertson excise taxes provide precise business measurements, and are earmarked solely for state wildlife conservation and habitat restoration programs. This makes gun-and-ammo sales one of the leading conservation forces in the nation, unreported by lamestream outlets for reasons that remain unclear.
During the quarter, $74.8 million was generated for conservation, compared to $67.4 million in the same period in 2006. From October through December, $16.2 million was collected for pistols and revolvers, $31.4 million for long guns and $27.1 million for ammunition. The latest tax collections suggest overall sales of $694.4 million, not including markups for final retail sales. For the entire calendar year, a total of $303.2 million was collected in excise taxes, up 21.2 percent from the $250.1 million in 2006. There are no current plans to end the taxes, and allow the businesses that generate the money to keep it.
In other news, also covered by NSSF but overlooked somehow by the networks and all other routine "news" outlets, the FBI's NICS background checks show 886,183 checks were made in May, a 10.3 percent increase from 803,051 reported in May 2007. Adjusted state figures show checks up 8.8 percent during the month. Year-to-date figures show a total of 4,831,693 background checks reported by NICS, on track to reach 10 million for 2008.
http://www.nssf.org/share/images/BP061608_NICS.jpg
3- Gun Intolerance Tolerated
The lamestream media told you:
Little.
The Uninvited Ombudsman notes however that:
Empty Blank Shell Casing Gets Fourth-Grader Suspended: A Massachusetts fourth-grader was suspended from elementary school for bringing a souvenir to school -- an empty shell casing from a blank used in a Memorial Day celebration.
A uniformed veteran gave the 10-year-old two empty rifle shell casings from blanks as a souvenir. He gave one to his grandfather, and kept the other. When he brought it to school, a teacher confiscated it, his mother was called in and he was suspended for five days. The school is resisting efforts to correct the egregious abuse and humiliation of the student, and has so far refused to return the valuable harmless private-property souvenir of Memorial Day. http://tinyurl.com/3mgzmj
It's unclear how government-run schools teach social sciences or history or civics, if the presence of even an empty shell casing is grounds for suspension. According to leading education experts, the unfortunate answer is that, in many cases, all students get these days is a whitewashed revisionist impression of history, minus truth.
Contents:
(searchable by item number)
1- Heller Insider Info
2- RKBA Escapes Recession
3- Gun Intolerance Tolerated
4- Prison For Misfire
5- Unexpected Tax Cuts
6- Journalists Advance Deception
7- Accurate Lies Continue
8- Different Flood Results
9- Overwhelming Campaign Funding
10- Black Male Blackmail
11- Counterintuitive Man says:
Lobbying and lobbyists are swell!
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