Update on Constitutional Carry

So the governor vetoed Constitutional Carry. That much is clear.

But what pissed me off, and this has been worming it's way around my brain since Friday, is what he said.

He didn't want to increase the workload on police.

What??????

Excuse me, just a minute here Governor. I thought that's why we hired cops. They're job is to catch people breaking the law. You know, the criminal element? If that job is too hard, if that job is too taxing, then what does that say about the state of law enforcement and the people who go around creating stupid laws that force police to go around doing stupid shit instead of catching the truly criminal among us?

If they can't do the job, or it's too hard for them, then they need to find something else to do. Period.

Workload my ass. This was a cop-out (pun fully intended), plain and simple. It's not like they don't run a background check when they stop you for crossing the double yellow line. Or when they decide they want to check your ID for no apparent reason other than you were there and so were they. Isn't that why we pay for those dispatch centers? Don't they have that kind of information available at their finger tips?

The Strength Of Their Convictions

So the Governor vetoed Constitutional Carry this morning. Citing difficulties in police determining who can/cannot legally carry, he's put the onus back on the legislature for the override.

Realizing of course that 2/3 vote of both houses is required for the override, we'll see if those state legislators that voted for the bill initially will follow through and vote to override.

This bill passed pretty handily in both houses: 22-11 in the state senate, and 50-18 in the state house. Though I do think there will be one or two state senators that will get squishy and not back up their previous 'yeah' vote.

Should be interesting to see how this turns out next week.

As an interesting aside, I did get a site visit from the state this morning regarding HB 1248:



I find it interesting that the AP posted this story at 10:59 am and I get a visit 30 minutes later.

Things that make you go...Hmmmmmmmm.

I've Got Another Idea

These are the types of columns that really have me scratching my head. The 'I'm a gun owner, but...' article.

We've all read them before. Usually, they all start out with 'I'm a gun owner, I support the second amendment, but...' and then dive into why THEIR gun is wholesome, good and righteous and how everyone elses guns are bad, evil, and destined to be the cause of the next massacre at the corner market.

This one has so much wrong with it, it's really hard to know where to begin. And then there's the last commenter. I'm not sure if what the person is writing is true or satire. I certainly hope it's satire, as the other option is downright scary.

That these two individuals are so flippant about one the most basic of fundamental rights is a testament to how far some will go to see the rest of their countrymen and neighbors left defenseless in the face of criminals and what, at least on the surface anyway, appears to be a growingly Constitutionally hostile government.

For those two, I say bring it. Or in the case of King Leonidas of Sparta, Molon Labe. And to quote Mike Vanderbough, if you try to take our firearms away, we will kill you.

Speaking Of Safety...

Locking your house/car is another aspect of safety.

I think the dumbest thing about this is the fact that people still leave their guns in unlocked cars. This in a town that could almost be called the northernmost suburb of Denver.

Sometimes, we are our own worst enemy.

Safety Never Takes a Day Off

Story here.

Bottom line, always wear your safety gear; glasses, muffs/foamies. You never know if or when a kaboom can happen.

This Whole Thing Has Got Me Thinking

Dangerous, I know. But with all the hubub over Rush Limbaugh's comments on one Sandra Fluke and non-stop fake outrage inspired by same, this whole thing has got me thinking about what is, in fact, a 'right'.

Others have probably said this more eloquently than I, but let begin by stating one thing flat out: Your existence in this world, while admirable on your parents part for managing to get you through your formative years without drinking the Drano or becoming a hood ornament for a 1979 El Camino, does not make whatever it is you think you need a right.

That includes, but is not limited to internet access, free pizza, a car, a cell phone, a FaceSpace page(s), free candy, Nike Air Jordans, a tablet (either the old fashioned kind for writing on or the new-fangled contraption that looks like an overgrown cell phone), free Girl Scout cookies, free ice cream, a free birthday party at Chuckie Cheese, or any manner of stuff that you deem free (but in fact costs me more money out of my paycheck every week).

It also does not include behavioral based activities such as shooting up whatever the cocktail drug of choice is this week, sticking whatever feels the best where decent folks don't care to talk about, with whomever you met in your drug-induced deleria.

And you damned sure don't have the right to force the rest of us to pay for the consequences of your 'whatever feels good today' attitude. If you get something Ajax can't wash off and penicillin can't cure, it ain't my f'in problem. You got the crusty crotch from someone, fine. Go deal with it yourself.

Because you can't keep your legs closed doesn't mean I get to pay for whatever contraceptive you think you need. You wanna go play mattress-back queen of the frat house? Go for it. You want to turn into a door knob where everyone gets a turn? Couldn't give two shits less. You want to play glory hole, go right ahead. But don't for one ever-loving minute think that ANYONE else should pay for your choices. Because that's what they are, choices.

As someone I admire once said, your right of freedom to be you also includes my right to be free from you. And that includes paying for the consequences of you acting like a complete moron.

Interesting Perspective

So the Governor has the Constutional Carry bill on his desk. He's not sure if he's going to sign it or not. (He's got until next week to make up his mind.)


Looking through the Codified Laws of South Dakota, he has 3 options available to him. He can 1) sign the bill, 2) veto the bill, or 3) not sign the bill and allow it to become law. My bet is on #3. Why? Let's face it. Consitutional Carry is a controvesial issue right now. CC is the unknown factor here. Only 4 states allow for concealed carry without a permit: Alaska, Vermont, Arizona, and Wyoming. But it's not like were talking about overturning May Issue and replacing it with CC here.


Just look at the vote totals. In the state house, HB 1248 passed 50-18. In the state senate, it passed 22-11. In order to override a veto, there needs to be 2/3 vote of each house. According to my math, the only concern is in the senate wher it passed with exactly 67%.


South Dakota concealed carry permits are the most easily obtainable permit to get in the country. How easy? $10 and a trip to the Sherriff's Department to fill out the half sheet sized application. No training requirement. No firing demonstration. No fingerprints. No serial numbers. That easy.


I've made my thoughts on CC pretty clear. And they've grown over the years. At first, I didn't mind the mimimal cost. But as I've read about the subject and educated myself over the 7 yrs I've had a permit, I've grown to loathe them. So even at $10, you are still paying the government for the priviledge of exercising your Constitutionally protected civil right to keep and bear arms.


Which brings us to the Chief of the Rapid City Police Department, Steve Allender. Chief Allender has his concerns about the bill. Understandably, he's concerned for the safety of his officers. I get it. I really do. But here's the rub. He's concerned about the workload this will put on his officers. It's refreshing to note he's not opposed to it in the usual sense like most other police chiefs. I do note however that without this piece of legislation, the criminal element is still going to carry their guns illegally. They are still going to try to puff up on his officers.

But that is not reason enough to impede the law-biding from exercising their rights.

This Is Interesting...

I've read op-eds from around the country related to the gun issue. Almost universally, they are against everything gun related. From semi-auto rifles, to concealed carry, to purchase requirements. It's a gimmee.

That is until today. The local cat box liner had an editorial today, coming out....

In FAVOR of Constitutional Carry in the state of South Dakota.

You know, when I got out of bed this morning, things felt a little weird. Now I now what set the world all helter-skelter.

The Stupid Is Strong

I don't know what rock this twit crawled out from under, but the only reason why you 'couldn't own AK 47s or 50 caliber handguns that have no purpose but to kill people' is because when you were 'remembering', those items weren't available for import.

Never mind that FALs were being imported in the 1950s. Dammit, those guns weren't in the country back then, so we need to go back to that time.

I've got a news flash. If they had been available back in 1949 when they went into active service with the Soviet Army, someone would have found a way to import them.

In another burst of brilliance, he bemoans the existence of .50 caliber handguns. Another news flash: .50 caliber handguns have been around for a long time. Here's a picture gallery of some (of course being a search engine, there's going to be some that don't quite fit the bill of .50+ caliber handguns) percussion cap and flintlock pistols in .54 caliber.

But then again, when it comes to hysterical rantings of a self-absorbed moron, never let the facts (or even a little thing like an Internet search) get in the way of a good tirade.

I guess he never heard the quote from Tench Coxe:

'The militia of these commonwealths, entitled and accustomed to their arms, when compared to any possible army, must be tremendous and irresistible. Who are the militia? Are they not ourselves? Is it feared, then, that we shall turn our arms each man against his bosom. Congress have no power to disarm the militia. Their swords, and every other terrible implement of the soldier, are the birthright of an American...the unlimited power of the sword is not in the hands of either the federal or state governments, but, where I trust in God it will ever remain, in the hands of the people.'

I Don't Even Know Where To Begin

During my morning round-up I read several blogs while having my morning chow, at the ones the work machine doesn't block out anyway.

The last one I read before the salt gets mined is Robb Allen. So, I'm getting by morning fix on and came across a post that was the source of a couple of quotes of the day (here & here).

Clicking through to the story that was the inspiration for the post and following quotes, I couldn't help but shake my head.

So to summarize, a guy is on the verge of going Stone Cold Steve Austin on a back door, whilst the homeowners are on the telly to the Po-Po in the Mile High City. After getting not getting a response, which according to the available record was 8 minutes, the justifiably upset homeowner files a complaint.

And here's where the bureaucratic samba comes in. See, Denver Metro PD initially took the complaint, but since it didn't really involve them, they punted to the 911 Dispatch Center.

The money quote for me? (This after already being kicked over to the offending agency, and already knowing that NOBODY showed up at his house for the attempted break in, mind you.)

'The Operations Supervisor advised Mr. Frie that Denver Police Officers responded to his house and then referred Mr. Frie to the Denver Police Department's website to make a "formal complaint."

OK, it's in this instance that I'm glad I don't live in a large metropolitan area. I'd go bonkers. What kind of 'supervisor' doesn't know what the hell is going on?

On second thought don't answer that.

Mr. Allen goes on to explain what he'd do if a situation like this presented itself to him and his. Do a press check. Me?

I'd make sure I made the most reassuring sound in the world to my family, I'd run a 2.75" load of #7 shot into the chamber of the trusty 870PG.