Comments on: Guns and women

By: Bookworm Room » Just because music — The G.I. Jive

Bookworm Room » Just because music — The G.I. Jive — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 04:20:53 +0000

[...] is so pathetic that I managed to call America’s First Sergeant by a rank he hasn’t seen since 1999. It was nice, therefore, to hear Louis Jordan’s G.I. Jive today (about the Army admittedly), [...]

By: Ymarsakar

Ymarsakar — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 00:35:31 +0000

Bureaucracy trumps the US Constitution. And people wonder why their votes and elections matter not…

By: SADIE

SADIE — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 19:38:46 +0000

ideally those who choose the profession of arms are all a mensch (even if we have to look that word up)

Think of it as putting the word “men” in mensch

By: Americas 1stSgt

Americas 1stSgt — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 17:40:51 +0000

As a gentleman and a vigorous defender of individual rights my thought is you may refer to me as pleases you. My promotion warrant appoints me as a First Sergeant of Marines to rank as such the first day of July 2007. Hmmm…you may have just inspired my next post. Thanks!

By: jj

jj — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 17:31:27 +0000

It’s interesting, because the Seattle City Council occasionally gets above itself, and decides that it’s going to impose some restrictions on guns inside the city limits. Every time they try – so far – the state legislature says something along the lines of: “uh… excuse us, boys and girls, but… no. Changing, limiting, restricting, imposing any sort of alteration on a state law happens not to be part of your writ. Don’t even go there. Seattle is part of Washington, subject to state law – and we make those laws, you don’t. Period.” Which is what New York State should have told New York City a hundred years ago – but unaccountably didn’t.

By: Bookworm

Bookworm — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 17:28:23 +0000

Got it, Am1stSgt. For so long, my rank and title have been "Mommy," I've lost track of nuances in the outside world -- and, I have to admit, I've never known the nuances in the military world.

So, how do I refer to you?

By: Americas 1stSgt

Americas 1stSgt — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 17:22:12 +0000

Bookworm, ideally those who choose the profession of arms are all a mensch (even if we have to look that word up). Not striving to be so would be unworthy of the special trust and confidence placed in us. As a side note though, in the Marine Corps we refer to our enlisted ranks by their full title, unlike the Army where they refer to everyone E-5 and above as Sgt. In my eyes I have not be a Sergeant in a long, long time (1999). Of course, we do refer to Gunnery Sergeants as Gunny and some Master Sergeants will consent to be called Top. Not all, but some.

By: Jose

Jose — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 14:05:52 +0000

JJ Thanks for the interesting guide to Obtaining a Concealed Weapon permit in NYC. I've enjoyed following the progress (or lack) of a DC resident in her attempt to purchase a gun. Even following the Heller decision, it is almost impossible for someone who doesn't know the system. http://www.washingtontimes.com/blog/guns/2011/oct/5/miller-emily-gets-her-gun/

By: SADIE

SADIE — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 07:18:05 +0000

Jose

Read the story of the poor old woman earlier today. This was not just a wacko – it was pure sadism. There is no punishment (legally) to fit the crime.

By: jj

jj — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 04:43:33 +0000

Not impossible, Jose – but time-consuming, annoying, and expensive. Depends on the occupant of the governor’s mansion, too. When George Pataki was governor he occasionally reminded the city that its laws really didn’t outweigh state laws. New York City occasionally needs reminding, too. Most judges in the city will go with state law, and if you have a carry permit from some other county in the state, they’ll tend to consider that okay for the city, too – though you can’t count on it.

This is because (1) most NYC judges are aware that Timothy Sullivan – progenitor of the Sullivan Act – was a Tammany Hall crook and general free-lance son of a bitch who essentially didn’t want anyone other than himself and his cronies to be armed, and it’s goddamed humiliating for anyone to be upholding a “law” crafted by this guy, and (2) there’s hardly any constitutional (state constitution, that is) basis for the city to get away with even having separate – let alone tougher – laws than the state. Sort of: “it’s been going on for a hundred years, okay, that’s the justification – but who told these city idiots they could do that in the first place?”

So what it comes down to is: the city will turn you down. So, you go hire one of the many people who maneuver around the Sullivan Act for a living, and they will simply do so for you. Because – though they get away with it every day – the city really cannot deny you, if you could qualify for a license in any other county. But, they can make it cost you $20,000, take a year, and drive you to the edge of reason. 99% of potential applicants will be sufficiently discouraged by this rigamarole that they won’t even bother to apply, and the city will consider that it has “won,” and kept another gun off the streets. They know if you spend the time – and money – to take them to court and fight about it, they’ll lose. But they also know that most people won’t be up for that cruise, won’t accept the hassle, and will give up and go away quietly. That’s the goal.

But if you want to spend the time and money, you can walk up 5th Avenue with a gun under your arm.