The War on Guns

We're the Only Ones Colliding Enough

2013-05-21T12:54:00.000-04:00

SWAT Team Rams Wrong Man’s Car [More]

And at least one of them fired a gun?

So the Bradys were right about shootouts over fender benders?

Do You Have to Answer?

2013-05-21T12:42:00.001-04:00

No. [Read]

But I will.

[Via Florida Guy]

Compromise

2013-05-21T12:39:00.000-04:00

I was accidentally sent some chatter on this, and because I was not the intended recipient, I kept quiet. [Read]

Now that it's out, I can say that what I saw was speculating on the FBI being behind it, trying to ID her unnamed Benghazi sources. That doesn't mean they were, it just means that's what was being discussed.

I've often wondered if my and Mike's computers and phones have been treated to special scrutiny, and my default position is to act like they are, so every once in a while I interject something into our conversations like "The geese fly at midnight."

Perazzi Name Mixup?

2013-05-21T12:18:00.003-04:00

Illuminating thread going on at AR15.com:

So the story is real but it wasn't Perazzi?

Then how did the lawyer representing him get that basic fact wrong? I'll have to ask.

Right after I call a CCGA board member said to be an eyewitness I just got a number for.

I Agree to a Point

2013-05-21T12:03:00.004-04:00

But unless you reduce spending, they'll simply take it out of a different pocket. [Read]

Not that the political powers that be have any interest in changing the "representation without taxation" dynamic they so rely on...

Dang!

2013-05-21T11:38:00.001-04:00

Russian 'Terminator' has Bullet removed from head [Watch]

Not for the squeamish.

Even without total penetration, I'm wondering if he got a concussion.

[Via Jess]

No Doubt It's a Problem

2013-05-21T11:24:00.001-04:00

The thing is, focusing on the method with no real means of impacting that distracts from addressing root causes. [Read]

For instance, why do you think this group has a rate that dwarfs the general population's? Are any of the "gun control" groups calling to disarm them? At least for now, and out in the open?

Welcome to the WoGroll

2013-05-21T11:16:00.002-04:00

Say "Hello" to Holographic Site Guide, "Your complete guide to holographic sights." [Visit]

Second Call

2013-05-21T11:09:00.003-04:00

I have no first-hand knowledge about these folks, but this looks like something gun owners might want to check out. [Read]

I know statistically it's a numbers game where the odds are you will never need it, but if we took that attitude, we wouldn't be carrying guns in the first place.

Adams County Sheriff Denies Knowledge of Perazzi Incident

2013-05-21T11:03:00.000-04:00

I just got off the phone with the Adams County Sheriff's public information officer. He told me they have no knowledge of this incident other than what they've seen reported in the media.

I have not yet heard back from Denver PD, and will be following up on that today.

Not So Silent Observers

2013-05-21T10:59:00.001-04:00

The correct response to these nosy, subversive-minded "Authorized Journalists" is two words and starts with "F." [Read]

Two Bits!

2013-05-21T10:49:00.000-04:00

Chipman's "two bit criminal" has certainly moved up in the world. [Read]

No toon can resist the old Shave-and-a-Haircut trick.

We're the Only Ones Not Really the Only Ones Enough

2013-05-21T10:35:00.002-04:00

"When I see the charges I've pleaded to, I'm overwhelmed with guilt and shame," ex-Central Contra Costa Narcotics Enforcement Team Cmdr. Norm Wielsch said as he sobbed and clutched a tissue. "I'm sorry, that's not really me." [More]

Poor man. You've already been through so much!

My favorite bit of apologia:

His attorney said Monday that it was Wielsch's mental illness that made him susceptible to Butler, a sociopath who corrupted otherwise good people.

Flip?

[Via Dave Licht]

Curioser and Curioser

2013-05-21T09:17:00.000-04:00

...custom and value of approximately $ 500,000. [More]

Here's another Italian media report via Google Translate. And here's the curious part:

I didn't say $500,000 in my report.

Fox 31 Denver didn't say $500,000 in their report.

Where did blitz quotidiano get the $500,000 figure?

[Via Roger J]

The hoax of the arrest of Perazzi: a fake scoop created by the gun lobby?

2013-05-21T08:40:00.001-04:00

This is the Google Translate version of what appears to be a New York-based Italian news site. [Read]

No one is more committed to finding the truth of this matter than I am. That's why I spent hours last night posting and publicizing updates, communicating with the principal sources, and reaching out to Perazzi, Fox News 31 Denver and the Denver PD. That's why I'm getting ready to spend another long day digging out and sharing whatever I can.

I invite the reporter making this public speculation about motives to contact me (dcodreaAThotmailDOTcom).

UPDATE: I posted a comment on their site linking to this piece that is presently awaiting moderation, and also just sent them this:

This Day in History: May 21

2013-05-21T08:25:00.001-04:00

[More]

Perazzi Update

2013-05-20T22:59:00.003-04:00

I AM going to get to the bottom of this.

Two quick updates: I spoke to the Colorado attorney and she is flabbergasted, and is investigating from her end.

The legal source who handed me this story in the first place says Adams County Sheriffs have no record of this incident, meaning it was either Denver PD or it never happened.

I sent an outreach email to the Denver Fox affiliate that also reported on this. If anyone can validatet Denver PD records, it ought to be them.

[Click to enlarge]

And seeing as how Perazzi is rattling legal sabers, I figure the best thing to do is let them know I posted their press release and am going to do everything I can to get to the truth of this--for both our sakes:

And here is proof of delivery:

"Grazie, la vostra richiesta è stata ricevuta." = ""Thanks, your request has been received."

This is, without a doubt, the most bizarre personal experience I've ever had while trying to work a story by the numbers.

UPDATE: You know I'm getting tired when I send an email like this out to the Denver PD PIO:

That's it. My neck is killing me and I've done enough damage to myself for one day.

Important Update to Perazzi Story

2013-05-20T18:29:00.001-04:00

In all the years I've been writing, this has never happened to me before. I am starting to go from stunned to pissed. I just posted this update to the Perazzi/Denver shotgun arrest story:

IMPORTANT UPDATE: Perazzi has released the following statement on its website, translated using Google Translate:

OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE by Perazzi SPA

With regard to reports in the American press, in relation to an alleged arrest for "terrorism" by Daniele Perazzi (founder of Perazzi Armi SpA), we point out that the news is completely devoid of any foundation. Daniele Perazzi is however, unfortunately, failed to live for about a year. Even his son, Mauro, was last Saturday in the USA. As reported in the press is absolutely false. The company Perazzi, however, contrary to what is written, is familiar with the American legislation on weapons because of his extensive and well-known activities of marketing its products in the USA. Since it is difficult to think of simple error, it is believed that someone who has interests contrary to those of the Perazzi SpA, may have spread false and misleading information purposes only defamatory. The company has already instructed his lawyers to take the most appropriate actions, civil and criminal, in order to protect the brand represented and its activity, carried on the American market. Perazzi Armi SpA

PRESS RELEASE From Perazzi SpA With reference to press reports Concerning Daniele Perazzi's alleged unlawful arrest for terrorism last Saturday in Denver (Colorado), That we were the incident is devoid of any foundation and the news is completely fabricated. Daniele Perazzi (founder of Perazzi SpA) died last year, and his son Mauro was not in the United States last Saturday. The Perazzis are not involved in. any wrongdoing in any way, shape or form and, to our best knowledge, are not under investigation or scrutiny nor are targets of criminal proceedings. The Perazzi Company, contrarily to what Has Been Reported, is very familiar with the U.S. legislation on two weapons to its extensive presence in the American market. Perazzi is considering to take legal action to protect the brand and the Company's reputation in the USA. Perazzi SpA

Since this story has started to gain wider attention, my role in this, why I posted this and the standards I used before publishing merit scrutiny.

I was sent an email from a very well-known Second Amendment attorney titled "major urgent story." As I protect my sources, I will be immediately sending him an email asking if I may disclose his name.

He set down the story, essentially as presented in my Examiner column, and gave me as contacts NRA Director Schreiner and another attorney, one whose CV includes Oxford and Harvard--she requested I not use her name for attribution and I honored that for my story.

I called both and had extensive conversations that include contemporaneous notes of our conversations, and they both independently confirmed the contents of the email and each others' accounts.

To further source the story, I linked to a Fox News Channel 31 Denver report.

I also called the Adams County Sheriff's Office and left a voice mail with the Public Information Officer. As it was Sunday, no one answered and no call has been returned.

Before publishing the story, I sent it to the Colorado attorney who confirmed the story for an accuracy check, and she replied back that it was "well written" and "approved." She is also the one who told me that the Daniele Perazzi in the story was the grandson of the founder. I have the emails to document this.

After publishing, I sent the story link to Schreiner, to the attorney who tipped me to the story, and to the attorney who acted as a source.

This afternoon, a colleague sent me the link to the Perazzi press release. I immediately called Schreiner who maintains he was at the Collectors Show and has first-hand knowledge of some of the information stated as fact, and was directly told about the rest from show management. I also left a call for the source attorney and left a voice mail telling her of these developments and asking her to call me.

The bottom line is, I went through an extraordinary level of verification on this story before publishing it.

If it turns out that it is, as the press release states, "completely devoid of any foundation," that means someone went to extraordinary lengths to create and perpetuate a hoax story, and to draw me and others into it, and to smooth entry by using credible people.

As something like this can destroy a reputation, I too, am absolutely invested in getting to the truth of this matter, horrified by this development, and committed to identifying anyone who would do such a thing.

I am going to leave the original story intact below and will be writing a follow-up article when more information becomes known.

Inspector General report paves way for Burke disbarment

2013-05-20T17:00:00.003-04:00

Having become a liability to his highly-placed former political patrons, and cut off from earning a livelihood doing that which he has spent his career lifetime at, perhaps he’ll have incentive to open up on what more he knows about upper level Justice Department cognizance of Fast and Furious. [More]

This afternoon's Gun Rights Examiner report notes the only way this won't happen is if those with something to fear deem it advantageous to keep this guy eating.

Grassley charges U.S. attorney undermined Fast and Furious whistleblower

2013-05-20T14:46:00.003-04:00

“U.S. Attorney Dennis Burke leaked a sensitive document to the press regarding a whistleblower who had come forward with allegations of gunwalking … he leaked an internal memo regarding Fast and Furious suspect Jaime Avila to the New York Times, and … he lied to Deputy Attorney General James Cole,” Grassley’s release charges, adding. “The document leaked to Fox News was deemed so sensitive by the Justice Department that it was not provided to Congress, except in a secured room at department headquarters.” [More]

Today's Gun Rights Examiner report notes renewed interest in an old story.

We're the Only Ones Discharging Enough

2013-05-20T12:35:00.000-04:00

The gun went off... [Read]

[Via Florida Guy]

Changing His Story

2013-05-20T12:24:00.002-04:00

Damned unidentified Hispanic girls. [Read]

And to think we all held him and his colleagues in such high regard until now.

Meet the new boss.

Same as the old boss.

Reasoned Discourse, New Jersey-Style

2013-05-20T12:17:00.002-04:00

Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable. [Watch]

We all know which violent NRA insurrectionist said that, right?

[Via several of you]

Beat the Clock

2013-05-20T12:09:00.003-04:00

Why even try, unless you're just an unabashed, oath-breaking pig? [Read]

The Wages of Fuddism

2013-05-20T12:02:00.003-04:00

They only have themselves to blame. [Read]