‘Twas the night before Christmas…

Seattle Gun Rights Examiner ^ | 24 December, 2010 | Dave Workman

[marktwain]

…and Washington State gun owners once again were reminded yesterday —courtesy of a story in the Oneida, N.Y. Observer Dispatch — why they do not wish to see the Evergreen State go the way of the Empire State when it comes to regulating their right to keep and bear arms.

This comes on the heels of an arrest in a Kent murder, reported yesterday by the Seattle Times, that involved a stolen police sidearm. More about that in a moment.

The Oneida newspaper story explains better than this column why Bellevue’s Second Amendment Foundation has filed a lawsuit in New York’s Westchester County, challenging the deliberately cumbersome administration of that state’s handgun laws.

Here’s what gun prohibitionists think is a “reasonable regulation” as defined by the Utica newspaper’s story: Applicants for pistol licenses in New York’s Oneida County — outside of New York City, of course — must successfully complete a basic pistol course taught by the National Rifle Association. This column is hardly against training, but it should never be mandatory.

You can’t just go pick up a pistol license. Oneida County Judge Michael Dwyer, the county’s chief pistol license officer, requires prospective applicants to complete the first eight hours of the National Rifle Association basic pistol course.

After taking the course, one must be fingerprinted, and then endure at least a four-month period of background checks and red tape, and that’s even before they let you purchase a pistol.

Here, you can obtain a Concealed Pistol License without taking a mandated training course (you are, after all, exercising a constitutionally-protected civil right), though you do get fingerprinted and go through a background check. First-time applicants will wait anywhere from 30 to 60 days, depending upon their length of residence, to get a CPL.

One can buy a handgun before getting a CPL, of course, and that requires a background check and five-business-day waiting period. People with a CPL can bypass the five-day wait and take delivery on the same day following the quick background check. It's all spelled out in my book Washington State Gun Rights and Responsibilities.

“After that, you can make an appointment to be fingerprinted, and it’s a four-month process (background checks and more),” Sullivan said. “Once you are approved, you can buy a gun.”

Renewals here are even better. Earlier this year, it took my younger son all of 16 minutes to renew his CPL. A few weeks ago, my renewal took a minute less, courtesy the efficient and pleasantly professional staff at the King County Sheriff’s Office.

We’re an Open Carry state, where activists like my pal Jim Beal in Seatac will enjoy the holidays knowing that their rights are far more secure than their contemporaries living in New York, New Jersey and other Northeast states. Beal was one of several Open Carry folks who trooped to the Legislature earlier this year to oppose a ban on so-called “assault weapons.” This column wrote about that hearing here, here and here.

Do not be surprised if a few firearms are stashed under Christmas trees here in the Pacific Northwest.

And, yes, we do still call it “Christmas” here. For the politically correct dipsticks who simply say “Happy Holidays” or nothing at all, I was born on Christmas. So, we’ll call it Christmas, and anyone who doesn’t care for that can (insert proper insult here).

UPDATE: The German-made firearm discussed in yesterday’s column about the cowardly slaying of a former Kentridge High School football star was apparently a .40-caliber Heckler & Koch pistol stolen in a residential burglary from the home of a Washington State trooper. Even law enforcement officers can be crime victims — just ask former Seattle Police Chief Gil “Empty Holster” Kerlikowske, whose own 9mm Glock pistol, taken from his car six years ago this Sunday, has never been recovered. Note to gun prohibitionists: Bad guys steal guns. They don't often buy them at retail, nor do they swarm gun shows, at least not the one in Puyallup.

FINALLY, there is more on the wildlife management front, and it is not good. Indeed, it is disturbing. This column has discussed the proposed merger of the Department of Fish & Wildlife with the Parks Commission and Department of Natural Resources law enforcement division into a super agency. Sportsmen over on the Hunting-Washington forum are taking a hard look at that.

We discussed what my priorities might be if I were governor (Was my tongue really in my cheek? Some folks tell me privately they hope not, but they're probably crazy.) here. My philosophy: “Roll Back The Clock.”

A Maine sportsman’s group has posted some interesting comments involving a retired U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service biologist Jim Beers. I interviewed Beers for a book on animal rights extremists a few years ago, and he seemed a very credible fellow. Read here and here, and you be the judge.

There is a movement afoot to put hunters in the corner; dismiss them as a necessary evil. A merger of the WDFW into a larger agency could accomplish that. Our dedicated game fund would become vulnerable. We discussed that here.

SOME YEARS ago, I knocked together a couple of parodies of “The Night Before Christmas” that have been, er, “borrowed” from time to time and re-worded slightly by the “borrowers,” but the originals are still out there. Armed Females of America has kindly re-posted the originals here for your reading pleasure.

Merry Christmas to all, and may there be many more in your future.

[marktwain]

Dave Workman is a stand up guy.