Today’s news coverage will tell whether the Bellevue-based Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms has a message with broader appeal than anti-gun New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg and his Mayors Against Illegal Guns.
Call it Northeast elitism versus Northwest common sense.
Their two opposing rolling billboard campaigns collide today in Chicago, and it may not be the last time these polar opposites attract attention in the same venue.
This column discussed the CCRKBA campaign here, which is getting help for today’s activities from the Illinois State Rifle Association. ISRA is the group that partnered with CCRKBA’s sister organization, the Second Amendment Foundation – also based in Bellevue – on the landmark Supreme Court gun rights case, McDonald v. City of Chicago. Last June 28, the high court ruled for SAF and ISRA, incorporating the Second Amendment to the states through the 14th Amendment, effectively ending Chicago’s handgun ban and putting other cities and state governments on notice that henceforth, gun laws must recognize that owning a gun is a fundamental civil right, protected by the Second Amendment.
The roving billboard consists of two large truck-mounted panels advertising the fact that, on a daily basis, approximately 2,200 Americans utilize firearms to protect themselves from rape, robbery, murder and assault – a fact conveniently overlooked by the "mainstream media."
Bloomberg and MAIG launched their billboard campaign a couple of weeks ago. Today is CCRKBA’s inaugural event, according to CCRKBA Chairman Alan Gottlieb. Their rolling billboard campaign will linger in Illinois, northwest Indiana and southern Wisconsin for the next few days.
Bloomberg’s billboard message tells people that on average, 34 Americans die everyday from gun violence.
Gottlieb’s billboard message tells people that on average, more than 2,100 Americans use firearms every day in self-defense. In the majority of those cases, no shots are fired, and an attack is either deterred or interrupted, with the perpetrators running away to avoid getting shot.
We will see whose message scores more points.
MEANWHILE, renewed evidence to support this column’s long-standing principle that the economy revolves around the price of a gallon of gasoline is published in today’s New York Times. Oil speculators are driving up prices thanks to unrest in the Middle East and North Africa’s Libya.
Rising oil and gasoline prices will hit hard here in the Pacific Northwest. Washington’s gasoline prices are about 20 cents higher per gallon than the national average. Starting soon, drivers will be paying a toll to cross the Evergreen Point Floating Bridge.
What does this have to do with gun rights?
At the Washington Arms Collectors’ monthly Puyallup gun show, this column had an opportunity to chat with several people who were spending less or nothing at all, and the reason was simple and surprisingly uniform. Their “disposable” income – money they would typically spend on a new or used gun, or some shooting accessory – is being disposed of at the pump just to keep fuel in their car to get back and forth to work. If they have jobs.
Americans are less prepared to absorb the spike in gasoline prices than they were the last time prices rose this high, in 2008, because unemployment is higher and real estate values are lower, says David Portalatin, an analyst for the market research firm NPD Group.—New York Times
A couple of folks reminded this column of the double standard the press is applying to rising gas prices. Back in 2008, when the economy started to tank because gas prices skyrocketed to more than $4 a gallon and it cost a small fortune to fill the gas tank, the press was all over former President George Bush.
Today, there is nary a peep aimed at Barack Obama, who has been quiet on this economy-busting issue.
Fuel prices impact every segment of the economy, from the price of groceries and other goods, to a family’s ability to afford a vacation, or home improvements, a matinee movie on Sunday or heading to the ski slopes.
Time to dust off Aaron Tippin’s song Drill Here, Drill Now perhaps.
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ALSO VISIT:
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READ:
America Fights Back: Armed Self-Defense in a Violent Age
These Dogs Don’t Hunt: The Democrats’ War on Guns
Assault on Weapons: The Campaign to Eliminate Your Guns
Washington State Gun Rights and Responsibilities
Comments
And why did the economy tank (apropriate word)? The policies of George the lesser and Clinton. The bailout panic was started under GtL The major factor in the U. S. seems to have been the housing loan bubble. Guilty parties numerous. With this admin. there are multiple exogenous factors in N. Africa and the Middle East, plus speculation. Let's stick to the guns; clear case there.
I have a better idea, 'riverworld.'
Stop being a knee jerk apologist for the Obama administration and its fouled up policies.
Dave,
All I am asking of you is that you stick to writing about gun rights. You are an expert at that; I give out copies of your gun rights book for WA to family and friends reaching 18 years of age.
You only diminish the power and reach of your message by continually whacking at the current administration. I am not an Obama supporter.
If you want to address me personally, fine. I am pretty sure that you know who I am. My alias is almost identical to my alias on WA CCW groups.
Anyone catching an overall meme from the Left here?
A leftist Lunatic shoots some people and the Left uses it as a springboard to try to repress free speech with calls for ‘Civility’.
Meanwhile, they follow no such guidelines and in fact get shriller and even violent.
The Left also uses that crisis to try to push for another incremental disarmament of the law-abiding.
Meanwhile, we find out that the government agency that is tasked to keep enforce the law has been in fact breaking the law with project gunwalker in order to get more power for itself.
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