Urgent call for Camp Perry gun malfunction expert

August 28, 8:38 AMGun Rights ExaminerDavid Codrea

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  Courtesy Oleg Volk, A Human Right

Mike Vanderboegh at Sipsey Street Irregulars has put out a call for help. It's important, so I'm doing what I can to help amplify his voice.

Larry Pratt of Gun Owners of America needs to find an expert witness for "a pending legal case." Here's what Larry sent Mike:

Do you know of a reference to the Camp Perry matches where they have gunsmiths to handle malfunctions? Or any other such venue where they are used to shooters having guns that malfunction by firing a burst and then jamming? Time is of the essence on this.

Mike asks us to think hard about who we might know, and to spread the word. That means sending emails to your gun owner friends, posing the question on gun forums you frequent--whatever you can think of.

As he reminds us:

Somebody's freedom is hanging on it.

I don't recommend posting likely candidates' names and contact information in "Comments" out of respect for their privacy. Instead, please get this information to Mike at GeorgeMason1776ATaolDOTcom, to Larry via the GOA contact form, or to me at dcodreaAThotmailDOTcom and I'll follow up/pass it on to them.

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Andy Caldwell Show update

We talked about my appearance yesterday. It went well, and I'll monitor his site to let you know when they have the show posted for listening.

One question came up that I had an idea how to answer, but could not say for sure because it's a detail in California law I'm not up on. Andy had been told the reason some sheriffs won't issue concealed carry permits is because they fear liability should a permittee commit a crime.

My initial reaction was that does not sound right, that laws typically exempt agencies from such liability, that it hasn't been an issue anywhere else and that it seems like a pretty outrageous excuse to use for denying a right to protect self and loved ones. I'm no lawyer, but I can't believe this is anything but a false argument. You don't see motor vehicle bureaus getting sued after smash-ups because they issue driver licenses.

After the show, I did a quick search and came up with this:

Government Code 818.4 immunizes a public agency for any injury caused by the issuance, denial, suspension or revocation of, or the failure or refusal to issue, deny, suspend, or revoke any permit, license certificate, approval or order or similar authorization where the public entity or an employee of the public entity is authorized by enactment to determine whether or not such authorization should be issued, denied, suspended, or revoked.

Plus there are a couple other clauses mentioned. Reading legalese makes Mongo's head hurt.

If anyone has knowledge of this area of the law, please educate the rest of us.

And no, for any who might think this means I'm going soft on the idea of turning rights into privileges by licensing them, I'm saying nothing of the kind.