I don’t really have words to explain how or why this touched me on quite such a personal level, or how much joy I’ve experienced knowing Cory will be freed. Instead, again, I implore you to read what Radley Balko has to say, as well as some words from Cory himself.

The Back Story.

A Letter from Cory Maye.

Welcome home, Cory.

^{(Photo from Radley Balko)}

The correct statistic should be [number of opt-outs] out of [number of travelers selected for secondary screening].

There are widespread reports of the scanners not even being used on Opt-Out Day, which means people didn’t have the option to opt-out. Even Reason is screwing up on interpreting this information, but it’s really not difficult to understand. The TSA is relying on people not thinking about the nature of the numbers they’re presenting. It’s blatant propaganda.

It’s very, very weird trying to explain guns, gun rights, gun safety, the whole doggone gun culture to someone from a society that just… doesn’t get it. She even acknowledged that the UK was starting from a different place in enacting gun control than the US would be, because the ownership rates are so different. I think the reasons why run a little deeper than that.

Hopefully I didn’t prattle on like too much of an idiot. It’s very hard to stay on point when you’re talking about something so huge and multi-faceted. She asked how I felt about guns being so accessible when irresponsible people might own them and they are used to harm many people at once and they are used against women in domestic violence situations and kids might get ahold of them and shoot each other and depressed women might use them to commit suicide and… I mean, where do I start? Each one of those is an issue I could go on about for hours. I tried to hit the major points.

Then, we got into the issue of licensing and/or otherwise restricting access to guns, which I oppose for completely political reasons, so I had to go down the Constitution/Bill of Rights/Founding Fathers/original intent/armed rebellion road, which is the stuff of books and SCOTUS study, not thirty minute phone calls! In retrospect, I realize I probably made it sound like I think the right to bear arms is derived from the Bill of Rights, not enumerated in it, since I was talking about how it’s unacceptable to simply ignore the parts of the Constitution we deem outdated or unnecessary when there’s a process to amend it if we feel that way. *facepalm*

I also get sick of feeling like I should be apologetic for acknowledging the collateral damage that comes along with freedom. I am not going to pretend that even kids raised around guns and taught the Eddie Eagle rules won’t sometimes get ahold of an unsecured gun and shoot their friend while playing GI Joe. Shit happens. I do my best to prevent it in the world I have control over, and I do my best to teach others to do the same, but bad things will always happen to good people. I don’t believe trading a fundamental right for a reduction in one particular type of accident or one particular way of killing your spouse or one particular means of suicide is worth it. I just don’t. Yes, I think worse shit happens when law-abiding citizens don’t have guns. Like genocide.

I know, I know, preaching to the choir. I just get so nervous about how stuff I say will be used. I really tried to emphasize points about focusing on parental and societal responsibility rather than attacking firearms as tools. I have a real love/hate relationship with the mainstream media. I feel like I’m generally a decent ambassador, so I like the opportunity to state my case, but I hate sitting around and waiting to see what they do with what I offer.

EDIT: Oh, cripes, this ought to end well. Same journalist, old article.

“Why was this tormented young man able to carry out this massacre? How could he legally obtain a weapon designed to kill so many people?” asked Connie Catellani, the mother of one of the victims.

Many pro-gun lobbyists think they have the answer to her first question, at least – let more people legally carry arms and let students with a gun licence take their weapons on to campus. Then, in their view, a shooter would barely have a chance to open fire before being calmly gunned down by sane, upstanding, law-abiding, gun-toting fellow students.

I honestly don’t know why I even bother.

EDIT #2: Hahahahahaha. Okay, this is older and even better. On the subject of the Free State Project:

The FSP argues that civil government should exist only to protect life, liberty, and property. Individuals are free to do as they please, provided it does not harm others.

In a “Free State”, that would translate as a green light for casinos, brothels, cocaine farms and gun supermarkets. Leaders would also do away with seatbelt laws, limits on gay marriage and most taxes.

FSP, you guys are letting me down. That article is seven years old. You’re SLACKING!

Seriously, read it and note the tone. They’re bragging. They’re basically saying “Ooooh, nice protest, losers.” It’s bizarre.

And the picture of the kids? Seriously?

“Molester, pervert, disgusting, an embarrassment, creep. These are all words I have heard today at work describing me. …These comments are painful and demoralizing.”

What’s next? Being felt up by strangers or something? Oh, wait…

Stop being so mean, Citizen. In fact, here’s a helpful suggestion:

“Instead of making this Wednesday National Opt-Out Day in which a bunch of self-appointed guardians of liberty slow down the line for everyone by asking for pat-downs,” said Baker, “maybe what we need is a day when everyone who goes through the line says, ‘Thanks for what you do.’ ”

I mean, are they for real? Do they actually hear the things coming out of their mouths, and believe them? Is this their idea of helping Americans understand the supposed necessity of these measures, winning hearts and minds and all that? Or have they just openly arrived at the Take it, bitch! point and don’t really care if we notice? The lunatics are officially running the asylum, kids.

I decided to be proactive and start the process to get my private pilot license. It’ll probably be a long time before private air travel fits into our family budget as a really regular mode of transportation, but at least I’ll be ready when it is. (Of course, anyone with a spare single-engine plane they’re looking to give away can email me anytime.)

I’d never actually flown in a small plane before a few days ago. A friend owns an old Luscombe, and he called to ask if I wanted to go for a ride. I hopped in the car, drove the ~10 minutes to the local airport, parked, walked through a chain-link gate, got in his plane with a Sig P238 in my pocket, and was airborne about five minutes later.

Um, SOLD.

So are mine, though his post just helped me put a finger on our exact problem right now:

…OR WHAT?

The Democrats screwed the pooch, so they got thrown out, and Republicans were the default to fill the void. We’re all shaking our fingers and telling the Republicans to beware… OR WHAT?

We oust them and go back to Democrats? (Oh, grrrrreat idea.) Vote in more “tea party” flavored Republicans? (I don’t really see that as an option unless they at the very least refuse to caucus with all the other Republicans… else, they’re just part of the Big-R problem.)

We… what?

WHAT, exactly, are we going to do?

I’m not throwing my hands up in despair, I’m saying whatever happens two years from now begins today. Many of you believe there is still a difference to be made through the standard voting process. Fair enough, but what’s the game plan if the Republicans screw up, because they probably will?

You know, the Democrats are probably secretly thrilled with this outcome. Sure, they might sacrifice some of their guys for two years, but if the Republicans blow it, they get to keep Hopey Changey for four more. And probably get both houses back.

So. Yeah. Plan?

P.S. Also from the School of Getting It: Robb.

We have never said we would support any version of this bill. To the contrary, we clearly stated NRA’s strong opposition to the DISCLOSE Act (as introduced) in a letter sent to Members of Congress on May 26 (click here to read the letter).

Later in the same statement:

We didn’t “sell out” to Nancy Pelosi or anyone else. We told Congress we opposed the bill. As a result, congressional leaders made a commitment to exempt us from its draconian restrictions on free speech. If that commitment is honored, we will not be involved in the final House debate. If that commitment is not fully honored, we will strongly oppose the bill.

If the NRA gets its piece of the pie, they’ll stay quiet. Only if they don’t will they actively oppose the bill.

That’s pretty much the definition of selling out, you two-faced, double-speaking morons.

EDIT: By the way, I’m really, REALLY sick of everyone making excuses for the NRA’s bad behavior. It absolutely galls me how many gunnies are willing to turn a blind eye every time they sell us up the river “compromise” on something because they’re the biggest gun rights organization out there. I don’t really give a good god damn how big they are when they fail at actually protecting our interests.

I don’t give anyone carte blanche to speak on my behalf, especially an organization hell-bent on securing a monopoly – to what effect? When every last check on the NRA is stripped of its political power, by a combination of gun owner fear and legislative action, and we have only the NRA to represent us… Do you really trust them that much? If we treat the NRA with such undeserved reverence when we have other options, they know they’ve got us on complete lockdown if they can kill the competition. And then what?

Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.