A project not so safe for liberty

Washington Times ^ | Sunday, June 16, 2002 | Paul Craig Roberts

[JohnHuang2]

In 1999 Edward Tenner published "Why Things Bite Back," a provocative book about the unintended consequences of technology. Someone should write a similar book about law, because the unintended consequences are even more far reaching.

Gene Healy, a Cato Institute scholar, recently provided a thorough exploration of the unintended consequences of one law, the new Bush-Ashcroft plan to federalize gun crimes known as the Project Safe Neighborhoods program. The unintended consequences of this law are frightening.

[JohnHuang2]

Sunday, June 16, 2002

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[MileHi]

." No one should be surprised when many of those prosecuted in the name of Safe Neighborhoods are hapless gun owners who are no threat to society.

It is coming. Project Exile is where I part company with NRA.

[white trash redneck]

Project Exile is where I part company with NRA.

Ditto that. This weekend has been my annual re-read of Unintended Consequences, and Ross has really nailed it.

[MileHi]

and Ross has really nailed it.

Well, I hope so. So far Kalifornia is the example and they are for the most part surrenering without a whimper.

[Atlas Sneezed]

Also posted here.

[Travis McGee]

Kalifornia is the example and they are for the most part surrenering without a whimper.

Kali is now totally run by the demonrats in the gov's mansion and legislature, so they have almost no check on the laws they want to pass. The legislature is one vote away from a 2/3 'rat majority, when they can even amend the state constitution at will.

As bad as that is, I have not heard any stats indicating that many of the millions of "assault rifles" in this state were ever registered, as they were required to be a year ago. So the jury is still out about how much 'surrendering without a whimper' has been done here.

[Joe Brower]

Out of all the folks I knew in Kali, only a couple actually registered anything, and those were just "takeaways", a tactic that I thought rather silly but which does have some arguments for it. One of those was also a LEO, whose possession of said "assault weapons" (whatever the hell that means) was known to some of his fellow officers.

I have read a few times that actual compliance with SB 23 was around 10%, which the sh!t-eaters in the CA legislature and CA DOJ said "they expected". This number approximates my own experience, and shows how rampant the corruption and arrogance of the state government when they force such laws into being knowing what massive disobedience they will encounter. It's the largest single case of civil disobediance in US history. The will of the people be damned.

And for any statist lurkers here on this thread, burn in hell.

[the]

I still think that there is something humourous about bringin gup Edward Tenner's "Unintended Consequences" when discussing gun control. Without having to come out and say it, the author is able to invoke the memory of John Ross's novel, without bringing into play all the baggage that comes along with the book and its history.

,not to be confused with John Ross's novel of the same name:

Ironically I first found Tenner's book at my local public library while looking to see if they had the novel. "Why Things Bite Back" is good, though a bit repetitive. Tenner draws on several real world scenarios where good intentions just weren't enough.

[MileHi]

. So the jury is still out about how much 'surrendering without a whimper' has been done here.

Travis, my sense is that when it begins in earnest, one gun owner at a time will be targeted. The media will broadcast the "good shooting" of a "dangerous criminal" and the public (and at least a few on this board) will cheer for "law and order"

Good people will be eliminated in an orderly fashion.

And for any statist lurkers here on this thread, burn in hell.

Joe, it will come to that. God help us.

FReegards to you both. And stay well.

[patton]

On my last trip to the farm, I spent some time thinking about this. The value of words becomes clear;

VA Note, on page maybe 32 of the local rag -

Downhome redneck busted for speeding in NY, gets 35 years in jail.

NY Headline, above the fold, page one -

VA Illegal Gun Trafficker Held

Friday night, alert operatives of the NY state police arrested a notorious trafficker in unregistered guns on the interstate. The defendant, stopped initially for speeding, was found to have 35 unregistered guns in his possesion, along with thousands of rounds of unlicensed ammunition. Additionally, the criminal mastermind had 2000 contraband cigarettes, and a vast quantity of bootleg liquer.

[Travis McGee]

When that day comes, the tyrants who piss on the constitution will have to go into deep hiding. No more golf, no more fishing or boating or hiking or taking long walks.

The idiots were focused on the semi autos with an effective range of about 200 yards: they should have been more concerned about the old bolt action 30-06s and .270s and .243s.

But those bolt guns were unassailable "at this time" as the "legitimate hunting rifles" they swore they were not after when they went after "assault rifles".

The fools.

They may find out about "hunting" in time if they begin to target and attack law abiding Constitution defending gun owners.

[Travis McGee]

They nabbed a bootlegger, an interstate contrabandista. No skin off my teeth.

[patton]

Um, the idea was differing representations if I get stopped for speeding, on my way to my farm in NY. Carying a small part of my own gun collection, a variety of rounds (I like to shoot), 1 carton of cigs with VA tax stamps (perfectly natural; I do live in VA), and one bottle of booze bought in VA, from the state store (VA ABC).

I might think that I have a right to take my guns, my cigs, and my booze, and enjoy them on MY property.

But I suspect that that is not the case.

[Travis McGee]

Sure, I'm with you there. If anyone is nailed strictly for "personal use" amounts of guns, booze or cigs, and is railroaded to jail, that's an abomination.

I may not agree with NY laws, but I don't have much pity for the bootlegger and gunrunner if he has a history of selling 30 pistols a run out of his trunk to criminals in NYC.

If that is indeed the case. If.