All posts by Chris Knox

Site News

New Toys On The Site

Over the weekend I added a variety of tools and new features to the site.  The theme behind virtually all of the new stuff is interactive.  In order to live up to its name, the members of The Firearms Coalition need to be able to communicate with one another.  The vision is a free and open communications medium that allows members to communicate openly, but to take a discussion private as they need to.  So far, some 24 hours after getting the last of the tools installed and more or less configured, the atmosphere is akin to a junior high school dance.  Everybody's waiting for someone else to make the first move.  That's okay.  I expect things to pick up.  I'll be blogging here over the next few days about the tools and what they are and how to use them.

 

Chris's Blog

Site News

We've installed several new components on the site.  Most are only visible if you are registered and logged in.  Some of the components we've added:

 

  • Community Builder
    This is a combinatin user management and user communication tool.  You can  build a profile for other site members to see.  We're asking everyone to at least include a zip code.  That way we can send targeted updates about things that are happening in your neighborhood.
  • Private Message Manager
    Send other site members private message.  It never goes outside the site.
  • Comment system
    Registered members can comment directly on articles blog entries.
  • Member Blogs
    A simple blog tool to allow members to create a blog. 
  • Forum
    A place for online conversation, debate, and general communications.  Specific sub-topics for states, counties, and cities.

Let us know what you think.  Assume that there will be bugs and glitches.  We appreciate your patience and understanding.  You can help it grow by bringing your friends. 

 

Chris Knox 

The Knox Update, Uncategorized

Web Site Usage Rules

Usage Rules

Use of this Web Site implies an agreement to abide by the rules of the site.  These rules may be updated periodically without notice.

The purpose of The Firearms Coalition Web Site is to educate and inform members of the Site of news and issues regarding the Second Amendment Right to Keep and Bear Arms.  This site includes discussions areas that allow two-way communication between and among other users of the Site.  The Owners of the Site (Neal Knox Associates and Knox Communications) and its delegated Moderators will police the Site for offensive or abusive material through day-to-day moderation, but The Firearms Coalition disclaims responsibility for the actions of others including abusive or offensive material posted to the Site.

Abusive or Offensive Material and Actions

Users of the Site will refrain from posting Abusive or Offensive Material.  Abusive Material includes but is not limited to any of the following:

  • Spam.
    “Link spam,” posts or blog entries for the specific purpose of linking to unrelated sites, using the site to publish commercial messages to other members or anyone else on the net is spamming.  Spammers can expect no tolerance.  Actions against spammers may include immediately terminating the offending account, reporting the incident to the offendor’s ISP, or possibly law enforcement.
  • Gratuitous use of profanity.
    We recognize that sometimes it just comes out, but this is a public forum and appropriate decorum should be observed.

  • Sexually explicit material.
    Not within the rules of decorum, not within the topic of the site, and not allowed.
  • Personal attacks.
    This includes individuals both in and outside of the site.  Disagreement or controversy are to be expected on occasion, but rules of civil debate will be enforced.
  • Intentionally provoking other participants
    The term is trolling and it is rude. Feeding trolls (i.e. responding to inflammatory or offensive posts) is just as bad as the original trolling offense. Members do not need rise to the bait.  Note that this site is NOT an appropriate venue for debate of “gun control.”  Calling for (for example) banning, registering, or licensing of any firearm in this forum qualifies as trolling.  Opponents of gun rights should free to exercise their First Amendment right to advocate restrictions on firearms in a different forum.

  • Posting Internet Floaters, Chain Letters, and Hoaxes
    Microsoft and AOL will not pay you if you register your email.  The Good Times Virus will not wreck your computer.  Craig Shergold has all the postcards he needs.  If you want to say a prayer for the troops, please do so, but don’t post about it here.
  • Misrepresentation.
    Multiple user names, “sock puppets” (a single user creating fictitious accounts in order to provoke discussion or serve as a surrogate fan club), posting under someone else’s account or claiming someone else’s identity are all sufficient grounds for account termination and banning the user, and possibly, folow-up with ISP and/or law enforcement.
  • Copyright violations
    Any copyright material must be used with permission.  All posts or submissions remain the property of the submitter who retains full responsibility for content

Security

Every reasonable effort will be made to safeguard personal data stored on the site.  Security issues should be brought to the attention of the Owners as soon as they are discovered.  Security probing or “cracking” attempts by anyone not expressly contracted by Neal Knox Assoiciates, Knox Communications, or their ISP will result in termination of the account and possible follow-up with law enforcement.

Moderation

From time to time the Owners of the Site may appoint at their sole discretion and judgment Moderators to assist with enforcement of the Site Rules.

Summary

In summary, what we expect from our members is courtesy and adherence to the rules of civil discourse that are common to any public space.

Jeff's Blog

DC Files Supreme Court Appeal

             The District of Columbia released its long awaited petition asking the Supreme Court to review the Parker/Heller case.  Mayor Adrian Fenty held a Tuesday morning press conference which was anticipated by 3 articles and a guest editorial in the Washington Post.  All of the stories in the Post echoed the City’s contention that the Court of Appeals made a radical decision when they interpreted the part of the Second Amendment which says, “the right of the People to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed”, as meaning that the People’s right to keep and bear arms should not be infringed.

Continue reading DC Files Supreme Court Appeal →

Alerts List

Joaquin Jackson Update

  Yesterday I sent out an Alert about NRA Director Joaquin Jackson's TV interview in which he opined that "assault weapons" were alright if they only had a capacity of 5 rounds.
    This story has actually been bouncing around the internet for a couple of weeks and Ranger Jackson and NRA have released a response to the concerns raised by the story.
    It is very clear in the interview exactly what Jackson is saying and what he means.  Along with some other comments he states;

  "I think these assault weapons basically need to be in the hands of the military and they need to be in the hands of the police, but as far as assault weapons to a civilian, if you… if you… it's alright if you got that magazine capacity down to five rounds."

Continue reading Joaquin Jackson Update →

Alerts List

NRA Director Against “Assault Weapons”

       NRA Director Against "Assault Weapons

  "I think these assault weapons basically need to be in the hands of the military and they need to be in the hands of the police, but as far as assault weapons to a civilian, if you… if you… it's alright if you got that magazine capacity down to five rounds."

            These are the words of famous, former Texas Ranger and current member of the NRA Board of Directors, Joaquin Jackson.

Jackson was being interviewed on PBS TV station KLRU on a program called TexasMonthly Talks.

            The pertinent segment of the interview can be viewed on-line at:

http://www.klru.org/texasmonthlytalks/archives/jackson/jackson.asp

last clip on the page.

Below is a transcript of this portion of the interview.

Continue reading NRA Director Against “Assault Weapons” →

Chris's Blog

The Next Ex-NRA Board Member

Joaquin Jackson: my favorite candidate next former NRA Board member. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uSGySNLyACE 

My dad got drummed off the Board for independently and "without portfolio" lobbying Congress to follow NRA Board policy which NRA had turned away from.  This guy, while waving his  Board credentials, calls for banning all but five-round magazines for "assault weapons."

If you know any Board members, maybe they need to hear from you.

Speaking of which, contact information for Board members might be a useful thing.  We'll work on that.  

Please let us know of any developments from this interview. 

Jeff's Blog

Snyder supports HELPS Act

    Longtime gun rights advocate John Snyder has joined The Firearms Coalition in calling for Congress to cut funding to any college or university which prohibits employees and students from the otherwise lawful carry of personal protection firearms.

    We first introduced this idea in our July/August Hard Corps Report newsletter and provided more details in a Knox Report column a few days later.  That Knox Report can be read here.

    Snyder is the Public Affairs Director for The Citizen's Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms and PRDirector for the  National Association of Chiefs of Police. 

    We are very pleased and encouraged by Mr. Snyder's support for this type of legislation and hope that other gun rights leaders will take a similar stand.

     

The Knox Update

Time for HELPS

Force the Issue

 

            (Manassas, VA, August 14, 2007)  The Firearms Coalition has drafted legislation which would restrict any federal funds from going to any college or university which prohibits employees and students who may lawfully possess and carry defensive weapons off campus from possessing and carrying those weapons on campus.  We call it HELPS, the Higher Education Lawful Personal Security Act and we believe it could be passed in the 110th Congress. 

Continue reading Time for HELPS →

Jeff's Blog

Rights Day Summary

    Well it was a pretty good day. 

    I got to Realco Guns in Maryland right at Noon instead of earlier as I had planned.

    We had about 25 or 30 people with a few comings and goings along the way compared to their 50 or 60 folks.  The biggest difference being that it looked like most of their people were on the clock while they were there while our side was pretty much all volunteers.  

    Jane with Second Amendment Sisters had done a good job coordinating things with the local cops, etc. and had a good PA system set up.  Henry Heymering with Maryland Shall Issue was there with several of his guys and gave away a bunch of "Self Defense in a Family Value" T-shirts.  Bob Culver with Montgomery Citizens for a Safer Maryland was there for the whole event and we had several guys up from Virginia and VCDL.  A couple of guys from the Tyrany Response Team showed up and the ProGunProgressive.com blogger popped in as things were wrapping up.

    The guys from Realco had coffee and do-nuts for us and I saw lots of people buying ammo and accessories.  The two times I popped into the store, there were guys busily working on the seemingly endless paperwork which goes along with selling guns these days.  Very nice guys.  Very professional.

    I did get a chance to speak with a few media types as did many of our crew and I think pretty much everyone who spoke to the press handled themselves well.  The three points I really wanted to get across were:

1. Self defense is a Civil Right

2. Gun control doesn't work

3. There are three primary reasons for more guns in DC being traced back to Realco than any other store.  Those three reasons are; Location, Location, and Location.

    All in all I think it was a productive event.  Realco did more business than they normally would have.  The anti's didn't get a free pass.  And activists from Maryland, DC, and Virginia got a chance to network and build the kind of camaraderie that only comes from spending time together in the trenches.

    I want to express my thanks to everyone who attended this event and to everyone around the country who made it a point to stop by their local gun shop and buy a box of ammo or a new gun. 

    If you attended an event in your area, please send me a report on it.

    Don't forget to follow up todays action with a letter or e-mail to your elected officials to let them know that the power of the gun lobby comes directly from our numbers and our commitment and that we will work hard to defeat any politician who betrays their oath to support and defend the US Constitution.

    Let's do this again next year with more bells and whistles!

 

    Yours for the Second Amendment, 

        Jeff