bhambill may needs some resusitation bout now!

It ain't about conservative or liberal, it is about having an open mind or a narrow one.

You can be either conservative or liberal or something else, but if you are narrow minded, you don't want to hear any view but your own!!

AFY!!

1) It could be PERCIEVED as left-wing, as the AK-47 is the communist and Islamofacist weapon of choice.

2) I think you're a pretty moderate guy. Keep up the good work.

dang it, Josef, good point!

I was shooting an M-4, too, though. So that balances it out, right?

"Keep and Bear"="Own and Carry"

2nd Amendment, 1791!

It's not left or right.

Damn right :-).

I wish I could shoot go to someplace safe and shoot an M-4 at targets... since I play so many games that use an M-4.

I think whether this makes you a right-wingnut or a liberal apologist all depends on who you were shooting at. Personally, I think we all need more opportunities to support our right to arm bears.

When will you cover the 4 reported criminal FEC/PDC investigations of the Pike campaign and his supporters?

Is there a problem with the Ed board not letting you report on these investigations?

Looking forward to seeing your breaking news item....

Curious, 1) thanks for tuning in and asking. 2) I hope your address is legit because that's a requirement here on TPB. 3) The investigations are still ongoing and thus there is nothing to report. I am constantly seeking updates on the investigations, however, so never fear.

I guess I just don't get it. Why would you WANT to shoot an AK-47? What do you shoot at? What do you get out of it? I am not anti-gun; I own a handgun for personal protection. And I agree that bears should be armed at all times. As I said, I just don't get it.

Hey Sam...welcome to the dark side :-D
I think you do a fine job.

All I know is that sure is a scary picture!!

AFY!!

I think you look ridiculous.

Maybe you're an independent?

Sam,

What concerns me is not your political leanings, but your apparent lack of knowledge of English language conventions. Perhaps there is a reason you interned at four newspapers before landing a job. Please do us all a favor and have an editor read your future posts.

Regards,

Lamar

"Or if the gunny-gun is an extension of your insecurity as a man,"

The same can be said of liberals, their rhetoric as an extension of their insecurity as good and decent human beings.

ST, you sure put a target on your back this time!

It takes balls Bro!

AFY!!

Jackal,

Since when is,

"perception is reality"

And since that 5th Circuit decision IS REALITY, and on it way to the SCOTUS, is that 2nd Amendment of 1791 really that confusing unless your reality contains no perception whatsoever.

Or is it just the First Amendment you don't like so well, when it dosent comply to your perception?

Amanda, i suppose my only answer would be - it's fun? That's all I've got, really. It's not my gun, I just went out for target practice. I couldn't give you the reasons of others who own such weapons.

Unfortunately I had to kill multiple posts on this thread from people who can't seem to follow the rules. People: If you can't provide a legit e-mail address your post is gone. Thems the rules.

To everyone else - thanks for tuning in.

This is literally my most popular post ever, which is really interesting. I've received e-mails from average citizens, local pols and even some people down in Olympia.

It makes you a consumer and supporter of assault weapons that have no other designed purpose other than to kill other people. If you can define "right wing" as represented by a willingness to kill other people, then you are "right wing." There was a time, not so long ago, when people who opposed the slaughter of their fellows by other citizens with these weapons were (still are) called by the pejorative "left wing pinko, etc, etc" If you predicate "right wing" as an oppositional to this pre-packaged "left wing," then you are "right wing." Also, there is a thread of thought in the culture that considers a general amnesiac quality that would allow someone to claim they're "only having fun," with these deadly weapons to belong to a particular segment of 'Merican' culture that has no sense of history or societal responsibility other than to their own desires. This can be called "right wing" but is better described ignorant hedonism, but hey, no one engages in real thought anymore, as evidenced by the original question...

Thank you all so very much for your kind words. ;) I'm glad you're enjoying my blog as much as I am.

ignorant hedonism?

left wing pinko?

general amnesiac quality?

Is that like that amnesiac quality when John Adams wrote about "The Furnace of Affliction" on the 19th of April, 1775 when When the British Maj. John Pitcaren (redcoat) told the boys with Captain Parker "Lay down your arm's...Damn you why don't you lay down your arms?" and "Fire! by God Fire!

Or was it the Virginian named George who mounted that White Horse again, that's part of that "left wing pinko ignorant hedoinsm"

but hey "no one engages in real thought anymoreas evidenced by the original question."`

I did provide a valid email address, yet for some reason my post was deleted, so here it is again.

Sam,

One year working for a daily, does not make a journalism career.

As for your photo holding an AK-47, how could anyone take you seriously if you ever (god forbid) had to report on an assault rifle shooting at a government building?

It shows that as an alleged "journalist", you have a complete lack of judgement.

Geez people....lighten up!!

It must be a sad life, not to have any glimmers of humor in your life!

The world is NOT out to get you! Neither are the journalists (well except maybe Katie Couric..does she qualify as a journalist? and maybe Baba Wawa (Barbie Walters)

People like Sam are ordinary people, just like you, who WORK for a living. I don't envy their job at all..the only other job I can think of that would be worse...a politician because people think they own you and your opinion..you are no longer allowed to be yourself!

You do good work, Sam, and don't listen to those who think they've never errored in grammar. Mean people suck!

Jackal, as I wait to confirm your new e-mail address (the last one bounced back to me immediately, so it wasn't legit), I will respond to your comment about taking me seriously.

1) Many people don't already because they already assume the media is bias. 2) How is holding an AK-47 in a picture, or letting people know that I've shot one, any indication that I can't be taken seriously in covering a violent crime?

Personally, I believe that to be fairly tricky and erroneous logic.

Did you know I also use a laptop every single day at work? Should people not take me seriously if I cover cyber crime?

Why you would ever even deign to think that posting a picture of yourself with a gun amounted to anything more than showing off boggles the mind. There's a difference between political discourse and "Hey, look at me" antics.

Jabriel, sorry if you may have misunderstood, but by dint of posting such a photograph I was trying to make the point that people seem to have false impressions of not only me and the work I do but about each other. Plus, the picture is hilarious, I mean - come on!

Hey Jackal, are you aware of the civility rules here? You need to cool it or you'll find yourself in the cooler.

I'm still waiting for a legit address response from you. I'm also concerned as to whether or not it's appropriate for you to be insulting a fellow journalist while you're at work.

Hilarious for sure!

Target practice is still a legal activity in the good ole USA.

I know there are some people in Colorado who appreciate that a little lady there has kept up on her shooting skills!

I know one thing if I was a bad guy I sure wouldn't mess with any of those Herald boys!

AFY!!

If I were a journalist or at work, you would have a point.

Notice I said, "would have".

I am however a longtime reader of this publication. As such, I'm growing concerned by the state of journalism in this town when the papers lead political reporter is depicted in a photograph smiling and holding an AK-47. What's next?

If there are civility rules for this board, perhaps they should be posted on this page.

I see none.

Look to the right, Jackal.

And Jackal,

What's Next?

Mabey a ride on the U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln, Everett Washington, thy got some real big guns there too.

You can't go see that Lexington or Yorktown, after the Battle of Coral Sea, and Midway, sinking those enemy carriers too.

Whats the deal with the little toy gun in this picture, Jackal?

I don't mind the weapon, but geez, guy, do something about those shoes!

Hey now, reb, say whatever you want about the gun -- but keep my sweet Nike Shox out of it!

nice piece...but I'm afraid I'm with reb on this one.

Good blog too btw. If people get mad at you, there's a chance you might be doing something right.

I hope you brought that back home with you, even if I think AK's are a spray and pray piece of technology...
As foreign hardware goes, I still prefer HK.
Did you get the old lady to shoot too?

Tri-P, maybe you would like to do some targets with my MP5 one day?

AFY!!

Stop it, you tease.
You're making me drool...even if it is a 9mm.