It seems that I have to stop being so vocal about my dislike of North Carolina. The last time I visited, I left with a practically-new Mini Cooper, and now, their lawkmakers have shown signs of sanity:

RALEIGH, N.C. – North Carolina lawmakers have approved a measure that would require courts to give battered spouses something extra when they seek a restraining order — information on how to apply for a concealed weapon.

…

“We’re not interested in them shooting their abusers,” said Paul Valone, president of Grass Roots North Carolina. “We’re interested in delivering a message: When police can’t protect these people, they are capable of protecting themselves.”

Given that we’ve already established that the police aren’t responsible for your protection, I think that educating people who’ve convinced the court that they’re in danger as to how they can get a weapon to defend themselves is a wonderful idea. (Of course, educating people about how they can get a weapon and how to properly use and care for that weapon is always a good idea, in my book.)

( þ Banana Oil! )

On a different topic, I know that this story about the 8th grade students who were doing a science project on BB guns is old news, but I was re-reading the article (it was linked from the one above), and came across this quote:

“The scientific review committee does not consider science projects involving firearms to be safe for middle school students,” Degon said.

I’m sorry, but I’ve been thinking about the BB guns I’ve owned over the years, and not one of them classified as a firearm (which must, by definition, use an explosive charge to propel the ammunition). So, why was this project banned again?

A Jewish settler killed three Palestinians on Wednesday, apparently out of frustration over the pending withdrawal from the Gaza Strip.

It appears this guy was a lone gunman, and that he’s been arrested. There was another incident a while back, and that guy was torn apart by a mob at the scene. There is absolutely no reason whatsoever to believe that there is a major movement to commit violence against the Palestineans. In a situation like this one, it’s not inconceivable that a few people will be pushed past the breaking point.

That said, I hope that Israel prosecutes this guy to the fullest extent of their law, because he committed murder*. Prosecuting murderers instead of celebrating them is absolutely imperative for any society, especially one that is under the kind of scrutiny that Israel faces every day.

Of course, even if they do prosecute this man and any others like him, it’ll matter not a whit to the U.N. General Assembly, which practically passes a resolution after every suicide bomber attack in Israel to condemn the Israelis for not dying in large enough numbers.

( þ Say Anything)

* He committed murder, and he was wrong to do so. I wish I didn’t have to say that. “He committed murder” should imply the second part of that sentence, but there is a huge portion of our society (and societies around the globe) that seem to feel that murder is okay in certain circumstances, like, for example, you’re really angry at the United States or Israel and kill an American or an Israeli Jew.