I hope to always place principles above political partisanship.   Though they don’t do so nearly as often as I would wish, when political leftists take stands that align with my loyalty to civil liberties, I will champion them.  So today I stand with residents of two very left-wing places – Boulder, CO and the state of New Jersey.  They are defying recent laws that drastically cripple their Second Amendment rights: an “assault weapons” law in Boulder and a magazine capacity restriction in NJ.

Early reports suggest that very few people are complying with the new laws.  The requirements to surrender or destroy previously legal property are being ignored en masse.  I am not greatly surprised.  Though advocates of firearm restrictions are prominent within the Democrat party, I have long suspected – and hoped – that only a minority of Democrat voters outside of large urban areas would actually tolerate such restrictions being imposed upon them.

Gun owners in Boulder and New Jersey are not turning in their weapons or magazines.  Regardless of their political leanings, I applaud them for their courage.  When in defense of liberty, civil disobedience is right and noble.

Details from Boulder (quoted from the Washington Times):

Boulder’s newly enacted “assault weapons” ban is meeting with stiff resistance from its “gun-toting hippies,” staunch liberals who also happen to be devoted firearms owners.

Only 342 “assault weapons,” or semiautomatic rifles, were certified by Boulder police before the Dec. 31 deadline, meaning there could be thousands of residents in the scenic university town of 107,000 in violation of the sweeping gun-control ordinance.

“I would say the majority of people I’ve talked to just aren’t complying because most people see this as a registry,” said Lesley Hollywood, executive director of the Colorado Second Amendment group Rally for Our Rights. “Boulder actually has a very strong firearms community.”

The ordinance, approved by the city council unanimously, banned the possession and sale of “assault weapons,” defined as semiautomatic rifles with a pistol grip, folding stock, or ability to accept a detachable magazine. Semiautomatic pistols and shotguns are also included.

Current owners were given until the end of the year to choose one of two options: Get rid of their semiautomatics by moving them out of town, disabling them, or turning them over to police — or apply for a certificate with the Boulder Police Department, a process that includes a firearm inspection, background check and $20 fee.

Judging by the numbers, however, most Boulder firearms owners have chosen to do none of the above, albeit quietly.

“The firearms community in Boulder — they may be Democrats but they love their firearms,” said Ms. Hollywood, herself a former Boulder resident.

And from New Jersey (quoted from Reason):

Thanks to a December 5 ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit, New Jersey’s ban on gun magazines that hold more than 10 rounds took effect on December 10. By that date, all owners of heretofore legal “large capacity magazines” (LCMs) were required to surrender them to police, render them inoperable, modify them so they cannot hold more than 10 rounds, or sell them to authorized owners. Those who failed to do so are guilty of a fourth-degree felony, punishable by a maximum fine of $10,000 and up to 18 months in prison.

How many of New Jersey’s 1 million or so gun owners have complied with the ban by turning LCMs in to law enforcement agencies? Approximately zero, judging from an investigation by Ammoland writer John Crump. Crump, an NRA instructor and gun rights activist, “reached out to several local police departments in New Jersey” and found that “none had a single report of magazines turned over.” He also contacted the New Jersey State Police, which has not officially responded to his inquiry. But “two sources from within the State Police,” speaking on condition of anonymity, said “they both do not know of any magazines turned over to their agency and doubted that any were turned in.”

Home is the sailor, home from the sea, and home is my Gummy Bear, free from her bondage.  Nine days after her second major surgery, Gummy’s sutures were removed today; she is no longer bound by kennel and collar.

My happiness is equaled only by that of her brother, Ulysses, who has not left her side all evening.  He is curled up next to her now.

Gummy underwent a subtotal colectomy; 80% of her colon was removed, in hopes of easing the symptoms of megacolon that developed a year after her last surgery, which left her unable to control her bowel movements and which often left her miserably constipated.  The incision is quite impressive, running from just below her rib cage to her lower abdomen.

Throughout the ordeal – hours of driving, the procedure itself, eight days wearing a collar while confined in a dog kennel, multiple medications three times a day, and manual urinary expression – she maintained her sweet, cheerful disposition and never held a grudge against me.

Most touching of all was brother Ulysses’s tenderness with her.  As he did following her first surgery more than two years ago, he refused to leave her once she returned home.  Though he is my most active and energetic cat, he chose to confine himself in her kennel rather than be apart from her.  He would not come out for more than a day.

Gummy now lacks her tail and most of her teeth and colon; she cannot go to the bathroom without my help; she must take oral medication every day.  Yet she flourishes.  This most gentle and sweet little calico cat brings joy to me and the other cats.  Long may she live and inspire.

Now may the new year begin.  As is the tradition through much of the south – and adhered to intensely within my family – I’ve prepared black-eye peas, corned beef and cabbage, and jalapeno cornbread (the Texas version).  I wish the house smelled this warm and delicious all year round, but on this one day I accomplish about a quarter of all the cooking I’ll get done for the rest of the year.

Now to share with neighbors.  Blessings on you all through the year to come!