Can I get a "HELL YEAH!"

Sanity - it returns to Wisconsin, in double doses.

Wisconsin Senate passes a Concealed Carry Bill:

The Wisconsin Senate passed a bill Tuesday that would allow concealed weapons in the state Capitol and other public places, but not in police stations, courthouse and other specifically exempted locations.

The final vote was 25-8, with all 19 Republicans and six Democrats supporting it, and the other eight Democrats opposed.

Wisconsin would become the 49th state to legalize carrying hidden guns. Those who want to carry the weapons would have to obtain a permit.

Before the bill goes to Republican Gov. Scott Walker, who backs the measure, it must also pass the Assembly. That could happen later in the week.

Of course, by the time it passes it won't do me or the Ragin' Mrs. a bit of good, as we'll be in another state.  But it's high time that Wisconsin allowed people to defend themselves, especially in Milwaukee.  One of my compatriots back in Puerto Rico had come up to Ft. McCoy to do some training and took a trip over to Milwaukee to check it out.  Now this guy was born and raised in Compton, CA.  He drove through Milwaukee and just kept driving.  All he would tell me was "Dave, that shit was ghetto!"  There's been at least one case of a pizza driver in Milwaukee using a gun to defend himself, and then getting in trouble because the state doesn't allow you to protect yourself in such a fashion.  That will finally change.

Wisconsin Supreme Court overturns political hack disguised as a lower court judge:

This is a sweeping victory for Republicans and Gov. Scott Walker.  (And for my prior legal anaylsis, but that's another matter.  I'll be spiking the football, for sure.)

This also is a vindication for the legal strategy of not backing down to the unjust, unwise, uncalled-for, unlawful rulings of Judge Sumi, who engaged in clearly unsound legal reasoning which -- whether intended or not -- took on the appearance of political posturing.

My favorite analysis comes from Ace:

Commenters are telling me the court ruled here ab initio, which (context clues, it's been forever since I did anything law-oriented) means it's expunged from memory altogether as being improperly entertained from the start, which means there is no remand to the lower court to try again. The higher court has said "Not only did you get this wrong, you got it so wrong we don't trust you with another bite at the apple, so we're directing your decision from here. It's over. Done. Finished. Kaput."

Make sure to read it all.   Judge Sumi rightly got spanked.  I only wish it would happen more often to the Tyrants in Black Robes.

It looks like this state is shaping up just as I'm getting ready to ship out.  Ah well, at least my friends here will be in a much better position.