Archive for August 22nd, 2009

He Had a Gun and Nothing Happened

August 22, 2009

He Had a Gun and Nothing Happened

by Larry Pratt
From New Hampshire to Arizona, Americans openly carrying firearms have been seen outside Presidential appearances. The most remarkable thing about this is that some find this behavior to be remarkable.

American citizens are the sovereigns in our system of government. Indeed, We the People created the government which, at least in theory, only does what we tell it to do in the Constitution. Sovereigns are expected to be armed.

The Second Amendment was added to our Constitution to insure that the individual right to keep and bear arms not be infringed. Infringement would impair the proper functioning of the militia, which had been America’s homeland security system all through colonial times and well into our republican era.

The armed attendees made it clear that they were exercising their right to keep and bear arms. Zero tolerance of firearms has become so extreme that even a picture of a gun can get a student kicked out of school. The presence of armed citizens helps correct the notion that guns are inherently dangerous.

Americans are increasingly deciding to go about openly carrying firearms even when they might legally carry concealed. Some would like to say that this constitutes disturbing the peace. It is a strange view that accepts as normal a police officer openly carrying a firearm, but finds it alarming when a sovereign citizen – the cop’s boss – does the same.

In addition to the educational value of going about openly armed, the presence of such citizens has another positive impact. Real homeland security is being maintained. The Secret Service is tasked with protecting the President and other select individuals – and nobody else.

For those who object to openly armed citizens being present near presidential events, do they have any concern for the well being of those who do not benefit from Secret Service protection?

A few years ago, I was at a conference where the governor of the state of Arizona was to speak. Shortly before the appointed time a member of the governor’s security detail came into the room from a service entrance, looked around the audience, which included at least a dozen people openly carrying sidearms, ducked out of sight and returned with the governor.

The governor’s security was aware of the armed attendees, and was also aware that the guns were holstered and obviously under control. They evidently thought that was proper gun control.

There are those who don’t like Americans owning guns at all, let alone carrying them about. They can be counted on to run about squawking like Chicken Little that the sky is falling – a calamity brought about by the presence of an armed citizen in public. We are warned that: “Somebody might grab the gun and do something bad! The armed citizen will intimidate others! Tempers will flare and blood will run in the streets!”

These are the same alarms that are sounded when any measure designed to facilitate citizens keeping and bearing arms is advanced. And the alarms are always false. One would think that consistently being wrong would be embarrassing, but one would be wrong about those who assume that common citizens are untrustworthy and dangerous.

A tip of the hat to those who have stirred the debate. And, our thanks to them for exercising proper gun control and reminding us of how homeland security should be conducted.

Larry Pratt is Executive Director of Gun Owners of America.

http://www.gunowners.org

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You asked for “change” you got it!

August 22, 2009

This is for all those Americans that so desperately wanted “change.”

Americans had to work from January 1 until August 12 this year just to cover the cost of government.  That is 26 days more than they had to work last year to cover the cost of government.

“Cost of Government Day” this year fell on Wednesday, August 12, according to Americans for Tax Reform, the conservative group that calculates when the day occurs.  Cost of Government Day is the day in the year when the American people have earned enough income to pay the total cost of the spending and regulatory burden imposed by government at the federal, state, and local level.

The August 12 date is 26 days later than Cost of Government Day came last year, when it fell on July 16.

In fact, this is the first time the day has fallen in August. Until this year, July 20 was the latest date marking Cost of Government Day. That happened in 1982.

The day takes into account all taxes paid to all levels of government as well as the costs of complying with all federal, state, and local government regulations. ATR calculates that in 2009, the cost of government will consume 61.34 percent of national income.

Those costs are detailed in a 45-page report authored Monika Ciesielska, a fellow at ATR’s Center for Fiscal Accountability.

Of the 224 days it required Americans to pay for the cost of government in 2009, 111 went to federal spending, 49 to state and local spending, and another 65 to pay for regulations imposed by all levels of government.

“In 2009, federal spending has expanded by almost one trillion dollars, mostly due to the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) and the American Recovery and Relief Act of 2009, passed under the guise of economic stimulus,” Ciesielska said in her report.

“We have calculated that had Congress not passed the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 that created TARP, Cost of Government Day would have fallen on July 25. That means that it would have been 18 days earlier.”

Full Story

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Mexico, obama’s new residence for excuses

August 22, 2009

Last Sunday, the Mexican government fired 1,100 customs officials in a move to wipe out rampant corruption in the agency charged with securing the transport of goods and people across the U.S.-Mexican border. Army troops temporarily took control of the ports of entry (POE’s) along the 2,000-mile border.

Using more than 36,00 Mexican Army troops, President Felipe Calderon continues his war on the barbaric drug cartels that control and ravage much of Mexico. Last year, 5,600 people died at the hands of the cartels. The focus on the POE’s is not just the interdiction of human and drug smuggling but also of the flow of firearms into Mexico where they are tightly controlled. Calderon has complained frequently that guns from the United States provide the cartels with most of their firepower, though we have noted the dubious nature of this claim on more than one occasion.

During his visit to Mexico last week, Barack Obama praised Calderon’s efforts, but the Apologizer in Chief also readily blamed his own country for the violence. He pledged to dry up the flow of weapons into Mexico as well as to cut American demand for drugs. His strategy to stop the movement of guns includes reinstating (and, no doubt, enhancing) the 1994 ban on so-called “assault weapons” that expired in 2004. In addition, he promised an additional $1.6 billion for the Merida Initiative, a joint effort to fight against drug trafficking, money laundering and other crimes in Mexico and Central America.

But according to recent reports by the National Drug Intelligence Center, the Mexican cartels have been regulating “traffic” into and out of Mexico for some time, both at the POE’s and the virtually uncontrolled borderlands from San Ysidro, California to Brownsville, Texas. The problem always comes back to our wide-open border that four successive administrations have made little attempt to control. Calderon’s willingness to wage war on the cartels is truly admirable, but all things considered, it could end up as tilting at windmills.

SOURCE

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The Shape of things to come?

August 22, 2009

Well, we warned you!

Let’s say one doesn’t agree with a White House policy. What does one do in the Information Age? Write a blog about it or post an opinion on a social network like FaceBook, or send an e-mail to friends, family and associates. By doing so, the writer creates a “paper trail,” albeit in the electrons of the Internet. Once a communication is in cyberspace, it usually has infinite shelf life, and, often, the anti-White House posting can be traced back to the author.

To expedite things, a White House functionary asked supporters (a.k.a. “snitches”), ala neighborhood watchers in Communist, fascist or other totalitarian regimes, to report “fishy” speech about ObamaCare to flag@whitehouse.gov. Such reports would contain some identification of the originator of the post, hence the fear of an “enemies list.”

Then a funny thing happened. All of a sudden, many Americans (including numerous Patriot readers) began getting unsolicited e-mail from the White House, some with the request that the e-mails be further circulated. Standardized unsolicited e-mail, sent in large quantities, is known as “spam.” Thus, the White House became one of the most reviled users of the Internet, a spammer, a Netiquette violator.

Due to public outrage, the informant e-mail address has been shut down, though now informers can use the White House’s “reality check” Web site. And the spamming was explained away and blamed on “outside organizations” submitting e-mail addresses to the White House. But the administration has demonstrated how Big Brother can use the Internet for dissident identification and for dissemination of propaganda. Is it, as H.G. Wells might have asked, “the shape of things to come”?

SOURCE

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From the ‘Non Compos Mentis’ File

August 22, 2009

You can fool some of the people all the time…

From the ‘Non Compos Mentis’ File

The Leftmedia continue to portray town hall protestors as right-wing, gun-toting racist nutjobs, even when the shoe clearly doesn’t fit. As we noted last week, some “protestors” are carrying signs with Barack Obama sporting a Hitler mustache and the message “I’ve changed.” Of course, the media dutifully highlights the signs, while ignoring that they are distributed by and bear the Web site name of LaRouche PAC, the political action committee of seven-time Democrat presidential aspirant and committed socialist conspiracy nut Lyndon LaRouche. That doesn’t fit the template.

Protestors with guns are also a target. The Leftmedia frets that citizens can carry guns near some of these town halls, including outside one held by the president in Phoenix, Arizona. MSNBC’s Contessa Brewer commented, “A man at a pro-health care reform rally … wore a semiautomatic assault rifle on his shoulder and a pistol on his hip…. [T]here are questions about whether this has racial overtones. I mean, here you have a man of color in the presidency, and white people showing up with guns strapped to their waists or onto their legs.” What Brewer failed to mention is that the man carrying the rifle was black. In addition, the video shown on MSNBC was carefully cropped to avoid showing that the man was black — it only showed the man’s back and waist, not his face.

Of course, the anti-gun narrative is not new to MSNBC or Contessa Brewer, and neither is the racial double standard mentioned Thursday by Mark Alexander. Truth, unfortunately, is kicked to the curb.

Abortion Will Be Part of ObamaCare

It should come as no surprise that the health care overhaul being designed by congressional Democrats include provisions for federally mandated coverage of abortions by insurance providers. After all, liberals embrace what President Obama has called “reproductive justice,” which apparently includes killing unborn children. (The “justice” aspect has us scratching our heads.) Some members of Congress and the president himself on occasion have stated publicly that no such mandate exists, but they are lying.

The word abortion does not appear in the draft legislation, but several provisions would not only force insurance companies to cover abortions, they would override several state laws and would ultimately lead to taxpayer funded abortions. This is what groups like Planned Parenthood have worked for all along, but the secret is out now, thanks in part to some liberal members of Congress who brazenly admit their stance that taxpayers should pay for abortions, regardless of their moral stance on the issue. “Abortion will be covered as a benefit by one or more of the health care plans available to Americans,” said Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), “and I think it should be.” Naturally, a broad cross-section of the public is opposed to this idea, but that’s never stopped liberals before.

SOURCE

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obamacare: week in review, and a bit more

August 22, 2009

Cat out of the bag: “[W]e’ve got two problems here. ‘We’: I should say the administration or Democrats have two problems.” –Washington Post editorialist Jonathan Capehart letting slip the Leftmedia’s partnership with government

The meaning of cruel: “The cruelty inherent in scaring the elderly to score political points is beyond reprehensible…. [T]he sort of scurrilous campaign they are conducting — the seditious fear-mongering that is the main staple of their public diet — is a matter of profound disrespect and incivility toward the individuals whose rights they claim to cherish.” –Time magazine’s Joe Klein

Horrors!: “A man at a pro-health care reform rally … wore a semiautomatic assault rifle on his shoulder and a pistol on his hip…. [T]here are questions about whether this has racial overtones…. [W]hite people showing up with guns.” –MSNBC’s Contessa Brewer, fretting over ObamaCare protesters legally carrying guns, but neglecting to mention the man she described was black

Contract on America: “I was at a town hall yesterday, and I really had to take some people to task. They were using those buzzwords that I don’t think people realize all the time, like ‘real Americans’ or ‘give me back my America’ was one of the songs or ‘take back America.’ It was like, what do you mean by that?” –CNN’s Don Lemon

Spelling Left relief: “For the third time in five days, Barack Obama used the presidential bully pulpit on behalf of what he’s now calling health insurance reform. No more letting the angry opposition control the agenda.” –CBS’s Martha Teichner

Do not pass “Go”: “Let’s start by making sure people understand exactly what we’re talking about when we say this public option. This is a government-run insurance agency that would give people greater choice, some say break the monopoly held by the private insurers and, thus, drive down costs.” –NBC’s Matt Lauer (A monopoly is control by one company, not a whole list of companies.)

Defeat capitalism: “We talked to several health care experts today, and they all said if you take out the public option in terms of insurance, there’s going to be no restraints on the cost of insurance.” –ABC anchorhead Charles Gibson

Except for that thing called the Internet: “An intense period of corporate consolidation over the past 25 years, aided and abetted by deregulation by the Federal Communications Commission, has reduced to a mere handful the sources from which most Americans get their news.” –former CBS anchor Dan Rather, who must have entered a time warp back to 1974

Newspulper Headlines:

Our Fearless Independent Media:
“Obama Takes On Health Care Critics” –NPR.org
“Obama Takes On Health Care Reform Critics” –Voice of America Web site
“Obama Takes On Health Care Critics” –Associated Press
“Obama Takes On Health Care Critics” –USA Today
“Obama Takes On Critics at Town Hall Forum” –Chicago Tribune
“Obama Takes On Health Care Critics” –Slate.com
“Obama to Take On Health-Care Critics” –Washington Post

Famous Last Words: “End-of-Life Dialogue Stifled in Healthcare Reform Debate” –Miami Herald

Where’s the Death Panel When You Need It?: “Momentum Builds for Postal Service Relief” –NationalJournal.com

Look Out Below!: “White House Appears Ready to Drop ‘Public Option'” –Associated Press

Everything Seemingly Is Spinning Out of Control: “Jesse Jackson Named Prince of African Tribe” –Daily Telegraph

News You Can Use: “The Earth Is Warming? Adjust the Thermostat” –The New York Times

We Blame Global Warming: “2 Thrown Out of Heated Meeting on Health Care Reform” –WEWS-TV Web site (Cleveland)

Bottom Stories of the Day: “Democrats Plan Rally to Support Obama’s Health-Care Plan” –Jackson (MI) Citizen Patriot

(Thanks to The Wall Street Journal’s James Taranto)

SOURCE

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Mayor wises up to Bloomberg

August 22, 2009


Click here to vote in this week’s poll.

Since its creation, Mayors Against Illegal Guns (MAIG) has signed up a large number of committed anti-gun politicians to its ranks. It has also signed up some politicians who failed to realize the true anti-gun nature of MAIG. A number of those mayors have resigned their membership when they learned the truth.

This past week, yet another mayor, Village of Walton Hills, Ohio Mayor Marlene Anielski (R), has resigned her membership. Mayor Anielski informed the Buckeye Firearms Association of her decision, reporting that she had not realized the real agenda of MAIG. In fact, she reported, she and her husband are NRA life members!

With the ongoing effort by MAIG to mislead the public and even its own members on its true agenda, it is no surprise that some mayors are choosing to leave the group. How many more mayors don’t know what MAIG is really all about?

All NRA members should ask: Is my mayor a member of MAIG? If you do not know, check the list here.

If your mayor is on the list, contact his or her office and politely let him or her know you are opposed to his or her membership in Mayor Bloomberg’s radical anti-gun organization.

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YOUTH ARCHERY and SHOTGUN SHOOTING CLINIC IN EL PASO COUNTY

August 22, 2009

RAMAH, Colo. – Youngsters interested in the sports of archery and shotgun shooting are invited to attend a free one-day event at the Ramah State Wildlife Area Archery Range, Sat., Sept. 12, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Activities include a shotgun target & fun shoot, a laser gun computerized shooting station, a 3-D archery shoot, and instruction.

“This is a great opportunity for youngsters to learn about shooting sports and try their hand at using a bow and learning about firearms safety,” said Steve Lucero, an education coordinator with the Colorado Division of Wildlife.

Instructors from the DOW and trained volunteers will help youngsters learn the finer points of shooting shotguns and bows.

The DOW will furnish the equipment.

The Ramah Archery Range is located four miles west of the town of Ramah at the Ramah State Wildlife Area along U.S. Hwy 24 in northeastern El Paso County.

All ages are welcome.  Boys and girls under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult.  Activities will run continuously throughout the event.

For more information, call 719-227-5207.

For more information about Division of Wildlife go to: http://wildlife.state.co.us.

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NOVICE HUNTER INSTRUCTIONAL CLINICS

August 22, 2009

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – Local wildlife conservation groups are teaming up with the Colorado Division of Wildlife (DOW) to offer some exciting FREE clinics for beginning hunters. The seminars were developed following the success of a ‘Turkey Hunting 101’ seminar that was offered by the National Wild Turkey Federation this past spring.

The local committee of the Colorado Mule Deer Association will be hosting a free ‘Mule Deer Hunting 101’ clinic on Monday, Aug. 24 at the DOW Grand Junction Hunter Education Building at 711 Independent Ave. Class participants will be treated to a free barbecue beginning at 5:30 p.m. with the mule deer class beginning at 7 p.m. The clinic will cover a variety of topics including mule deer biology and habits, hunting strategies, equipment, and local deer hunting opportunities. The Colorado Mule Deer Association is a non-profit organization dedicated to conserving the mule deer and its habitat.

The local committee of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation will be hosting a free ‘Elk Hunting 101’ clinic on Tuesday, Aug. 25 at the DOW Grand Junction Hunter Education Building at 711 Independent Ave. The clinic will begin at 6 p.m. and will cover topics including elk biology and habits, hunting strategies, equipment, and local elk hunting opportunities.  The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to conserving the Rocky Mountain elk and its habitat.

The local committee of Ducks Unlimited will be hosting a free ‘Waterfowl Hunting 101’ clinic on Friday, Sept. 25 at the DOW Grand Junction Hunter Education Building at 711 Independent Ave. The clinic will begin at 6 p.m. and will cover topics including waterfowl identification and biology, hunting strategies, equipment, and local waterfowl hunting opportunities. Ducks Unlimited is a non-profit organization dedicated to the conservation of waterfowl and their habitat. The local Ducks Unlimited committee also offers a free youth waterfowl clinic and guided hunt in the Grand Valley.

All hunting clinics are limited to 40 participants and preregistration is required.  These hunting clinics are designed for novice hunters. For more information about the clinics and to register please call the DOW Education Office at (970) 255-6181.

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For more information about Division of Wildlife go to: http://wildlife.state.co.us.

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