Archive for May 4th, 2010

Puerto Rico Statehood, another threat to freedom in Wyoming

May 4, 2010

Reprinted with permission. Please follow the link for comments that are there.

Line in the Sand
Image: A.Bouchard

The newest “line in the sand” has been drawn, a Washington D.C. hostile takeover of your freedoms in the form of a push to make Puerto Rico a part of the Federal Union.

From the news – House Approves Puerto Rico Statehood Measure, “The House voted Thursday to allow Puerto Ricans to change the island’s commonwealth status, in what critics are saying is a backdoor attempt to force Puerto Ricans into choosing U.S. statehood…which passed 223-169 and now must be taken up by the Senate, would introduce a two-step ballot measure for Puerto Rico to decide if its residents want to change their current relationship with the United States”.

This is happening despite the incompatibility of the Constitution of this unincorporated U.S Territory, specifically the right to keep and bear arms. Unlike our Republic (a nation of Constitutional laws), Puerto Rico by a review of their Constitution and the actions of their Parliament, Puerto Rico is a Democracy (of men). Ever wondered the difference between a Republic and a Democracy, well the answers are right here. Just read on…

REPUBLIC VS. DEMOCRACY

Puerto Rico’s Constitution states it is a Democracy-
Section 19. The foregoing enumeration of rights shall not be construed restrictively nor does it contemplate the exclusion of other rights not specifically mentioned which belong to the people in a democracy. The power of the Legislative Assembly to enact laws for the protection of the life, health and general welfare of the people shall likewise not be construed restrictively.

By contrast the Wyoming Constitution clearly defines the form of government as Republic-
97-1-007 – Absolute, arbitrary power over the lives, liberty and property of freemen exists nowhere in a republic, not even in the largest majority.

Also to be noted there is no mention of the “right to keep and bear arms” in the Puerto Rican Constitution, but the Wyoming Constitution states this-
97-1-024 – The right of citizens to bear arms in defense of themselves and of the state shall not be denied.

Motive – If Puerto Rico is forced into Statehood by Congress they will have a new partner to impose strict gun control in the U.S. and this backdoor attempt is just another step toward full federal control.

Nothing new here! In fact, similarly states like New York and California have become enemies to liberty in Wyoming by imposing their will in our state on issues such as land, wildlife and mining. More recently, legislation has been introduced in Washington that could alter “Water Rights” in Wyoming forever.

Obama started to circle the wagons while campaigning in Puerto Rico in 2008, as you will see in this video.

With the recently passed HealthCare Mandate and the coming Value Added Tax (VAT) and ”Cap and Trade”, it should be even more alarming that – this combined with new found allies supporting full “gun control”…Well, I believe you see the big picture.

A summary of Puerto Rico’s GUN CONTROL-

  • “FULL GUN REGISTRATION” scheme in place, “Any legal firearm…shall be registered in the registry of weapons”. You notice “legal firearm”? Once again criminals are exempt, only law abiding citizens must ask permission and register their firearms.
  • Licensing, you must ask the Government to purchase and possess firearms and ammunition.
  • Clinton style weapons ban in full force.
  • The government has the ability to seize weapons as they see fit.
  • Strict ammo purchase and possession scheme, one cannot possess ammunition for which you do not have a licensed firearm.
  • If you fail to license all of your activities including “target shooting” you are guilty of a felony and will be imprisoned.
  • BUT OF COURSE, in Puerto Rico…ALL Government officials (even the Parliament) can have special privileges to carry and possess firearms.

The Puerto Rican Government stated this about the New Weapons Act of Puerto Rico in 2000 – “By enacting this law, the State exercised its inherent power of regulation”.

It is this very thing that concerned the Founders as well as the Wyoming Legislature in 1889, “a government that CAN and WILL push to take away your inalienable rights”.

By contrast the Wyoming Constitution says this-
97-1-001 – All power is inherent in the people, and all free governments are founded on their authority, and instituted for their peace, safety and happiness; for the advancement of these ends they have at all times an inalienable and indefeasible right to alter, reform or abolish the government in such manner as they may think proper.

I will leave you with this last thought – It has never been so important to be a “vested” member in WyGO – Wyoming Gun Owners.

Research sources:
Wyoming Constitution
New Weapons Act of Puerto Rico 2000
Amendments in 2002
Puerto Rico Constitution

Anthony Bouchard is a staunch supporter of the Bill of Rights and limited government – he is also the Director of WyGO – Wyoming Gun Owners Association, Wyoming’s Only No-Compromise Gun-Rights Organization. Anthony is also the –  Cheyenne Government Examiner.

WyGO / Wyoming Gun Owners

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Posted in Economics, Editorial, Opinion, Education, Gun Control, Hoplophobia, Law, mysandry, News, Politics, Wordpress Political Blogs | 8 Comments »

AZ. State Senator Sylvia Allen responds to SB1070

May 4, 2010

Hat Tip to Texas Fred for this.

I’m Arizona State Senator Sylvia Allen. I want to explain SB 1070 for which I voted yes. Rancher Robert Krentz was murdered by the drug cartel on his ranch a month ago. I participated in a senate hearing two weeks ago on the border violence, here is just some of the highlights from those who testified.

The people who live within 60 to 80 miles of the Arizona/Mexico Border have for years been terrorized and have pleaded for help to stop the daily invasion of humans who cross their property . One Rancher testified that 300 to 1200 people a DAY come across his ranch vandalizing his property, stealing his vehicles and property, cutting down his fences, and leaving trash. In the last two years he has found 17 dead bodies and two Koran bibles. Another rancher testified that daily drugs are brought across his ranch in a military operation. A point man with a machine gun goes in front, 1/2 mile behind are the guards fully armed, 1/2 mile behind them are the drugs, behind the drugs 1/2 mile are more guards. These people are violent and they will kill anyone who gets in the way. This was not the only rancher we heard that day that talked about the drug trains. One man told of two illegal’s who came upon his property one shot in the back and the other in the arm by the drug runners who had forced them to carry the drugs and then shot them. Daily they listen to gun fire during the night it is not safe to leave his family alone on the ranch and they can’t leave the ranch for fear of nothing being left when they come back.

The border patrol is not on the border. They have set up 60 miles away with check points that do nothing to stop the invasion. They are not allowed to use force in stopping anyone who is entering. They run around chasing them, if they get their hands on them then they can take them back across the border. Federal prisons have over 35% illegal’s and 20% of Arizona prisons are filled with illegal’s. In the last few years 80% of our law enforcement that have been killed or wounded have been by an illegal. The majority of people coming now are people we need to be worried about. The ranchers told us that they have seen a change in the people coming they are not just those who are looking for work and a better life.

The Federal Government has refused for years to do anything to help the border states . We have been over run and once they are here we have the burden of funding state services that they use. Education costs have been over a billion dollars. The healthcare cost billions of dollars. Our State is broke, $3.5 billion deficit and we have many serious decisions to make. One is that we do not have the money to care for any who are not here legally. It has to stop.

The border can be secured. We have the technology and we have the ability to stop this invasion. We must know who is coming and they must come in an organized manner legally so that we can assimilate them into our population and protect the sovereignty of our country. We are a nation of laws. We have a responsibility to protect our citizens and to protect the integrity of our country and the government which we live under. I would give amnesty today to many, but here is the problem, we dare not do this until the Border is secure. It will do no good to give them amnesty because thousands will come behind them and we will be over run to the point that there will no longer be the United States of America but a North American Union of open borders. I ask you what form of government will we live under? How long will it be before we will be just like Mexico , Canada or any of the other Central American or South American country? We have already lost our language, everything must be printed in Spanish. We have already lost our history, it is no longer taught in our schools, and we have lost our borders.

The leftist media has distorted what SB 1070 will do. It is not going to set up a Nazi Germany. Are you kidding? The ACLU and the leftist courts will do everything to protect those who are here illegally, but it was an effort to try and stop illegal’s from setting up businesses, and employment, and receiving state services and give the ability to local law enforcement when there is probable cause, like a traffic stop, to determine if they are here legally. Federal law is very clear, if you are here on a visa you must have your papers on you at all times. That is the law. In Arizona all you need to show you are a legal citizen is a driver license, MVD identification card, Native American Card, or a Military ID. This is what you need to vote or get a hunting license. So nothing new has been added to this law. No one is going to be stopped walking down the street. The Socialists who are in power in DC are angry because we dare try and do something.The Socialists wants us to just let them come. They want the “Transformation” to continue.

Maybe it is too late to save America . Maybe we are not worthy of freedom anymore. But as an elected official I must try to do what I can to protect our Constitutional Republic . Living in America is not a right just because you can walk across the border. Being an American is a responsibility and it comes by respecting and upholding the Constitution, the law of our land, which says what you must do to be a citizen of this country. FREEDOM IS NOT FREE.

Senator Sylvia Allen

Original Post Here:
State Senator Sylvia Allen responds to SB1070

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Posted in Economics, Editorial, Opinion, Education, Gun Control, Immigration, Law, News, Politics, War, Wordpress Political Blogs | 24 Comments »

Firearms and Ammunition Industry Economic Impact

May 4, 2010
To: ALL MEDIA
For immediate release

April 29, 2010

 Media Only:

Ted Novin
 Office: 203-426-1320
Cell: 203-253-1860
tnovin@nssf.org

Firearms Industry Releases
Economic Impact Report

WASHINGTON, D.C. — At a Capitol Hill breakfast briefing today, the National Shooting Sports Foundation, the trade association for the firearms and ammunition industry, released a newly commissioned report detailing the significant economic impact the firearms and ammunition industry has on the nation’s and each state’s economy.

Key Points: Firearms and Ammunition Industry Economic Impact

2008 2009
Jobs 166,200 183,424
Wages $6,361,205,400 $8,210,881,000
Econ Impact $19,199,634,700 $27,846,304,300

“During difficult economic times and high unemployment rates nationally, our industry actually grew and created 16,800 new, well-paying jobs,” said NSSF President Steve Sanetti. “Our industry is proud to be one of the bright spots in this economy.”

Key Points: Taxes

2008 2009
Federal Taxes $1,503,740,471 $2,035,154,440
State Taxes $1,299,088,678 $1,909,417,793
Excise Taxes $327,070,867 $450,177,780

The economic growth America’s firearms and ammunition industry experienced last year was driven by an unprecedented number of Americans choosing to exercise their fundamental right to keep and bear arms and purchase a firearm and ammunition. This coincided with the continued decline in accidental firearm-related deaths (more than a 60 percent decrease in the last 20 years) and a continued drop in crime rates nationally.

Also cited in the economic impact report were the significant taxes paid by industry member companies to federal and state governments and the Pittman-Robertson excise tax the industry pays on the products it sells – this tax is the major source of wildlife conservation funding in America.

“In 2009 our industry increased its contribution to wildlife conservation by over 37.6 percent, which translates into sportsmen contributing more than $7.5 million dollars daily to conservation efforts,” said NSSF Senior Vice President and General Counsel Lawrence G. Keane.

“Ours is an industry with a storied past, steeped in tradition and a rich heritage,” continued Keane. “We were there at the beginning of America’s economic expansion and remain a vital and important American industry. We look forward to speaking with members of Congress today about important legislative and regulatory issues that will allow our industry members to continue to grow their businesses and create new jobs in their communities.”

-30-

About NSSF

The National Shooting Sports Foundation is the trade association for the firearms industry. Its mission is to promote, protect and preserve hunting and the shooting sports. Formed in 1961, NSSF has a membership of more than 5,500 manufacturers, distributors, firearms retailers, shooting ranges, sportsmen’s organizations and publishers. For more information, log on to www.nssf.org.

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Saint Teddy?

May 4, 2010

I about fell over when I read this about the swimmer. But what are we to expect from the likes of Kerry et al?

“At a time when the American taxpayer is on the hook for trillions in current and future federal spending — when the Congressional Budget Office warns that the current rate of federal spending is ‘unsustainable’ — liberal Democrats in Congress have earmarked over $68 million of taxpayer dollars for a Boston shrine to the late Senator Edward Kennedy. In a detailed report, the Boston Herald describes the planned Edward M. Kennedy Institute as a ‘temple for Ted Kennedy built with pork.’ According to their account, congressional Democrats — especially … John Kerry and Edward Markey — have been cramming earmarks for the project into various government funding bills. The Herald found that Kerry and Markey even intend to siphon $28.9 million of the institute’s funding from the Defense Department budget, with almost $19 million of that amount already signed into law. … I believe that establishing Teddy’s Temple with millions of taxpayer dollars is meant to serve twin purposes. First, it is intended to enshrine the pretense that one’s politics is more important than any other aspect of one’s personal character. … Second, Teddy’s Temple is a means to an even broader end. That end is to elevate his liberal ideology to the status of an official, government-approved ‘ideal.’ You can be sure that the ‘good citizenship’ propagated at his shrine will translate into speeches, writings, video clips, totems, classes, and materials extolling his liberalism generally, and his advocacy of socialized medicine specifically — all paid for with your hard-earned dollars.” –columnist Robert Bidinotto

SOURCE

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Epic fail obama: Wall Street…

May 4, 2010

“Strangely enough — for a bill that allegedly sticks it to Wall Street — during the Senate Banking Committee hearing [last] week, Goldman Sachs chairman Lloyd Blankfein endorsed the Dodd bill. Someone should have asked him who from Goldman wrote it. In 2008, Goldman employees gave a record-breaking $1,007,370 to the Obama campaign. This year, the ‘securities and investment’ industry has already given twice as much money to the Democrats as to the Republicans. ABC News reports that ‘the five biggest hedge fund donors all gave almost all their donations to Democrats.’ Among the biggest recipients of hedge fund money were Senators Harry Reid (Democrat), Chris Dodd (Democrat) and Charles Schumer (Democrat). Even with the evidence right in front of their eyes, people still believe that it’s the Republicans who are in Wall Street’s pocket. How out of touch with reality would a comedy writer have to be to write the following joke for Jay Leno [last] week: ‘The head of Goldman Sachs was going through security and was asked to empty his pockets — and five Republican senators fell out.’ Why didn’t Barack Obama or Chuck Schumer fall out? Why not Rahm Emanuel, who worked for Goldman? Or Greg Craig, who used to work for Obama but just took a job with Goldman? The fact that anyone laughed at that joke proves that Republicans have a serious PR problem.” –columnist Ann Coulter

“The [U.S.] Constitution is a limitation on the government, not on private individuals … it does not prescribe the conduct of private individuals, only the conduct of the government … it is not a charter for government power, but a charter of the citizen’s protection against the government.” –philosopher and novelist Ayn Rand (1905-1982)

SOURCE


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