Archive for the ‘News’ Category

Here are the 46 senators who voted to give your rights to the U.N.

January 26, 2014

This is that brief, glorious moment in history
when everyone stands around…reloading.

Now, Which 46 Senators Voted to Destroy Us? Well, let their names become known !! See below

In a 53-46 vote, the Senate narrowly passed a measure that will stop the United States from entering into the United Nations Arms Trade Treaty.  The Statement of Purpose from the Bill reads:  “To uphold Second Amendment rights and prevent the United States from entering into the United Nations Arms Trade Treaty.”  The U.N. Small Arms Treaty, which has been championed by the Obama Administration, would have effectively placed a global ban on the import and export of small firearms.  The ban would have affected all private gun owners in the U.S. and had language that would have implemented an international gun registry, now get this, on all private guns and ammo.
 
Astonishingly, 46 out of our 100 United States Senators were willing to give away our Constitutional rights to a foreign power.
 
Here are the 46 senators who voted to give your rights to the U.N.
Baldwin (D-WI)
Baucus (D-MT)
Bennett (D-CO)
Blumenthal (D-CT)
Boxer (D-CA)
Brown (D-OH)
Cantwell (D-WA)
Cardin (D-MD)
Carper (D-DE)
Casey (D-PA)
Coons (D-DE)
Cowan (D-MA)
Durbin (D-IL)j
Feinstein (D-CA)
Franken (D-MN)
Gillibrand (D-NY)
Harkin (D-IA)
Hirono (D-HI)
Johnson (D-SD)
Kaine (D-VA)
King (I-ME)
Klobuchar (D-MN)
Landrieu (D-LA)
Leahy (D-VT)
Levin (D-MI)
McCaskill (D-MO)
Menendez (D-NJ)
Merkley (D-OR)
Mikulski (D-MD)
Murphy (D-CT)
Murray (D-WA)
Nelson (D-FL)
Reed (D-RI)
Reid (D-NV)
Rockefeller (D-WV)
Sanders (I-VT)
Schatz (D-HI)
Schumer (D-NY)
Shaheen (D-NH)
Stabenow (D-MI)
Udall (D-CO)
Udall (D-NM)
Warner (D-VA)
Warren (D-MA)
Whitehouse (D-RI)
Wyden (D-OR)
 
Folks: This needs to go viral. These Senators voted to let the UN take OUR guns.  They need to lose their next election.  We have been betrayed.
46 Senators Voted to Give your 2nd Amendment Constitutional Rights to the U.N.
Please send this to SOMEONE!
Hat Tip to TEXASFRED

Senators John Cornyn (R-TX) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC) are showing signs they have the President’s back.

January 26, 2014

A little over a week ago, President Barack Obama proposed even more Executive Actions on gun control.

Now, Senators John Cornyn (R-TX) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC) are showing signs they have the President’s back
.

That’s because they’re pushing a brand new anti-gun bill.

It’s the “Graham-Cornyn Seek Help, Lose Your Guns Act.”

Insiders warn their new bill could be aimed at expanding the National Instant Criminal Background Check (NICS) system to include hundreds of thousands — or millions — of law-abiding citizens under the ruse of “mental health.”

Make no mistake . . .

. . . The President’s agenda has nothing to do with mental health, or keeping firearms out of the hands of criminals.

It has everything to do with labeling YOU mentally ill in order to strip you of your right to keep and bear arms without due process.

The goal is simple: seek treatment and lose your gun rights.

So why do Senators Cornyn and Graham have Obama’s Back?

It’s simple.  Let me explain . . .

Senators Cornyn and Graham are feeling the heat from the radical anti-gun left.

Instead of standing firm for your Second Amendment rights, they’re desperate to appear “sensible” and “open to compromise” even if it means putting you and I at risk.

But they’re really playing right into the President’s hands.

Last year, the duo sponsored S.480 — the so-called “NICS Reporting Improvement Act.”

Under that Graham-Cornyn bill, virtually any “board, commission, or other adjudicative body” would have the ability to strip you of your gun rights.

One of these so-called “authorities” could order an otherwise law-abiding individual to see a mental health counselor and strip them their gun rights for good.

Let me put it another way:

If your condition is “severe” enough that an hour of outpatient treatment a week is all you need — you could become a “prohibited person” at the whim of some anti-gun bureaucrat.

That’s not due process!

The Graham-Cornyn bill will further erode your Second Amendment rights and strip the due process rights of law-abiding Americans.

Click here to Stop the Cornyn-Graham Seek Help, Lose Your Gun Act

This isn’t about being violent or unstable; this is about losing your rights because of something as simple as a stress-induced visit to a therapist.

According to the National Institute of Health, nearly half of all Americans will suffer from a “mental health” issue at some point in their life.

And the simple fact is the gun-grabbers know this.

The Obama Administration has been pushing for these gun control expansions in the name of “mental health” for some time.

It’s clear they will do anything to take guns out of the hands of law-abiding Americans.

Even if it means harming the rights of thousands — or  millions — of law-abiding, vulnerable and non-violent individuals.

Over 175,000 veterans have already lost their gun rights, simply by seeking treatment.

But that’s not the worst part.

They aren’t even required to give you a trial.

That’s because “adjudication” no longer means “by a court of law.”

It now includes “other lawful authorities,” which could include ANY mental health professional in connection with a government program.

Are Senators Cornyn and Graham trying to strip away the gun rights of millions of Americans?

I hope not.

But that’s exactly what insiders are warning that Senators Cornyn and Graham could be doing with their latest proposal.

That’s why I need you to contact Senators Cornyn and Graham IMMEDIATELY.

Tell them not to endanger the gun rights of millions of Americans.

Insist they stop pushing the “Graham-Cornyn Seek Help, Lose Your Guns Act.”

*** You can reach Senator Cornyn at (202) 224-2934.

*** And Senator Graham at (202) 224-5972.

Please let the Senators know how important this issue is and that you will be counting on them to stand up for gun owners.

There’s no time to waste.  Please act now.

For Freedom,

Signature
Dudley Brown
Executive Vice President

The Next Big Gun Fight: Stopping 8 Million New Anti-gun Voters

January 26, 2014

“[A] Pew poll suggests that illegal immigrants, if given citizenship, would vote for liberal, anti-gun candidates by an 8-to-1 margin.” – GOA’s Erich Pratt, commenting on Pew poll findings as reported in The Washington Post (7/22/13)

Next Wednesday, the House Republican leadership will announce a set of “principles” for immigration reform.  Supposedly, if these “principles” are not well-received, the House will shelve the issue for the remainder of the year.

To be blunt:  The health of the Second Amendment relies on demolishing these “principles.”

Immigration reform will add over 8,000,000 anti-gun voters to the voting rolls.  There may be as many as 11.5 million persons illegally in the United States.  And, a Pew poll from last year indicated that if illegal immigrants were given citizenship, they would vote for liberal, anti-gun candidates by an 8-to-1 margin.

This is exactly what happened to California — which was once a Red State.  Because of the Simpson-Mazzoli amnesty bill of 1986, the state lurched violently to the left and now can’t pass gun control restrictions fast enough.

If this were to happen at the national level, we would lose the ability to stop massive gun bans and gun registration schemes.  And all of this occurs at a time when a Fox poll shows the American people oppose Obama’s immigration policies by a margin of 36% to 54%.

The first reality is this:  If the House passes ANYTHING, the Senate will tack on its amnesty bill and send it to conference.  And the national conversation will turn off of ObamaCare and onto immigration.

And guess what?  Every gun-hating institution which moved heaven and earth to pass gun control will move heaven and earth to get the House to retreat — if not to a “pathway to citizenship,” to a “pathway to legalization.”

They will have created the biggest and most motivated Obama-loving movement in the country — devoted to electing anti-gun politicians and retaining Harry Reid’s control of the Senate.

What will Republicans get, in exchange for creating an army of pro-Obama election warriors?

Very little.  (Be sure to read GOA legislative counsel Michael Hammond’s analysis, which shows, in great detail, how the Republican leadership’s “principles” will end up back-firing on gun owners.)

The bottom line is that there is a reason why Barack Obama and his “puppet press” have been campaigning for a year to force the Republican House to wade into “immigration reform.”  It is nothing but benefits for anti-gun politicians, and nothing but pain for pro-gun legislators.

Who would be stupid enough to inflict that level of pain on themselves?

ACTION:   Contact your Representative.  If he is a Republican, the pre-written letter will ask him to reject the ridiculous “immigration principles” being hawked by the leadership — principles that will eventually destroy the pro-gun movement in America.  The pre-written letter for Democrats is a generic opposition letter.

ADMINISTRATIVE NOTE:  Remember that clicking on the first “submit” button on the GOA Engage site (where you input your name and address), only submits your information so that your correct legislators can be identified.  Hence, the first “submit” button does not actually send your letter.  Instead, it brings you to the next page where you can actually review the pre-written letter.  The second “submit” button actually sends the letter.

Just as Obamacare isn’t at all about healthcare, immigration reform is not about immigration.

The Left’s proudest moments. But it wasn’t…

January 1, 2014

This year might have marked the high point for the Left in Colorado.After a decade of well-funded, well-coordinated advances, the Left got most of what they wanted. With renewal energy mandates on rural electrics, attacks on fracking, legalizing voter mischief, and anti-gun laws, 2013 should have been the Left’s proudest moment. But it wasn’t.Thanks in great part to the multi-year efforts of the Independence Institute, anti-guns bills–like a ban on concealed-carry on campus–failed. The Left‘s massive “for the children” educational tax increase, Amendment 66, went down in humiliating defeat. Education reformers were re-elected in Douglas County, and reformers were swept into office in Jefferson County and Loveland school district. And for the first time in state history, State Senators were recalled.The message of 2013 was loud and clear – real Coloradans, not urban elitists funded by Michael Bloomberg, control the destiny of this freedom-loving state. Could this be the turning point in Colorado history? Well, that largely depends on you. Those who have invested in Independence over the years made these 2013 victories and so many others possible. We thank them all. I want to be thanking you in coming years for even greater victories that YOU made possible by investing TODAY! Please invest in the Independence Institute right now by making a tax-deductible contribution HERE.And remember, every time you give to Independence, a Leftist dies a little inside. Happy New Year!

Straight on,

Jon Caldara

Treason & Democrat Lawmakers: HR 3741

December 27, 2013

According to a report by Breitbart’s Elizabeth Sheld, eight Democrat lawmakers have proposed a bill that would eliminate the death penalty as a consequence for individuals convicted of numerous federal crimes, among them espionage and treason. Nothing happens in Washington without a reason, so The Federal Death Penalty Abolition Act (HR 3741) gives rise to a bevy of questions and suspicions.

What motivation would congressional Democrats have for wishing to neutralize the death penalty option for such serious crimes? While the average news consumer is conditioned to summarily dismiss the machinations of government unless it directly impacts their pocketbook, or their sensibilities are deliberately targeted by the press, common sense dictates that elected officials proposing such a law could be anticipating the requisite conditions, thus necessitating the law in the first place.

So, who do these lawmakers suppose might be tried for treason, espionage, or the host of other federal crimes now punishable by death in the not-so-distant future?

Well, take your pick. President Obama himself committed a treasonable offense in supplying military aid to rebels fighting against the Assad regime in Syria, first clandestinely and then overtly after circumventing laws expressly prohibiting same. What other treasonable offenses he may have committed attendant to this process (including those related to the 9/11/12 attack on the Benghazi compound) remains to be seen.

Obama’s insinuation of Muslim Brotherhood operatives into sensitive government positions, as well as actions pursuant to his relationship with them are likely treasonable offenses. Despite the Muslim Brotherhood’s intended goal in subjugating America and the rest of the globe, the only reason that this has not been an issue of contention is because Obama and his surrogates themselves do not wish it to be, the press has been complicit, and the Republican leadership are invertebrates.

Then, there are the recent reports coming out of the Middle East as represented by former Muslim Brotherhood member Walid Shoebat. According to Naglaa Mahmoud, wife of Egypt’s ousted President Mohammed Morsi and Muslim Sisterhood operative, Bill and Hillary Clinton (with an emphasis on Hillary) have been deeply involved with the Brotherhood since the 1980s. Mahmoud has been implicated in Egypt in anti-government operations dedicated to returning her husband to power; he remains in Egyptian custody.

Mahmoud recently appeared on Turkish television network Mehwar TV and alleged that the Clintons recruited her and her husband in the 1980s toward the end of advancing everything from “Green” initiatives in the West to the ascendancy of the Muslim Brotherhood in the Middle East.

Hillary Clinton’s “Girl Friday” just happens to be Huma Abedin (her Deputy Chief of Staff when she was Secretary of State), whose mother is a colleague of Mahmoud’s and a long-time leader in the Muslim Sisterhood. Oddly enough, one of the few topics that Mahmoud refuses to discuss is Abedin. According to Shoebat, “In December of 2011, Abedin went on maternity leave. She returned in June of that year while simultaneously taking a job a Special Government Employee (SGE). In addition to her role their being quite ambiguous, questions about the legality of the arrangement caught the eye of Senator Charles Grassley, who sent Secretary of State John Kerry a letter demanding answers.”

What was Abedin doing? Who knows, but some of the activities in which Mahmoud alleges the Muslim Brotherhood and the Clintons were involved most certainly do not reflect a primary concern for the security of the United States. Were they treasonable? Only an extensive investigation might reveal that, but these allegations proffer that the Clintons’ relationship with the Muslim Brotherhood predates Bill becoming Governor of Arkansas.

Then, we have the body counts. Recently, Larry Nichols, a former Clinton operative, almost casually admitted to having murdered for the Clintons on a regular basis, whether it was low-level political opponents, or “weak link” confidants who held information that might compromise their power.

The lengthy list of individuals whose suspicious deaths directly benefitted Barack Obama began even before he received the Democratic nomination. Most recently of course, Hawaii State Health Director Loretta Fuddy was killed when the small plane carrying her and eight other people crashed into the ocean off the Hawaiian island of Molokai. The only fatality, she is the individual who certified (I use the term loosely) President Obama’s long-form birth certificate. The circumstances and accounts of her demise are respectively, sketchy and conflicting at best.

It is well-known that Obama’s close associates include members of the Weather Underground, whose stated mission was overthrowing the American government. For his entire life, he has been surrounded by radicals, embittered, America-hating anti-colonialists, black nationalists, and avowed communists – yet this has never entered into the area of popular discussion, even in the face of the myriad policies, orders, and actions the President brought about which have directly compromised America’s economy, national security, and domestic tranquility.

Obama’s origins narrative of course remains unresolved. This week for the first time, a mainstream publication supported the voracity of evidence that the President perpetrated a fraud with the forged long-form birth certificate released by the White House in April 2011. It is a little-known fact that the submission of fraudulent documents toward attaining public office on the federal level remains an executable offense under the law.

It is possible that we not only have a pathologically unethical oligarchy in perpetual residence in our government, but various Mafia-like “families” sharing and trading off power, operating as they see fit, and compromising this nation in ways most Americans cannot yet imagine. If so, the perpetrators must shudder to think of what an independent prosecutor or commission with no political allegiances might make of their activities over the last couple of decades.

So, congressional Democrats sponsoring HR 3741 might have been persuaded to do so by influential parties who fear that they may at some point be charged with espionage or treason. On the other hand, they might be acting independently, in the anticipation of other prominent Democrats being so charged. Perhaps some may even have purposed to facilitate such charges being leveled, knowing how toxic certain individuals have become to the party.

In such a case, they may be trying to spare their lives, as well as facilitating easier convictions. Some might rather not have the blood of colleagues on their hands, but perceive the imperative of removing people who have become dangers to the Democrat Party, as well as traitors to the United States.

SOURCE

 

RANGE REPORT: GLOCK 17 GEN 4

December 20, 2013

Allright folks, I know that it has been a while… You folks do want your Turkey correct? Christmas Ham?  And the Professor wants his Broccoli, plus he got 40K pounds of Cauliflower delivered to Hunters Point… I survived that delivery… Somehow…

Which brings us to the subject of this post. Which is, basically Combat Tupperware! Yes, both Fred and Neil will grunt at this. ( My way of being polite about people passing gas!)

Gaston Glock came into the firearms business completely from the outside. His 17th try was a success to put it mildly. That became the Glock 17. It is the most popular handgun in the world, period. I have owned a Glock 20 for many years, and it is still my go to gun should a “social situation” arise. Yes, I still love my 1911 types and styles. and the 45ACP is indeed a well proved man stopper. Including Moro’s and crazed Muslims of all genre’s stoned on whatever…

So why a 9mm Paraballium? Because, if you shoot straight it works. At least according to Navy Seals, Army Rangers, Air Force PJ’s, and? United States Marine Force Recon Operators. It works. That said they all prefer a 45…

All this aside… I received my new in the box Glock 17 generation 4 pistol, and was impressed. My G20 came in the all too familiar plastic box that was, and is a chore to open. The 17’s box has two easy to open snaps! Gads! It comes with 2 extra magazines! And some gizmos… Grip modifiers… Okay… Sights are not the TRU GLO’s, but appear more than usable…

Reliability is always job one when it comes to defensive weaponry, and I have never seen a single Glock that didn’t digest anything in the proper caliber. So, just to be sure, for this test I picked up a variety of ammunition. From the cheap green box Remington to Hornady‘s Zombie killer loads. Bullet weights ranged from 90 grain Talon HP’s to 124 grain bullets of various styles. Let’s get this out of the way from the beginning. There were no malfunctions of any type, period. Federal Hydra Shok’s were used for a “Hot Gun” test where I burned through three complete magazines in under twenty seconds, and, again, no malfunctions.

The Gen 4 comes with a few gadgets that may make your life on the range easier. There are different grips that can be fitted to the pistol so that you have a better functional grip. The set that came already mounted fit my hands nearly perfect for target shooting. However, during simulated stress firing the point of impact seemed a bit high. To that end I will be trying out different combinations of grip panels and back straps at a later date.

I also acquired a Lone Wolf Match barrel for it in order to run a short test of Polygonal verses Land and Grove rifling. Which we can get out-of-the-way in a hurry! Until I moved out to twenty-five yards (75 feet) and fired from the bench there was little or no difference. However, from that range there was a pronounced improvement using the Lone Wolf barrel. On a standard B-20 target the stock polygonal barrel made kill zone hits using 115 as well as 124 grain offerings. Shots from the Lone Wolf barrel were all ten and “X” rings. Need I say more? At least if you are an accuracy freak like me!

The Gen 4 came with a very good trigger, and I seriously doubt that I will be replacing it anytime in the near future. Muzzle flip was, well? Almost non-existent. The sights are great right out of the box. The pistols low weight and flat profile make it a great carry pistol, and I would recommend it for those that have such needs or desires.

All in all I highly recommend this pistol. It is reliable, accurate, and reasonably priced. A must buy? Does a 9mm exist in that category? Not in my book, however, I know that the caliber has many fans. Now, I am waiting for Glock to bring out offerings with all the nice updates in 45 ACP, and 10mm Auto!

 

Some things that were missed; The Bill of Rights

December 16, 2013

The obamanites and other Tory’s would simply crap their pants if all would have passed!





Amendments Offered in
Congress by James Madison
June 8, 1789

First. That there be prefixed to the Constitution a declaration, that all power is originally vested in, and consequently derived from, the people.

That Government is instituted and ought to be exercised for the benefit of the people; which consists in the enjoyment of life and liberty, with the right of acquiring and using property, and generally of pursuing and obtaining happiness and safety.

That the people have an indubitable, unalienable, and indefeasible right to reform or change their Government, whenever it be found adverse or inadequate to the purposes of its institution.

Secondly. That in article 1st, section 2, clause 3, these words be struck out, to wit: “The number of Representatives shall not exceed one for every thirty thousand, but each State shall have at least one Representative, and until such enumeration shall be made;” and that in place thereof be inserted these words, to wit: “After the first actual enumeration, there shall be one Representative for every thirty thousand, until the number amounts to ——, after which the proportion shall be so regulated by Congress, that the number shall never be less than ——, nor more than ——, but each State shall, after the first enumeration, have at least two Representatives; and prior thereto.”

Thirdly. That in article 1st, section 6, clause 1, there be added to the end of the first sentence, these words, to wit: “But no law varying the compensation last ascertained shall operate before the next ensuing election of Representatives.”

Fourthly. That in article 1st, section 9, between clauses 3 and 4, be inserted these clauses, to wit: The civil rights of none shall be abridged on account of religious belief or worship, nor shall any national religion be established, nor shall the full and equal rights of conscience be in any manner, or on any pretext, infringed.

The people shall not be deprived or abridged of their right to speak, to write, or to publish their sentiments; and the freedom of the press, as one of the great bulwarks of liberty, shall be inviolable.

The people shall not be restrained from peaceably assembling and consulting for their common good; nor from applying to the Legislature by petitions, or remonstrances, for redress of their grievances.

The right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed; a well armed and well regulated militia being the best security of a free country: but no person religiously scrupulous of bearing arms shall be compelled to render military service in person.

No soldiers shall in time of peace be quartered in any house without the consent of the owner; nor at any time, but in a manner warranted by law.

No person shall be subject, except in cases of impeachment, to more than one punishment or one trial for the same offence; nor shall be compelled to be a witness against himself; nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor be obliged to relinquish his property, where it may be necessary for public use, without a just compensation.

Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.

The rights of the people to be secured in their persons, their houses, their papers, and their other property, from all unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated by warrants issued without probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, or not particularly describing the places to be searched, or the persons or things to be seized.

In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, to be informed of the cause and nature of the accusation, to be confronted with his accusers, and the witnesses against him; to have a compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor; and to have the assistance of counsel for his defence.

The exceptions here or elsewhere in the Constitution, made in favor of particular rights, shall not be so construed as to diminish the just importance of other rights retained by the people, or as to enlarge the powers delegated by the Constitution; but either as actual limitations of such powers, or as inserted merely for greater caution.

Fifthly. That in article 1st, section 10, between clauses 1 and 2, be inserted this clause, to wit:

No State shall violate the equal rights of conscience, or the freedom of the press, or the trial by jury in criminal cases.

Sixthly. That, in article 3d, section 2, be annexed to the end of clause 2d, these words, to wit:

But no appeal to such court shall be allowed where the value in controversy shall not amount to —— dollars: nor shall any fact triable by jury, according to the course of common law, be otherwise re-examinable than may consist with the principles of common law.

Seventhly. That in article 3d, section 2, the third clause be struck out, and in its place be inserted the clauses following, to wit:

The trial of all crimes (except in cases of impeachments, and cases arising in the land or naval forces, or the militia when on actual service, in time of war or public danger) shall be by an impartial jury of freeholders of the vicinage, with the requisite of unanimity for conviction, of the right of challenge, and other accustomed requisites; and in all crimes punishable with loss of life or member, presentment or indictment by a grand jury shall be an essential preliminary, provided that in cases of crimes committed within any county which may be in possession of an enemy, or in which a general insurrection may prevail, the trial may by law be authorized in some other county of the same State, as near as may be to the seat of the offence.

In cases of crimes committed not within any county, the trial may by law be in such county as the laws shall have prescribed. In suits at common law, between man and man, the trial by jury, as one of the best securities to the rights of the people, ought to remain inviolate.

Eighthly. That immediately after article 6th, be inserted, as article 7th, the clauses following, to wit:

The powers delegated by this Constitution are appropriated to the departments to which they are respectively distributed: so that the Legislative Department shall never exercise the powers vested in the Executive or Judicial, nor the Executive exercise the powers vested in the Legislative or Judicial, nor the Judicial exercise the powers vested in the Legislative or Executive Departments.

The powers not delegated by this Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively.

Ninthly. That article 7th be numbered as article 8th.


SOURCE




 

Citizens defeat tyranny: a cautionary example from 1946

December 8, 2013

Collectivists and progressives that now control all three branches of the U.S. government often claim that citizen uprisings against the government are invariably seditious, illegal, and treasonous.

U.S. history does not confirm that point of view.

As late as 1946 a group of citizens did, indeed, mount an armed uprising against government officials, and won. Their victory was even noted publicly by the U.S. Congress, which included a hearty congratulatory commendation by a Tennessee Congressman.

When American GIs were returning home after having served their country in World War II, saving the world from destruction at the hands of Nazi Germany and totalitarian Japan, they slowly reintegrated themselves into the local communities they left behind.

But one group of GIs returned home to east Tennessee only to find that the county government had fallen into the hands of incredibly corrupt politicians who wielded their power like Mafia thugs over the citizens who cowered in fear.

At the forefront of the localized tyranny was one Paul Cantrell, who was elected sheriff in McMinn County, of which the town of Athens is the county seat. The wealthy Cantrell family had backed Franklin Delano Roosevelt for president and were determined to implement New Deal programs on a small scale in McMinn County, even if they had to engage in outright fraud to do so.

For decades the residents of the county had taken pride in the fact that their local politics had been free from divisive partisanship, corruption, and fraud. But during World War II the Cantrell family decided to take advantage of the absence of significant numbers of residents who went away to fight in the war.

Paul Cantrell, thus, was elected sheriff by razor thin margins in 1936, 1938, and 1940. In 1942 and 1944 Cantrell ran for and was elected to the state legislature. And in 1944 Cantrell saw to it that a crony, Pat Mansfield, was elected sheriff. There were widespread reports of voter fraud, corruption, and bullying by local government officials.

In 1946, Cantrell was ready to leave the legislature and run for sheriff once again.

But at the end of 1945 over 3,000 soldiers had returned home to McMinn County. They were appalled by what they saw. The war veterans blamed Cantrell and Mansfield for creating a scenario in which fraud flourished.

Thus, the veterans decided to launch a major campaign against Cantrell which focused on cleaning up the county. These brave, honorable citizens, and those who supported them, wanted to rid county government of graft, dishonesty, dirty deals conducted under the table, and bullying.

Their tactic would be to offer a ballot for county offices on which could be found the names of no candidate but ex-GIs who pledged to work toward the clean-up.

One GI, who spoke at a rally, stated,

“The principles that we fought for in this past war do not exist in McMinn County. We fought for democracy because we believe in democracy but not the form we live under in this county” (Daily Post-Athenian, 17 June 1946, p.1 ).

The GIs requested that the FBI send poll watchers to make sure no fraud would be committed. They received no response whatsoever from the FBI. Similar requests were sent to the FBI in 1940, 1942, and 1944. Again, the FBI did not respond.

At the primary election, Sheriff Mansfield sent in 200 armed deputies to “watch the polls.” But his real motive was to prevent those who supported the GIs from voting. A confrontation ensued. A black resident was told by the Mansfield people that he would not be allowed to vote. The result was that the man was beaten and shot by Mansfield’s thugs. Witnesses said that one of the armed deputies had shot him in the back.

Mansfield ordered some of the GIs detained on election day. Tensions escalated. Fearing the ire of the GIs Mansfield took the ballot boxes to the country jail to be counted. But this only further incensed county residents.

But the GIs were running low on firearms and needed many more in order match Manfield’s deputy thugs. The GIs scoured the county looking for the arms they needed, including the National Guard, State Guard, and local militias. They came away from the search with three M-1 rifles, five .45 semiautomatic pistols, and 24 British Enfield rifles.

With theses arms and the ones they already had, the GIs headed to the jail. Three GIs who had stopped residents to warn them to stay away from the area were fired upon and wounded by county deputies at the jail. Other GIs returned fire upon the deputies.

The fighting that ensued and its conclusion is described by JPFO:

Several who ventured into the street in front of the jail were wounded. One man inside the jail was badly hurt; he recovered. Most sheriff’s deputies wanted to hunker down and await rescue. Governor McCord mobilized the State Guard, perhaps to scare the GIs into withdrawing. The State Guard never went to Athens. McCord may have feared that Guard units filled with ex-GIs might not fire on other ex-GIs.

At about 2 a.m. on August 2, the GIs forced the issue. Men from Meigs County threw dynamite sticks and damaged the jail’s porch. The panicked deputies surrendered. GIs quickly secured the building. Paul Cantrell faded into the night, having almost been shot by a GI who knew him, but whose .45 pistol had jammed. Mansfield’s deputies were kept overnight in jail for their own safety. Calm soon returned. The GIs posted guards. The rifles borrowed from the armory were cleaned and returned before sunup.

In the end the GIs won the election and their victory was properly certified. A system was put into place that would greatly lessen the risk of fraud and corruption in county government and elections. A more complete description of these events can be found here, including reaction by major newspapers across the country.

Thus, when government becomes so corrupt that it loses the respect, support, and confidence of decent, honest citizens, the Athens experience shows that the taking up of arms to use against the forces of government tyranny is the honorable thing to do, proving that honorable, honest, and corruption-free government can be restored by taking away the power of dirty politicians — by force if necessary.

ALERT! BRAND NEW!

A new entry has been posted on my blog at The Liberty Sphere under the section, “Musings After Midnight.” It is titled, “With ear to the ground, more rumblings heard from the political landscape.”

NOTICE.

Read one of my most popular entries on my blog in the popular series, Musings After Midnight, titled, “The Stealth War.

My series “Musings After Midnight” is now indexed at my blog, The Liberty Sphere.

Cross Posted with Permission.

EPIC FAIL OBAMA; Yet another failure in Econ 101

December 4, 2013

He loves backing an 18-wheeler into a tight spot. He has been patiently training new drivers for more than eight years.

Lately, though, Mr. Hernandez‘s patience has been worn thin by a confusing tangle of rules, efficiency directives, and electronic devices that cap his speed, log his every move, and practically try to autopilot his truck.

Magnifying the stress are more federal rule changes that took effect in July and are now roiling the industry.

Under the revised rule, the average workweek has been shortened to 70 hours from 82. They must take one 30-minute break during the first eight hours of driving. And the required 34-hour break between workweeks now must extend over two nights, including the hours between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m.

Those changes are proving more disruptive because they are added on to existing requirements that limit drivers to driving 11 hours a day and require them to rest a consecutive 10 hours.

The changes are aimed at reducing chronic fatigue and related crashes, according to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, the Department of Transportation agency responsible for highway safety. Fatalities in large truck crashes declined 26% from 5,111 to 3,757 in the decade ending in 2011, according to the FMCSA, but it considers that number still unacceptably high.

“This agency is not just mandated but driven to improve the operating environment of trucks,” said Anne Ferro, the agency’s administrator, in an interview.

Full Story HERE

House Leadership Ignores Gun Owners, this is why you never trust a RINO!

December 4, 2013
Slams through Plastic Gun Ban Reauthorization

The battle continues, and now moves to the Senate

“There is opposition to changing existing law from conservative lawmakers and gun rights groups such as Gun Owners of America.” — USA Today, December 3, 2013

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

Someone once said that the only thing anyone ever learns from history is that no one ever learns anything from history.

Straight from bumbling the shut down, the House leadership yesterday, by a voice vote, slammed through a straight ten-year reauthorization of the poorly drafted 1988 plastic gun ban.

Read GOA’s oped on this subject in this morning’s USA Today.

At least, argue House Republicans, this “straight authorization” of a bad law will prohibit New York Democrat Chuck Schumer from using the reauthorization as a vehicle to enact new, more extensive gun control.

Maybe.

But the House leadership has now handed Schumer a legislative vehicle for passing his gun control.  This means he and Harry Reid could choose to take their ban on 3-D printer guns -– which, by the way, would also ban many metal gun manufacturers -– and send it back to the House.

Just hours after the House reauthorized the anti-gun law, Schumer held a press event in support of expanding the plastic gun ban.

If they do this, then Boehner and his leadership team will once again be swimming in a river of pain –- inflicted by a liberal media that finally sees an opportunity for passing its much-desired gun control agenda.

So the first thing we’re doing is to organize a Senate filibuster of any Schumer effort to pass and/or expand the House bill.

Given that the Senate is currently bogged down in a fight over the defense authorization legislation, we may be able to make it very difficult for Schumer to use the House-passed bill as a vehicle for new gun control.

So please stay tuned.  We thank you for all your activism up to this point.  But just realize that this battle is not over yet.

GOA IN THE MEDIA

Meanwhile, GOA Director of Communications Erich Pratt authored the Opposing View this morning in USA Today.

Among other things, Pratt argued that the plastic gun ban is an unconstitutional infringement of our liberties that is not only ineffective, but could eventually be expanded by an anti-gun administration to ban even more guns.

But what about the issue of smuggling guns onto planes?

Pratt says that renewing a ban on plastic firearms will “not stop criminals from making them or stealing them,” any more than Chicago’s gun restrictions have been effective in stopping shootings there.

Not only that, says Pratt, “smuggling guns onto planes will still be against the law, with or without a plastic gun ban.” And airport X-ray machines will still be able to detect them.

Bottom line, says Pratt, Congress solved the problem of terrorists carrying weapons onto planes after 9/11 — not through additional gun bans, but by “allowing pilots to use guns to defend themselves and their passengers.”

Again, you can read the entire column here.