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March
13, 2006
Libertarian
Commentary on the Week's News, 5-11 March 2006
The
liberty-lover's character trait for this week is calmness - a trait that
our governmental leaders have absolutely none of, as shown by their response
to the Ports business, to the "barbarism of South Dakota", and
other things. The calm person will NOT reflexively react to news or events,
but will calmly and carefully examine the situation - consider all facets
thereof, think about alternatives to deal with it - and THEN panic! Seriously,
this trait was an obvious one based on the news of the week - where the
key word was "overreact" time after time.
Culture
Wars
Haven't
had stuff in this category for a while, but couldn't resist some of this
week's stories. Some of these also deal with the right of human being
to life, and how to so many people, that is evil. Yeah, so much for liberty.
We are actually seeing the "melting pot" harden and crack into
a lot of shards, as these stories show. How on earth can Americans hope
to understand historical cultures, or AmerInd cultures, or foreigners,
if we can't understand each other?
'Spring
Break Is Broken,' But Who's to Blame?
CNSNews.com
The American Medical Association on Wednesday released a new survey
describing spring break as a dangerous sex-and-alcohol "binge fest"
for college students. But a press release presenting the findings appears
to blame the alcohol industry for coeds' promiscuous and reckless behavior...
As usual,
the AMA finds a politically correct reason to blame a "crisis"
on - uncontrollable advertising and capitalism, in this case.
S.
Dakota bans most abortions
Las Vegas Review-Journal
"Gov. Mike Rounds signed legislation Monday that would ban most
abortions in South Dakota, a law he acknowledged would be tied up in court
for years while the state challenges the 1973 U.S. Supreme Court decision
that legalized abortion. The bill would make it a crime for doctors to
perform an abortion unless the procedure was necessary to save the woman's
life. It would make no exception for cases of rape or incest." (03/06/06)
Never mind
that this man just sentenced every South Dakotan under the age of five
to two more years of slavery (well, all but the 15% or so who are homeschooled
or going to private schools) - he is the darling of "conservatives"
for signing this bill. Never mind that the legislature continues to allow
armed thugs in the uniforms of wildlife officials and casual hunters
to trample private property and never mind that all 105 of them apparently
illegally passed a resolution against an initiated constitutional amendment
to hold judges accountable when
they abuse their office, they are the darlings of the pro-life "conservatives"
because they are going to spend millions of dollars challenging Roe v.
Wade.
There are
many of us libertarians who believe that this was the right thing to do
- and believe that we have to stop killing the young, but it does NOT
mean that it is the only issue that matters - as the politicos in City
Hall, the County Courthouse, the Statehouse, and the Capitol continue
to sell us into deeper and deeper slavery. At the same time, let me make
it clear, that I as both a libertarian and a Christian, support this legislation,
which is an attempt to stop the taking of innocent life. And that includes
the decision NOT to include rape and incest as reasons for abortions.
The child which might be created by a rape or incest is STILL innocent
and still as deserving of life as a child accidentally created by what
is considered to be a socially acceptable act of love. Christians who
support allowing abortions in such situations should also realize that
their argument would allow abortion in cases of fornication and adultery
- and is exactly contrary to the Bible in punishing the child for the
sins of its parents (or at least of ONE parent). As to who is the barbarians
here (as one commentator
called us), Mr. Kinsolving, barbarians kill innocent children.
Mama's
Note: SD legislation on "mandatory
kindergarten was killed, but they managed to do a lot of other damage.
MD:
"Embryo" out of legislation
Washington Times
"Democratic lawmakers have changed the word 'embryo' to 'material'
in a bill for embryonic stem-cell research to secure the votes of Catholic
senators who did not want to be viewed as supporting abortion-related
legislation. 'They didn't want to vote for a bill that had the language
embryo in it,' said Sen. Paula C. Hollinger, Baltimore County Democrat
and the bill's sponsor. The bill, which appears certain of passage as
early as today, calls for the state to spend $10 million for research
on cells extracted from human embryos to create treatments for degenerative
diseases, such as Parkinson's disease. Changing the bill's wording angered
Republicans and conservative Democrats, who think that a human embryo
is a human life and embryonic research is a form of abortion."
(03/08/06)
Sadly,
all this does is point out how hypocritical the supposedly Catholic (in
name, not deed) pols are - it didn't change the reality, but they still
are willing to support the system that does such horrific things.
Mama's
Note: Unfortunately, Catholics aren't the only ones who are selling their
birthright for this kind of unholy meal. Humans are able to justify anything
to themselves if they decide to ignore the reality of God. It doesn't
matter what they call themselves or where they go to church.
Editor
Faces Death Penalty Over Mohammed Cartoons
CNSNews.com
Prosecutors in Yemen have demanded the execution of a journalist after
his English-language weekly newspaper published the Mohammad cartoons
to show how their publication in European newspapers had sparked a global
uproar...
Just as
things seemed to be calming down, this happens. Notice, this is not some
"unofficial" and "nongovernmental" shari'a court -
this is (jokingly) a legitimate sovereign government, and this poor guy
is under their "government."
Home
Front
The
big news this week was again the Ports Scandal, as everyone tried to prove
what wonderful patriots they were.
Meanwhile, the revived USA PATRIOT Act was signed into force, as again
we see how little oaths to uphold the Constitution mean to anyone in DC,
fussing is still continuing over New Orleans as it returns as much as
it can to its debauchery of pre-Katrina days (Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday,
first weeks of March), and no one really seems to pay attention to massive
invasions.
House
panel votes to block port deal
Houston Chronicle
"In a congressional election-year repudiation of President Bush,
a House panel dominated by Republicans voted overwhelmingly today to block
a Dubai-owned firm from taking control of some U.S port operations. Democrats
clamored for a vote in the Senate, too. By 62-2, the House Appropriations
Committee voted to bar DP World, run by the government of Dubai in the
United Arab Emirates, from holding leases or contracts at U.S. ports.
The landslide vote was the strongest signal yet that more than three weeks
of White House efforts to stunt congressional opposition to the deal have
not been successful." (03/08/06)
The Congruss-kritturs
continued to react in a ridiculous way on this, as (according to the polls,
if we can believe them) did the public as a whole. Later in the week,
it became clear the yahoos (in the old sense of the word) won, as the
first story indicates.
Ruling
allows Dubai firm's takeover of port operator
Houston Chronicle
"The controversial takeover of British shipping company P&O
by Dubai's state-owned DP World received the green light today when Britain's
Court of Appeal dismissed a Miami firm's objection to the deal. The Court
of Appeal declined to hear an appeal from Miami-based Eller & Co.,
which had tried to have the deal barred on technical grounds, arguing
that U.S. concerns about a United Arab Emirates company owning significant
operations at six major U.S. seaports could harm its business." (03/06/06)
This was
immediately superseded by the next article.
Company
backs off on port deal
Houston Chronicle
"Bowing to ferocious opposition in Congress, a Dubai-owned company
signaled surrender today in its quest to take over operations at U.S.
Ports 'DP World will transfer fully the U.S. operations ... to a United
States entity,' the firm's top executive, H. Edward Bilkey, said in an
announcement that capped weeks of controversy. Relieved Republicans in
Congress said the firm had pledged full divestiture, a decision that one
senator said had been approved personally by the prime minister of the
United Arab Emirates." (03/09/06)
Once more, the Bush administration has been given a way out of a nasty
situation, as they did with the first Supreme Court nomination (Meirs).
It does not distract from the fact that the paranoid reaction and over
reaction on the part of Congress and the nation is unjustified.
Mama's
Note: An independent
site has some very interesting commentary on the news just above.
Read it and weep.
AZ:
Napolitano continues border militarization
Fox News
"Gov. Janet Napolitano on Wednesday ordered more National Guardsmen
posted at the Mexican border to help stop illegal immigrants and curb
related crimes. National Guard troops have worked at the border since
1988, but Napolitano signed an order authorizing commanders to station
an unspecified number of additional soldiers there to help federal agents.
Once the funding is approved, the troops will monitor crossing points,
assist with cargo inspection and operate surveillance cameras, according
to the order. 'They are not there to militarize the border,' the governor
said. 'We are not at war with Mexico.'" [FND editor's note: War
is peace. Ignorance is strength. Slavery is freedom - TLK] (03/09/06)
I was a
bit surprised at Tom's remarks on this, as I would not have expected him
to consider us at war, de facto, with Mexico, given what I had assumed
was his position on illegal immigration. Of course, this issue, like abortion,
is dividing the Libertarian Party more and more, and libertarians in general,
more and more.
Mama's
Note: What is "war?" If we were at war with Mexico, I'd think
the measures mentioned above would be obvious and necessary. The border
IS being "militarized," no matter what anyone wants to call
it, and the pressure from a great many people in this country is for more
and more of the same. Few people understand the free market alternative
in the least - seeing only the government bastardized versions of "free
trade" as further threats. Not to mention all the horrible consequences
of the "war on some drugs." Not at war? I think we need to ask
just who our government is waging war against and we'll discover that
the Mexicans come in a distant second.
Bush
repudiates oath of office
Las Vegas Review-Journal
"A day before parts of the USA Patriot Act were to expire, President
Bush signed into law a renewal that will allow the government to keep
using terror-fighting tools passed after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.
Bush's signature came two days after the House gave final approval to
the legislation over objections that it infringes on Americans' privacy.
The president said the law has been vital to protecting Americans from
terrorists." (03/09/06)
It is amazing
how many people tried to contrast the Bush position on this nasty piece
of work with the Dubai Ports business - not even stopping to think that
the two really are related - both show that the primary concern of the
administration is NOT defense of the nation (as its attitude towards the
Mexican border clearly demonstrates) but towards increasing power and
wealth.
Mideast
Tarbabies
I've very intentionally cut down drastically on the news items selected
from the region this week, especially for Iraq itself. Suffice to say,
the killing is continuing, the political mess is just as messy, there
are rumors of civil war, corruption, abuse, and all the usual things we've
seen for the past two years. But this week, look at the nations around
Iraq and see some disturbing trends and events.
Turkey:
Three killed in blast
ABC News
"A bomb set off by suspected Kurdish guerrillas killed three people
and injured 18 Thursday in Turkey's Kurdish-dominated southeast, officials
said. Police Chief Tacettin Kurt said a police officer, a civilian and
an unidentified man were killed, and three of the injured were in serious
condition. Mustafa Yavuz, the deputy governor of Van, where the attack
took place, said the body of the unidentified man was torn apart, leading
police to suspect that he may have been a suicide bomber." (03/09/06)
This is
in the Mideast section, because we are speaking of Kurdistan, one of the
several areas (like Armenia) where the "secular" Turkish government
has demonstrated its devotion to Islamic-style mass murder and dhimittude
(conversion of non-Muslims into a form of slavery under the guise of "loving"
People of the Book). Clearly, the secular Turkish society is not so far
removed from its Islamic roots as it would like to have us believe.
Carter
urges troop withdrawal from Iraq
Cincinnati Enquirer
"Former President Jimmy Carter criticized the war in Iraq on Wednesday,
urging a troop drawdown as the United States enters its fourth year of
conflict in Iraq. 'It was a completely unnecessary war. It was an unjust
war,' said Carter, the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize winner. 'It was initiated
on the basis of false pretenses. All of those are true, but we can't just
preemptively withdraw.' He urged the Bush administration to bring home
as many troops as possible within the next 12 months." (03/08/06)
Carter
has finally come down on the right side, but for the wrong reasons - first,
Iraq DID have such weapons, despite the his claims (and that of 90% of
Democratic politicians, apparently); and second, what made the invasion
of Iraq wrong was not weapons or not, but the fact that the US was acting
preemptively - NOT defending ourselves. That, and NOT the presence of
weapons, made it an unnecessary and unjust war. At least he refers to
it in the past tense, so he got something else right. And he didn't call
for immediate, idiotic, and bloody withdrawal regardless of conditions.
Majority
in US fear Iraq civil war
MSNBC
"An overwhelming majority of Americans believe that fighting between
Sunni and Shiite Muslims in Iraq will lead to civil war, and half say
the United States should begin withdrawing its forces from that violence-torn
country, according to the latest Washington Post-ABC News poll. The survey
found that 80 percent believe that recent sectarian violence makes civil
war in Iraq likely, and more than a third say such a conflict is 'very
likely' to occur." (03/06/06)
Assuming
this poll is true, all it is doing is recording the parroting of news
from the Mainstream Media - most Americans can't explain the difference
between Shi'a and Sunni, much less find Iraq on a map or understand what
a civil war means.
Mama's
Note: Fighting between Shi'a and Sunni - and other factions - is ALREADY
a "civil war!" I don't know of any other legitimate definition.
They've been fighting for hundreds, if not thousands of years in one way
or another, and nothing the US or anyone else can do will change that.
We need to leave them alone, period.
General's
assessment of Iraq questioned
Cincinnati Enquirer
"The Pentagon's top general acknowledged Sunday that 'anything
can happen' in Iraq, but he said things aren't as bad as some say. 'I
wouldn't put a great big smiley face on it, but I would say they're going
very, very well from everything you look at.' The comments drew criticism
that Gen. Peter Pace is glossing over problems in the three-year-old U.S.
campaign." (03/05/06)
Actually,
the complaint I most often hear from those who actually have served in
Iraq recently is just the opposite: they are angry that the mainstream
media is highlighting problems and glossing over the improved conditions
and changes for the better.
Mama's
Note: What kind of changes, and "improved" according to whom?
I know a junior officer who has just returned from an extended tour in
Iraq with serious problems approaching nervous breakdown over what he
witnessed and was forced to participate in. He's not alone.
Of course
the "popular media" isn't helping anything with their false
and always hyped reporting, but it doesn't change the serious problems
and injustices that are present in every US military action not springing
from actual defense of this country.
Hamas
rejects support of al-Zawahri
Las Vegas Review-Journal
"Hamas officials shrugged off the support offered by al-Qaida's
No. 2 leader, saying Sunday the Palestinian militant group has a different
ideology than the terror network and won election through a moderate approach
to Islam. In a video aired Saturday by Al-Jazeera, Ayman al-Zawahri called
for jihad, or holy war, to reclaim Palestinian lands and implied al-Qaida's
support for Hamas' refusal to recognize Israel despite international pressure
since the militant Islamic group swept parliamentary elections in January."
(03/05/06)
This strikes
me as posturing for the press, and not as a serious squabble: Hamas's
"moderate" stand has resulted in just as much blood as al-Qaida's
"extreme" approach, just not all at once. And if Hamas' attitude
towards Shari'a and the Ummah and other key ideas is defined by them as
"moderate" then what do we have to expect from the extremists?
That warning (see "World Wars" below) might be something to
take seriously.
Hundreds
flee northwestern Pakistan unrest
USA Today
"Hundreds of Pakistanis lugging bags and bundles of clothes fled
a northwestern town Sunday after pro-Taliban tribesmen and foreign militants
battled security forces in clashes near the Afghan border that left at
least 53 people dead. The fighting, which started Saturday and largely
died down early Sunday, was the worst in two years in the lawless North
Waziristan region, where well-armed, fiercely independent tribes have
long resisted government control." (03/05/06)
When tied
in with Bush's visit and its attendant crackdown (see next article), this
should remind us of the true nature of their government. It should also
remind us that even Muslims can desire and fight for freedom, even if
it is the freedom to run their own little tribal dictatorships and not
the liberty that we of the West have fought so hard for.
Pakistan
cracks down on protests over Bush visit
Guardian [UK]
"The dark side of Pakistani democracy was evident outside the
palace gates, where anti-US rallies had been banned and hundreds arrested,
including cricket legend Imran Khan. The opposition politician, who intended
to lead a rally yesterday, was placed under house arrest as he left a
dinner party late Friday night.' I wanted to protest against the double
standards of Bush,' Khan said by mobile phone from behind a line of police
at his front gate. 'This is a military dictatorship with a democratic
facade.' Police detained 35 people who gathered at Rawalpindi's Committee
Square. The police, who outnumbered protesters, beat several people with
sticks before driving them away. 'Nothing happened. We are just here to
maintain law and order,' said Inspector Sardar Babar afterwards. Asked
why his officers used violence, he said: 'I don't want to answer any more
questions.' " (03/05/06)
Imran Khan
is only stating what everyone knows and this is business as usual for
Paki rulers with their odd mix of Raj British colonial administration
and resurgent Islamicism. For now, Paki rulers will keep on the US's good
side (and Bush's) but I fully expect them to betray the US when it is
convenient, when they no longer need the US to balance them against India
on the one side and the other vying Islamicist factions of Pan-Arabia
and Iran on the other.
Privacy
and Our Rights to Travel and Live Freely
Just a few articles this week, to remind us that we need to be vigilant.
No question, things are getting bad in a good many places, as the next
few stories tell us.
UK:
Surveillance on drivers may be increased
Guardian [UK]
"Drivers talking on mobile phones or failing to wear seatbelts
could find themselves tracked down through a widened use of road surveillance
cameras, under proposals due to be floated in parliament tomorrow. The
plans would form part of a major expansion of camera surveillance which
critics say is already transforming Britain into the most watched country
in the world. The case for cameras to be focused on people using mobiles
as they drive is made by the independent adviser to the transport select
committee, Robert Gifford, of the Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport
Safety (Pacts)." (03/07/06)
"Big
Brother is Watching." Who coined that phrase? Oh, yeah, a Brit. Prophesy,
indeed.
Hong
Kong considers surveillance law
UPI
"Hong Kong's government has published a proposed wiretapping and
covert surveillance bill. Analysts predict that discussion over the proposed
legislation will be stormy and contentious as it opens the possibility
that Beijing could help determine who might be targeted under the law.
The 88-page bill was approved by the Executive Council on Feb. 28 and
distributed to legislators the next day. The legislation is largely a
continuation of previous Legislative Council proposals and incorporates
several earlier, controversial measures that pro-democratic legislators
have criticized for weeks. If the bill is enacted it will establish a
judicial panel along with a commissioner on interception of communications
and surveillance, which will have the power to decide on wiretap and surveillance
applications in 'highly intrusive' cases. " (03/03/06)
Hong Kong,
even before being abandoned by Whitehall and given into the tender mercies
of Beijing, was on the authoritarian side as far as public behavior and
privacy, much like Singapore and other free-enterprise East Asian cities.
This makes it more so, clearly, and I hope it is a massive fight.
Mama's
Note: As technology advances for spying on people, so too does technology
become available to thwart that spying and improve privacy. We just have
to want it badly enough to find and use it.
Our
right to defend ourselves
This is a big section again this week because I think we need some
good news. To me, good news is seeing that free people can defend themselves
from evildoers without a warrant from the President or a permission slip
from some bureaucrat. So enjoy seeing that evil sometimes does NOT win
out over good! One brief discussion this week has been the right of Christians,
followers of the Christ, to use force to defend themselves. It is, I believe,
fully authorized by Christ Himself that His followers MAY defend themselves
and MUST defend those dependent on them - children, especially orphans,
and widows. I very strongly disagree with anyone who twists Scripture
to try and show otherwise.
Utah
Man and New Jersey Gun Rights Group Sue
CNS News
The Association of New Jersey Rifle & Pistol Clubs, Inc. (ANJRPC)
announced that it has commenced a lawsuit against the Port Authority of
New York and New Jersey and one of its police officers for wrongfully
arresting and imprisoning for nearly five days a 57-year old Utah man
delayed at Newark Airport by a baggage error while traveling from Utah
to Pennsylvania. The lawsuit seeks more than $3 million in damages for
civil rights violations and a permanent injunction forcing the Port Authority
to follow Federal law on interstate transport of locked, unloaded firearms
that have been secured in luggage and declared by law-abiding citizens.
Thanks
to Scott for this one! The man got caught in Jersey when his baggage got
delayed and ended up in a really nasty (typically NJ) jail, ridiculously
high bond, and much else before the charges were all mysteriously dropped.
See also: Salt Lake Tribune, only how many days after? - the next article.
Troubling
stint in jail sets Utahn on crusade
Salt Lake Tribune
BOUNTIFUL - When Gregg Revell packed his bags for a trip to Pennsylvania
last April, he had no idea how far he'd be traveling. Before the week
was out, the 57-year-old suburban real estate agent and grandfather would
be arrested, thrown into one of the country's most notorious jails, strip
searched and inoculated against his will.
Thanks
to Scott for this one, again, a follow-up to the above.
Mama's
Note: I'm just curious why anyone would want to travel to New Jersey in
the first place, let alone try to take their weapon. Of course it SHOULDN'T
be a problem, but since it obviously is, this seems like asking for trouble.
OK:
Guns for judges
NewsMax
"Oklahoma judges could carry guns in courthouses under legislation
approved today by the Oklahoma House. Tulsa state Representative Daniel
Sullivan allows district judges and associate district judges to have
firearms in a courthouse. It was approved 94-to-4 and sent to the Senate
for a vote. The measure arose from an incident in Tulsa in which a judge
became concerned that a defendant had overpowered a deputy sheriff, prompting
the judge to arm himself in self-defense." (03/08/06)
Once more,
we see that the nobility (those with Esquire after their name, at least)
are more privileged than the rest of us, indeed.
Mama's
Note: Indeed! As in so many such cases, the "powers that be"
totally ignore the fact that the exact same argument of "self defense"
for the judges is just as valid for everyone else. Good old double standards...
MO:
Court hears arguments on gun permit case
Belleville News Democrat
"A man who was denied a permit to acquire a gun after being evaluated
at a mental health facility argued Monday to the state Supreme Court that
his constitutional right to due process was violated. David Nelson was
sent to a mental health center for a 96-hour evaluation in September 2003
over fears he would harm himself. He was evaluated and released with no
finding of mental illness or need for further treatment. Last year, he
applied for a permit to acquire a weapon. The Callaway County sheriff's
office denied the request, citing a section of law barring people who
were committed to a mental health center from obtaining a permit."
(03/06/06)
I really
hope he wins, but by what authority does the state of Missouri take to
itself the power to issue permission slips for people to own guns? And
maybe he IS crazy if he was willing to play along with their silly and
illegal requirements. A visit to downtown Kansas City or St. Louis would
have been cheaper and easier, Mr. Nelson.
Mama's
Note: It should be fairly obvious to any honest person that most of the
truly insane are roaming the streets, fully armed, and all too often,
with a badge in their pocket or displayed on their body somewhere. Those
in mental hospitals are at least trying to get some help, usually.
TX:
Southwest Side man fights off intruder
My San Antonio
"A man walking home from a neighborhood nightclub had to defend
himself from an intruder that followed him to his Southwest Side apartment.
Police said the man was walking to the apartment in the 400 block of Cropsey
Avenue, near General Hudnell Drive, at about 12:30 a.m. Wednesday, when
he noticed someone behind him. The man ran to his apartment, went inside
and slammed the door. The suspect kicked in the door and knocked the victim
to the floor. The victim got a gun, fired a shot and missed. The intruder
ran away. Police are searching for him." (03/08/06)
Sounds
like some parts of San Antoine don't change much. Too bad he missed.
Mama's
Note: Too bad he didn't have any training in self-defense or the use of
his weapon. Once again, folks: ownership of a gun does not make you ready
to defend yourself or your family. It's a great start, but it's not enough!
LEARN how to use it right - and practice often!!
AZ:
Armed woman sends robber fleeing
Tucson Star
"A robber got some spare change and a scare when he threatened
a woman in Midtown on Monday morning. The 56-year-old woman was walking
near East Fort Lowell Road and North Country Club Road when a man dressed
in black approached her and demanded money, said Officer Dallas Wilson,
a Tucson Police Department spokesman. The robber implied he had a gun,
so the woman complied with his order and gave him $1.50, hoping he would
leave, Wilson said. Then, thinking her life was in danger, she drew a
Smith & Wesson revolver and pointed it at the robber, who ran away."
(03/08/06)
Hmmm. Is
this turning the other cheek? She did do what he asked, but then made
sure that he didn't get greedy. For those in doubt about the Christian
ethics of self-defense (a serious topic, and one that many misunderstand)
this might be a way to make it acceptable.
Mama's
Note: Unfortunately, there is seldom enough detail in these stories to
figure out what really happened. Why did she suddenly feel her life was
in danger? I'm glad she was armed and willing to defend herself - and
even happier that she didn't have to shoot. It's a heavy burden, even
if you don't kill anyone. I had to shoot once, and I hope I never have
to again.
SC:
Winners decline AK-47 raffle prize
Sun News
"Two winners in a drawing for an AK-47 assault rifle declined
the prize given away by a Clemson University conservative newspaper. A
third person in line for the weapon says he is unsure what he will do
with his controversial prize. The drawing came after about 150 raffle
tickets had been taken without donations by people opposed to giving away
a weapon. Andrew Davis, editor of The Tiger Town Observer, said the gun
was offered to bring attention to the Second Amendment right to bear arms
as well as to raise money for the paper and other charitable causes. Davis
said the event Thursday raised about $500 through ticket sales and about
$800 more through direct contributions from people who didn't want tickets.
That's what happened with the original winner, Laura Kaiser. She said
she made a donation to the project, but did not want a ticket."
[Editor's note: They can give it to me ... I can always use another AK
... - MLS] (03/04/06)
Mary Lou,
I hope that they do give it to you! How silly can people be?
VA:
Delegates approve gun bill
Broadside
"The House of Delegates voted 77-22 to pass a bill prohibiting
any property owner, including employers, to enforce regulations barring
legally-possessed firearms in a locked vehicle. Sponsored by Del. L. Scott
Lingamfelter (R-PW) and known as the 'parking lot bill,' the legislation
would hold no liability for the property owners if the firearm is locked
and secure inside the vehicle, according to The Washington Post. This
law would not apply to public school property and limited access parking
lots. Supporters feel that this law would be important to protect the
citizens' second amendment rights. The National Rifle Association has
been pushing hard for this bill, according to The Washington Post. Philip
Van Cleave, president of gun-rights organization Virginia Citizen's Defense
League, said, 'If this law is not passed, law-abiding citizens who have
guns in their vehicles are now stuck. They are either disarmed and now
helpless, or they have to secure their firearms at home before going to
work.' " (03/06/06)
I know
that this is a tough call, but what do we expect? For years we have harped
on the evils of guns (or rather the media and law enforcement has) and
now that businesses are scared out of their wits by lawsuits and fears
of people going postal, and try to protect themselves the way they've
been told to (by banning guns) - we see government coming along and "solving
the problem" by trashing more of their owner's rights to own property.
This is both a win-win and lose-lose situation. Win-win because employees
who defend themselves also defend their coworkers and business, and losing
because, stupid as their action is, owners of a property SHOULD have the
ability to tell their workers and guests and visitors that they don't
want weapons on their property. In a more perfect world, such a demand
would be so rude and disrespectful that no one would do it, but...
Mama's
Note: In a related subject, it should be even more rude and disrespectful
for employers to dictate the disarming of their employees OFF their property.
As a nurse I'm forbidden to carry any form of weapon, no matter what kind
of "permit" I might get. It is a condition of employment, which
we are required to sign, that we "agree" to remain completely
unarmed when we are "on duty," even in our own cars!
Guns
in demand as Iraqi seek protection
Reuters
"Like most Iraqis, Abu Ali has long kept a Kalashnikov assault
rifle hidden in his bedroom. But it was not until sectarian violence pushed
Iraq to the brink of civil war these past two weeks that the 56-year-old
engineer thought that one automatic weapon was not enough. "Danger
is everywhere," said Ali, a short, stocky man. "I always had
a Kalashnikov at home but after the violence I bought a 9 mm pistol. I
carry it with me all the time." Fearful of sectarian attacks since
the bombing of a Shi'ite shrine on Feb. 22, Iraqis are barricading homes
and stocking up on weapons in a country already awash with guns. Under
Saddam Hussein, Iraqi households were allowed to own one Kalashnikov,
part of a home defence plan during years of wars. After his ousting, looters
ransacked barracks, taking with them anything from ammunition to antiaircraft
missiles." (03/05/06)
A wise
man - and a kind of wisdom Americans should heed - first in making sure
that Iraqis can have the weapons they need to defend their homes, and
second, making sure that we do the same. Are you prepared? Do you have
a home defense plan?
Mama's
Note: Just as important, do you practice that plan? Did you get training
in self defense and the use of your weapons? Owning them is simply not
enough!
FL:
Man shoots, kills home intruder
Pensacola News Journal
"When Edward Lucas Sr. checked to see why the neighbor's German
shepherd was barking at Sunday at 5:40 a.m., he had no idea that minutes
later an intruder would be lying dead on his living room rug. Lucas, 63,
of the 3900 block of West Mallory Street, never wanted to have to use
his .22 caliber rifle that way, but Tyrone Fyoungious Preyer, 29, would
not stop breaking through the door, he said. "I yelled 'Get out of
my house,' but he kept coming," said Lucas, a retired Sears employee
who resided at that house for almost eight years. "I was scared to
death." Preyer, who died at the home when Lucas fired at him more
than four times, tried to break into at least three other surrounding
homes, Escambia County Sheriff's Office investigators said."
(03/-6/06)
As someone
pointed out to me recently, a .22-cal is peanuts, but enough of them CAN
make a difference. Still, if I were Mr. Lucas, I'd think about something
a bit more hefty.
Mama's
Note: He'd also do well to invest in a handgun and the training necessary
to use it effectively. A rifle or any long gun is a valuable tool for
many things, but close quarter defense is not one of them. Just think
what a 12 gauge shotgun blast would do to the inside of your house! He
was very lucky.
More
News and Commentary on Page 2
Nathan
Barton is writing from his secret bunker complex on the eastern slopes
of the Paha Sapa, swilling Doctor Pepper (and gallons of water each day,
milady) and plotting to re-elect Gaius Julius Caesar dictator of the Republic
- or was that Senator Palpatine? Granville James Corbin? W? Q?
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to visit my blog, Liberty's
Outpost.
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