2/04/2005
Armed Citizenry Defends Against Tyranny
Tyranny in the form of terrorism, that is.
Two sources on this, the first is a blog from Iraq, the second is from Australia.
Citizens of Al Mudhiryiah (a small town in the "death triangle") were subjected to an attack by several militants today who were trying to punish the residents of this small town for voting in the election last Sunday.
The citizens responded and managed to stop the attack, kill 5 of the attackers, wounded 8 and burned their cars .
May more terrorists meet the same fate.
Permalink
|
SF Discovers Enforcing Gun Laws Actually Works
FOXNEWS.COM-Old Gun Law Reaps New Benefits in S.F.
SAN FRANCISCO — A renewed enforcement of a 10-year-old law has reaped big new benefits in San Francisco, where police cite it as a primary factor in a recent drop in homicides.
"Triggerlock," (search) as the federal law is known, allows police to arrest suspected violent criminals on lesser charges. After an arrest is made, police search the suspect for guns. If they find even one, the suspect can be sentenced to 10 years in prison, effectively keeping him or her off the street.
The San Francisco Police Department (search ) turned to the law in the wake of a spike in homicides in early 2004, which they say may have been due to a rise in gang activity, as opposed to increased numbers of criminals in the city.
Hmmm...imagine that...enforcing existing laws puts criminals in prison. What a concept. Now, this is the Federal government program which makes it easier for local DAs to bring federal charges against criminals, the federal law in question usually being simply possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
What the cops basically do is pick up people known by the street cops to be criminals/gangmembers/general problem children, for something relatively minor in the grand scheme of things, i.e. drug posession, trespassing, whatever. Since the mutant is being arrested, he gets frisked. Sometimes a gun might be found. Since many, if not most, of these mutants have criminal records, if any of the items on the rap sheet are a felony, bingo-felon in possession, federal offense, go directly to Marion, IL. Even if they don't have a felony conviction, if they have a gun they're almost certainly carrying concealed without a permit (Note: I don't approve of laws requiring permits to carry guns, concealed or otherwise.) So they can add some more to any prison sentence for that.
Some people, however, criticize the law for unnecessarily bringing minor gun offenders in for federal gun crimes.
“The ultimate sentence that is imposed tends to be much higher and the question is, ‘is that appropriate?’” said Public Defender Ron Tyler.
Yes, the sentence is higher and it's a federal one. Tough shit. As the saying goes, if you can't do the time, don't do the crime. Since I'm willing to bet most of these federal sentences are for being a felon in possession of a firearm, I don't have a whole lot of sympathy.
What really chaps my hide is that even though they're running this program, and even though it reduced homicides by almost a third, the city leaders still felt the need to put that handgun ban on the ballot, citing the need to "get guns off the streets." For the children, of course.
Permalink
|
Random Question of the Day
OK, so Christine Gregoire was sworn in as the governor of Washington, but the election is still being challenged. Meanwhile, bills are making their way through the Legislature, and at least one will probably be signed before this whole election thing is resolved.
So, my question is this: what happens to that law if the court(s) decide that Gregoire's election wasn't legit? If the election wasn't legit, then she isn't governor. Would any law she signed then be void?
Permalink
|
2/03/2005
Last Full Measure
Via Drudge:
President Bush will present America's top award for bravery to the family of the sergeant who died defending his soldiers.
Army SFC Paul Smith, 11th Engineer Battalion, 3rd Infantry Division (the same division that Audie Murphy, the most decorated soldier in Army history, was assigned to) earned the nation's highest award for bravery in combat for his actions on 4 April 2003, manning a machinegun and providing covering fire to allow his outnumbered unit to withdraw. He did not survive the action.
Rest in peace, brother.
More here.
Permalink
|
2/01/2005
Tell Me He Did Not Just Say That
Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-Chappaquiddick) continues to lose his grip on reality (quote courtesy of SondraK:
SENATOR KENNEDY: We have reached the point that a prolonged American military presence in Iraq is no longer productive for either Iraq or the United States. The US military presence has become part of the problem, not part of the solution. No matter how many times the administration denies it, there is no question they misled the nation and led us into a quagmire in Iraq. Despite the clear lesson of history, the president stubbornly clings to the false hope that the turning point is just around the corner.
The ending of the rule of Saddam Hussein was supposed to lessen violence and bring an irresistible wave of democracy to the Middle East. It hasn't. Saddam's capture was supposed to quell the violence. It didn't. The transfer of sovereignty was supposed to be the breakthrough. It wasn't. The military operation in Fallujah was supposed to break the back of the insurgency. It didn't. We have the finest military in the world, but we cannot rely primarily on military action to end politically inspired violence.
We can't defeat the insurgency militarily if we don't effectively address the political context in which the insurgency flourishes. Our military and the insurgents are fighting for the same thing. The hearts and minds of the people, and that is a battle we are not winning. At least 12,000 American troops -- probably more -- should leave at once, to send a strong signal about our intentions and to ease the pervasive sense of occupation.
So, Senator Voluntary Manslaughter, are the terrorists fighting for a free and democratic Iraq, or are our troops fighting to re-install the Baathist-fascist dictatorship they knocked off just under two years ago? Which is it? You said they're both fighting for the same thing. Defend yourself, you bloated gasbag. And just so you know, there's a reason John became President, Bobby would have if he hadn't been killed, and you didn't. It's because they actually had talent, ideas, and a firm fucking grasp of reality, three qualities you are sorely lacking.
Now, just for fun, let's re-work this quote:
We have reached the point that a prolonged Kennedy presence in the Senate is no longer productive for either the Senate or the United States. The Kennedy presence has become part of the problem, not part of the solution. No matter how many times the Democratic party denies it, there is no question that Kennedy is misleading the nation and is trying to cause a quagmire in Iraq. Despite the clear lesson of history, Senator Kennedy stubbornly clings to the false hope that he will achieve the success of his brothers by causing America to fail.
...
We can't defeat Kennedy at the polls if we don't effectively address the political context in which the he flourishes. Kennedy and the mainstream media are fighting for the same thing. The hearts and minds of the people, and that is a battle we are not winning, at least in Marxachusetts. At least 12,000 American troops -- probably more -- should be sent at once, to send a strong signal about our intentions and to ease the pervasive sense of hopelessness of the population there.
Permalink
|
Hilary on the Health Care Stump Again
She's being quiet about it, though...and the news was overshadowed a bit by her fainting. But she's covering health care, and I assume Hilary-Care, in speaking engagements.
So, for the benfit of Mr. Kite, let me say this again:
THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A RIGHT TO HEALTH CARE
Health care is an economic good-that is goods (drugs, medical supplies) and services (use of medical equipment, doctors' time, use of hospital facilities.) If you have a right to health care, that means that you have a right to these goods and services, and can force others to provide them to you at no cost, or for a lower cost than they are willing to sell them for.
That, my friends, is not a right. That is theft.
Permalink
|
WA State PSA
GOAL Post 2005-4
Published on 01/30/05 at 21:03:14 PST by webmaster
Legislative Update from Olympia 28 January 2005
GUN BAN MANIA CONTINUES
GREAT TURN-OUT FOR SENATE JUDICIARY HEARING
MORE ANTI-GUN BILLS FILED
TIME TO CALL YOUR SENATOR
It’s clearly payback time AGAINST gun owners, with Washington Ceasefire, animal rights groups, and their allies in the Democrat-controlled legislature continue to file bills banning different kinds of guns, banning guns in different locations and banning the private sale of firearms at gun shows.
Approximately 300 citizens turned out for the 25 January public hearing by the Senate Judiciary Committee. They were still signing in an hour after the hearing began, a first in Washington legislative history! At least 95% of the attendees were on our side of the issues, although in the interests of “fairness,” committee chair Senator Adam Kline allowed equal numbers of individuals (50-50) to testify pro and con (usually four on each side of each bill). Even the news coverage of the event, which ran 45 minutes over the scheduled two hours, gave us credit for “200 attendees” and acknowledged most were opposed to the gun control bills.
Gun ban bills just keep on coming. Senate bill numbers have been assigned to the “assault weapons” ban (SB 5475) and .50 BMG caliber ban (SB 5593). A House companion bill to SB 5475, the “assault weapon” ban, has been filed (HB 1627) by Representative Ruth Kagi (D-32). A bill banning the use of lead shot is being circulated, but final language has not been selected. The bill could focus solely on hunting and field use of lead shot, or it could include skeet and trap ranges as well.
At this time the bills considered in the public hearing in Senate Judiciary last Tuesday are still there, where they will stay as long as the four Republican members and Democrat Senator Jim Hargrove (D-24) hold firm. I anticipate some form of procedural maneuver may be made to get the bills out of committee.
NOW is the time to call your Senator and Representatives and let them know how you feel about these bills. Elected officials DO respond to public pressure. A brief BUT POLITE call or e-mail asking them to oppose ANY infringement on your right to keep and bear arms can work miracles… provided the call is made! You can call them toll free via the Legislative Hotline at (800) 562-6000, or visit the legislative web site at http://www.leg.wa.gov and click on “Senate” or “House of Representatives” at the top of the page to access their direct phone lines (all begin with 360-786-xxxx) or e-mail addresses. <>
As this is being written, there are 86 days left in the 2005 Regular Session. We have a long way to go!
BILL STATUS:
Bill # Subject Sponsor Status
SB 5041 Sentencing range McCaslin (R-4) S. Jud.
SB 5131 Insanity finding/firearms Carrell (R-28 ) S.Jud.
SB 5167 Firearm suppressors Hargrove (D-24) S.Jud.
SB 5342 Safe storage of firearms Kohl-Welles (D-36) S.Jud.
SB 5343 Gun show loophole Kohl-Welles (D-36) S.Jud.
SB 5344 Capitol campus gun ban Fairley (D-32) S. Jud.
SB 5383 Juvenile hunting licenses Oke (R-26) S. NatRes
SB 5475 Assault weapon ban Kline (D-37) S. Jud.
SB 5545 deployed military CPL renewal Roach (R-31) S. Jud.
SB 5593 .50 BMG rifle ban Kline (D-37) S. Jud.
SB 5635 Restoration of rights Schoesler (R-9) S.Jud.
SJM 8005 Manufacturer protection Benton (R-17) S. Jud.
HB 1133 Public disclosure law Nixon (R-45) H. StatGov
HB 1213 Juvenile hunting licenses Clements (R-14) H.NatRes
HB 1473 Safe storage of firearms…….Moeller (D-49) H. Jud.
HB 1489 Capitol campus gun ban Williams (D-22) H.Jud.
HB 1490 Park/rec area gun ban Darneille (D-27) H. Jud.
HB 1627 Assault weapon ban Kagi (D-32) H. Jud.
HJM 4002 Manufacturer protection Curtis (R-18 ) H.Jud.
Key to abbreviations: S. = Senate, H. = House, HJM = House Joint Memorial, Jud = Judiciary, CJ&J = Criminal Justice & Corrections, Fish/Ecol = Fisheries, Ecology & Parks, JuvJust = Juvenile Justice, Educ = Education, LocGov = Local Government, NatRes = Natural Resources; W&M = Ways and Means
<>
GOAL position on bills:
<>
SB 5041 Neutral
SB 5131 Neutral
SB 5167 Support
SB 5342 Oppose
SB 5343 Oppose
SB 5344 Concerns
SB 5383 Neutral
SB 5475 Oppose
SB 5545 Support
SB 5593 Oppose
SB 5635 Support
HB 1133 Neutral
HB 1213 Neutral
HB 1433 Oppose
HB 1489 Oppose
HB 1490 Oppose
HB 1627 Oppose
HJM 4002 Support
Note: Our position on bills may change as they are amended and move through the process.
HEARINGS SCHEDULED:
<>
None. (A quick note on public testimony: as a general rule testimony is subject to a three minute time limit – which may be cut if there are several people wishing to testify. Testimony should not be redundant – if someone else already said it, find something else to say. Like a letter to the editor, testimony should focus on no more than two or three points. Personal attacks or criticizing the motives of our opponents is NOT allowed. Vague references to the Second Amendment or Nazi gun control are meaningless in a public hearing.)
<>
LEGISLATIVE HOT LINE: You may reach your Representatives and Senator by calling the Legislative Hotline at 1-800-562-6000. Toll free!!! The hearing impaired may obtain TDD access at 1-800-635-9993. Also toll free!!!
1-800-562-6000 TDD 1-800-635-9993
<>
OTHER DATA: Copies of pending legislation (bills), legislative schedules and other information are available on the legislature's web site at "www.leg.wa.gov". It's available in two versions: text (.txt) file or Acrobat (.pdf) file. The "Acrobat" version is preferred as it is easier to read and is an exact copy of the hard copy format the legislators use. You may download a free version of Adobe Acrobat from Adobe's web site. You may also obtain hard copy bills, initiatives, etc, in the mail from the Legislative Bill Room FREE OF CHARGE by calling 1-360-786-7573. Copies of bills may also be ordered toll free by calling the Legislative Hotline at (800) 562-6000. You may also hear floor and committee hearing action live at http://www.tvw.org/ (you need "RealAudio" to do this, available free at the TVW web site).
By reading the House and Senate "bill reports" (hbr, sbr) for each bill, you can see how individual committee members voted. By reading the "roll call" for each bill, you can see how the entire House or Senate voted on any bill. The beauty of the web site is that ALL this information is available, on line, to any citizen.
<>
GET THE WORD OUT: If you want to subscribe to the GOAL Post by e-mail, send a message to "jwaldron@halcyon.com". Please pass GOAL Post on to anyone you believe may have an interest in protecting our rights. Better yet, make a couple of copies of this message, post it on your gun club’s bulletin board, and leave copies with your local gun shop(s). PERMISSION IS HEREBY GRANTED TO DUPLICATE OR REDISTRIBUTE GOAL POST PROVIDED IT IS REPRODUCED IN ITS ENTIRETY WITHOUT TEXTUAL MODIFICATION AND CREDIT IS GIVEN TO GOAL. I can be reached at "jwaldron@halcyon.com" or (during session) by telephone at (425) 454-4915. Unfortunately, I am unable to mail hard copy GOAL Post to individuals. Limited numbers of hard copies MAY be available at WAC gun shows.
Permalink
|
Shipping Cost Silliness
So, on Sunday my wife ordered some underthings from Victoria's Secret. Shipping on these items was $5.95. This for a few items that collectively weighed less (probably much less) than 10 oz and can fit in a container the size of a VHS tape.
Out of curiousity I looked at the invoice for the last C&R rifle I had delivered to my house-a Yugo M59 (it's still coated in cosmo, so ya'll will have to wait for pics.) Shipping was $13.00, for something that weighs nearly 10 lbs and is almost 4 feet long. Oh, and it got to me faster than my wife's last VS order.
WTF?
UPDATE: I just remembered: VS stuff is delivered by the Post Office. Rifles come via UPS. Yet another shining example of why private enterprise is better.
Permalink
|
|
|
