Guffaw in AZ
congress
Three Republican Senators promise to filibuster Democrat Gun Control Bill
(From John Lott)
Three Republican Senators promise to filibuster Democrat Gun Control Bill
How just a few new Senators can make such a big difference in how the Senate operates. These Senators are focusing on how these bills will hurt “citizens’ right to self-defense.” A filibuster might give these Senators a real chance to educate people about exactly how these laws will cause harm. From The Hill newspaper:
Carney said a filibuster would be “unfortunate” and would send the wrong message to the families of gun violence victims.
“I don’t think you need to tell the families of those who have lost their children to gun violence that bills like this may be filibustered. I don’t think that would be welcome news,” Carney said.
GOP Sens. Rand Paul (Ky.), Mike Lee (Utah), and Ted Cruz (Texas) threatened to filibuster the bill in a letter to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) that argued it was an infringement of Second Amendment rights. The bill would expand background checks and penalties on straw purchases of firearms.
The senators pledged to “oppose the motion to proceed to any legislation that will serve as a vehicle for any additional gun restrictions.”
“The Second Amendment to the Constitution protects citizens’ right to self-defense. It speaks to history’s lesson that government cannot be in all places at all times, and history’s warning about the oppression of a government that tries,” they wrote. . . .
Considering the proclivities of the current administration to enforce ex-post-facto legislation, if this does pass, it would be interesting to see prosecution of all the Fast and Furious BATFE folks, as well as Mark Kelly for straw purchases. With the increased penalties, of course.
After all, no one is above the law, right?
Internet Taxes are BACK! Now with Congress’ and U.N. Approval!
(from my personal Email, in part…)
Dear Guffaw,
Call it the Valentine’s Day Tax Massacre.
On February 14, 2012, statists in Congress introduced S. 336, the National Internet Tax Mandate.
Of course, the tax-and-spenders sponsoring the bill mislabeled it the “Marketplace Fairness Act.~
~Under the new National Internet Tax Mandate:
*** All Americans would see their taxes go up as big spending governors of BOTH parties work with the federal government’s IRS goons to implement a state sales tax on ALL goods purchased online.
Big spending governors are running their states into bankruptcy, and – instead of reducing spending – they want the IRS to force YOU to bail them out with new Internet taxes!
*** Tax collectors in one state would now be free to pursue retailers across state lines.
For example, if a customer in New York makes a purchase from an online retailer in Texas, that retailer MUST collect New York’s exorbitant sales taxes and send it to New York’s tax collection agencies;
*** New and higher taxes would CRUSH economic growth and set the stage for massive new regulations that threaten the very existence of the Internet.~
~Now the one-world socialists at the United Nations want in on the action, as well.
Just a few months ago, the U.N. drafted a new “Telecommunications Treaty” to impose restrictive regulations, global CENSORSHIP, and a massive new tax on all Internet operations.
If ratified by the United States Senate, the United Nations’ “Telecommunications Treaty” – designed to take effect in 2015 – could give control of the Internet to U.N. bureaucrats.
Ultimately, the U.N. hopes to use this scheme to take a tax bite out of the TRILLIONS of dollars exchanging hands via Internet commerce – money that will make the U.N. a true world government.
And this National Internet Tax Mandate is playing right into their hands.~
Please go to the link above and sign Congressman Ron Paul’s No National Internet Tax Petition. Whether or not you contribute to the cause is your business. Internet Taxation may kill all of ours!
Americans For Responsible Solutions
Former Representative Gabrielle Giffords, and her husband astronaut Mark Kelly have walked a long path together. With the Nation watching.
She was shot and seriously wounded (and six others killed) in a Tucson assassination attempt. Her recovery has been brave, to say the least.
Now she and her husband are launching a group to “launch a national dialogue and raise funds to counter influence of the gun lobby.”
“In response to a horrific series of shootings that has sown terror in our communities, victimized tens of thousands of Americans, and left one of its own bleeding and near death in a Tucson parking lot, Congress has done something quite extraordinary – nothing at all,” the pair wrote in an editorial published Tuesday on their site and in USA Today. (emphasis Guffaw)
Americans For Responsible Solutions
If they were indeed looking for responsible solutions, a national dialogue, wouldn’t including the NRA and other like-minded organizations in the discussion be appropriate? Isn’t that what the Left is always touting, discussion before taking action? Inclusion?
To me, responsible sounds an awful lot like reasonable when it comes to Gun Control. As in “we need reasonable gun control”. As if the previously-enacted thousands of laws and regulations aren’t enough. If we can pass just one more law…
And, of course, criminals don’t obey laws!
They’ve certainly a right to their opinion. They’ve been on a public tour; went to Newtown, Connecticut; met with NYC Mayor Bloomberg – an anti-rights freak if there ever was one. Had a Big-Gulp, greasy fries or a smoke in NY, lately? Nanny Bloomberg is watching you!
And we’ve a right to our opinion. No thank you, Ms. Gifford and Mr. Kelly. “Include me out” as film mogul Samuel Goldwyn is to have said.
h/t NBC News
Vote scheduled on The Disclose Act Monday!
Tomorrow (Monday, July 16) Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has a vote scheduled on The Disclose Act. (S. 3369).
S.3369
Latest Title: A bill to amend the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to provide for additional disclosure requirements for corporations, labor organizations, Super PACs and other entities, and for other purposes. (other entities – NAGR, NRA, CCRKBA, et al)
Sponsor: Sen Whitehouse, Sheldon [RI] (introduced 7/10/2012) Cosponsors (27)
(Per the NAGR) the goal of this draconian legislation is the same today as it was when NAGR gun rights activists beat it back in 2010 — to make pro-freedom groups like the National Association for Gun Rights shut their mouths.
Check out the list of cosponsors. And cross-compare them with the anti-gun-rights folks. According to the National Association of Gun Rights, The Disclose Act is a direct attack on our First Amendment rights, as many of the same sponsors have attacked the Second. These folks just don’t stop.
You must act TODAY to defeat this First Amendment-killing fiasco.
Send an email telling your U.S. Senators to oppose the DISCLOSE Act by clicking HERE.
Also tell your U.S. Senators that you will consider a vote for DISCLOSE as a vote against your gun rights (it is — what will we use to defend our gun rights with, if we don’t have the first amendment right to free speech?).
h/t NAGR, Dudley Brown
Vigilance Pays Off
Shall Not Be Questioned links to the NRA/ILA Site with good news.
On Thursday, May 10, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 5326–the appropriations bill for the Departments of Commerce and Justice, Science, and Related Agencies fiscal year 2013–by a vote of 247-163.
One of the most important ways that Congress has protected the Second Amendment is through a number of general provisions included in various appropriations bills. We are happy to report that 11 provisions to protect the Second Amendment were included in the bill. (emphasis Guffaw)
Cherry-picking two examples…
DOJ Funding Restriction. Disallows funds to the Department of Justice if the DOJ falsifies documents, makes misleading or inaccurate statements, or covers up or conceals information. It is intended to ensure the Department of Justice is truthful and forthright with ongoing Congressional investigations of “Operation Fast and Furious.” (Also known as the Chaffetz/Gosar/Farenthold “Fast and Furious” Amendment, this provision passed by a vote of 381-41.)
Southwest Border Rifle Registration. Prohibits the use of federal funds to carry out the BATFE’s requirement that firearm dealers in the four southwestern border states file “multiple sales” reports on individuals who buy more than one detachable-magazine semi-automatic rifle of greater than .22 caliber in a five-day period. (Also known as the Rehberg/Boren Amendment, this provision passed in committee by a vote of 30-19, despite a threatened veto by President Obama.)
It IS a shame we have to keep fighting for natural rights, line-by-line, however…Go and read the whole thing at the link. It’s not going back in time to pre-GCA ’68, but it did make my Sunday morning! – Guffaw
h/t Sebastian, NRA
Just a couple minutes out of your day to call D.C. TODAY!
Dudley Brown of the National Association for Gun Rights just emailed me. He suggests we contact our Congresspersons TODAY with regard to HR 3523, the so-called “Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act of 2011″ (CISPA)
In his words…
CISPA would encourage companies to give the federal government sensitive information – including information about gun owners – that is now currently prohibited by law without a warrant or subpoena. (emphasis Guffaw)
CISPA is set to be considered today before Congress and possibly voted upon.
Please make a call (202-224-3121) to your Representative right now and demand a “NO” vote on H.R. 3523 or any other bill that restricts the personal privacy of gun owners.
Purse Strings? WHAT Purse Strings?
Sebastian of Shall Not Be Questioned
quotes the President and differs in his interpretation of the law:
(as does Constitutional scholar David Hardy)
Obama is essentially saying he won’t be bound by the bill that prevents him from doing anti-gun studies on the taxpayer dime.
“I have advised the Congress that I will not construe these provisions as preventing me from fulfilling my constitutional responsibility to recommend to the Congress’s consideration such measures as I shall judge necessary and expedient,” Obama said in a statement as he signed the bill into law.
No. This is not how it works. Congress controls the purse strings. This is how the system works. Dave Hardy, who thankfully reads the same Constitution the rest of us do, notes:
I can’t find that clause in my own copy. I just find “No money shall be drawn from the treasury, but in consequence of appropriations made by law.” Maybe I’ve got an outdated version. But I’m sure my copy of the anti deficiency act is up to date. So is the provision making violation a felony.
The President isn’t just skating on thin Constitutional ice here, he’s staking on water, and he’s going to sink of he follows his words with deeds.
The President is playing fast and loose. But, hasn’t he always?
Go. Read.
h/t Sebastian, David Hardy
No Incandescent Light Ban!
Weasel Zippers Zip Wire links to a Washington Times report, that the Congress has overturned the incandescent light ban set to take effect next year!
This is noteworthy, as only yesterday did they pass the Defense Authorization Bill (which the President first said he’d veto, then changed his mind!)
In that bill resides measures allowing the President (any President) to bypass habeus corpus and imprison terror suspects including American Citizens, without trial for an indeterminate time.
So, good job Congress, 50% common sense!
Now stop voting our other rights away…
h/t Weasel Zippers, Washington Times
