principles

Land of The Free?

Walls of the City  reminds us (by way of Sharp As A Marble) that while we continue to speak of ourselves as the Land of the Free, we certainly are no longer:

30 years ago, you’d just assume that anything that wasn’t obviously contrary to morality was legal. That is, you’d have a built-in default setting of assuming liberty. And that assumption of liberty would then propel you to take actions.

But now, you have to assume that many things that aren’t contrary to morality are illegal anyway. And so you now have — quel coincidence! — a built-in default setting of assuming prohibition. And that assumption that many of the things you’d like to do are illegal and criminal thereby reduces your desire to take any action at all.

Can you name all of the crimes in your state that are felonies? Can you name all of the crimes in your state that are misdemeanors? Have you ever uttered the words, “Is that legal?” without actually being able to intuitively guess whether it is or not?

Welcome to the club. And the problem.

You should go and read the whole thing.  It’s well worth your time, and even has some Latin words in it!

The Country for whom I would have probably died (in Vietnam – had I not been a disabled 4-F) no longer exists.  She does on paper (The Constitution), but that was long ago, and like Benghazi, is no longer relevant.

Did you know The United States has more prisoners per capita than any other Nation?  How many of these folks zigged when they should have zagged?  Or were caught with weed.  Or carrying a gun for protection?

Lets stop electing people to legislatures to pass more incomprehensible laws.  Lets elect them to remove laws.  And hold those accountable who messed everything up.  THEY are the people who should be afraid. And incarcerated!

Misty

The Smallest Minority shares with us a tale…

Old Aviators and Old Airplanes….

This is a good little story about a vivid memory of a P-51 and its pilot, by a fellow who was 12 years old in Canada in 1967. It was to take to the air. They said it had flown in during the night from some U.S. Airport, the pilot had been tired.

It is a tale as described above, told with heart, and with truth.  Kevin’s friend Dave further states:

I know we still retain the possibility to be again what we once were, but I’m afraid that entropy will win in the end.  The culture of a nation reflects the philosophy of that nation, and ours is no longer that of John Locke and Adam Smith, but rather Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Immanuel Kant and Karl Marx, when it isn’t just “…a junk heap of unwarranted conclusions, false generalizations, undefined contradictions, undigested slogans, unidentified wishes, doubts and fears, thrown together by chance, but integrated by your subconscious into a kind of mongrel philosophy and fused into a single, solid weight: self doubt, like a ball and chain in the place where your mind’s wings should have grown” as Ayn Rand put it.

Please visit the TSM link above and read the whole essay.  And perhaps get a little misty, as did I.

Thanks, Kevin (and his friend Dave)!

The right to petition is guaranteed by the First Amendment to the federal constitution…

In the United States the right to petition is guaranteed by the First Amendment to the federal constitution, which specifically prohibits Congress from abridging “the right of the people…to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”

Although often overlooked in favor of other more famous freedoms, and sometimes taken for granted,^[1] many other civil liberties are enforceable against the government only by exercising this basic right.^[2] The right to petition is a fundamental in a Constitutional Republic, such as the United States, as a means of protecting public participation in government.^{[1](Wikipedia)}

Way Up North  (and now Tam) brought to our attention (in demure fanfare, as is their tradition) a movement regarding individual States of these United States petitioning for peaceful secession from the same!

I went to the All Petitions/whitehouse.gov website, and was amazed!  First, that such a group of petitions existed and second, that ‘the government’ had allowed such behavior, given their track record on such things!

By my count, there 24 States, including mine, with listed petitions!

Is this treasonous, or simply the right to petition?

Clothespin for the Nose?

So, hear I am, poised over my mail-in ballot, making my choices.  (written over one week ago)  Do I hold my nose with one hand (figuratively) or make a third-party choice.  You will never know, as I believe in the Australian Secret Ballot!

For those who didn’t care for the previous administration (and those who don’t care for the current one) here’s a partial list of current administration foibles, many carry-overs from the previous administration.

SO, Tweedledum or Tweedledee?

From Libertarian Reddit.  Posted here so I can find it for later reference. 
This won’t change the mind of a single Dem voter. (The Whited Sepulchre)  (or few Republicans! – Guffaw)

Obama extends Patriot Act without reform – http://articles.nydailynews.com/2011-05-27/news/29610822_1_terrorist-groups-law-enforcement-secret-intelligence-surveillance

Obama sends more troops to Afghanistan – http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8389778.stm

Obama signs NDAA 2011 – http://www.forbes.com/sites/erikkain/2012/01/02/president-obama-signed-the-national-defense-authorization-act-now-what/

Obama appeals the Federal Court decision that “indefinite detention” is unconstitutional – http://www.businessinsider.com/unbelievable-obama-administration-has-already-appealed-ndaa-ruling-2012-9

Obama uses his Presidential Drone “Kill List” to kill American cleric without trial – http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/07/world/middleeast/07yemen.html?_r=2&hp&

and his 16 year old son in a separate strike – http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/anwar-al-awlakis-family-speaks-out-against-his-sons-deaths/2011/10/17/gIQA8kFssL_story.html

Continues to approve drone strikes that kill thousands of innocent civilians including women and children in Pakistan, Yemen, and other countries that do not want the US intervening – http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/pakistan/7361630/One-in-three-killed-by-US-drones-in-Pakistan-is-a-civilian-report-claims.html

Protects Bush’s war crimes as State Secrets – http://www.salon.com/2010/09/08/obama_138/ https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2009/04/obama-doj-worse-than-bush http://washingtonindependent.com/33985/in-torture-cases-obama-toes-bush-line

Support for countries use of child soldiers – http://thecable.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2010/10/26/why_is_obama_easing_restrictions_on_child_soldiers

Appointing Monsanto, GMO company with multiple unsafe practice violations, lobbyist to head the FDA – http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/blogpost/post/monsanto-petition-tells-obama-cease-fda-ties-to-monsanto/2012/01/30/gIQAA9dZcQ_blog.html

Continuing prohibition and Federal attacks on legal marijuana dispensaries – http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=685_1342311527

Protects AG Holder from Congressional “Fast and Furious” gun walking investigations – http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2012/06/white-house-invokes-executive-privilege-on-fast-and-furious-documents/

Bringing no charges against bank executives that misused bailouts – http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/26/opinion/sunday/no-crime-no-punishment.html

Engaging in a war on whistleblowers – http://dailycaller.com/2012/07/31/the-obama-administrations-war-on-whistleblowers/

Quadrupling the numbers of warrantless wiretapping since Bush era – http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2012/09/28/ACLU-Obama-Has-Quadrupled-Warrantless-Wiretaps

Continuing military tribunals he vowed to end – http://articles.cnn.com/2011-03-07/politics/obama.guantanamo_1_guantanamo-detainees-guantanamo-bay-facility-military-commissions?_s=PM:POLITICS

Failing to close gitmo – http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/guantanamo-bay-how-the-white-house-lost-the-fight-to-close-it/2011/04/14/AFtxR5XE_story.html

Allowed innocent man to die at gitmo – http://www.huffingtonpost.com/suzanne-nossel/the-death-of-guantanamo_b_1878375.html

Violating the War Powers Act of 1973 – http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/21/opinion/21Ackerman.html

Signed Anti-protest law – http://rt.com/usa/news/trespass-bill-obama-secret-227/

Deported more immigrants than any other president – http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2012/aug/10/american-principles-action/has-barack-obama-deported-more-people-any-other-pr/

Increasing Drug War budget – http://www.whitehouse.gov/ondcp/the-national-drug-control-budget-fy-2013-funding-highlights

Defends raids on Amish raw milk farmers – http://reason.com/blog/2011/06/10/obama-food-safety-czar-defends

Granting the FBI access to private electronic communication without warrant – http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/30/opinion/30fri1.html?_r=3

Building an even more intrusive TSA – http://www.presstv.ir/usdetail/218543.html

Says it’s legal to track individuals by pinpointing their cellphone without warrant – http://www.businessinsider.com/government-says-its-to-track-cell-phones-2012-10

Renewing FISA and NSA’s unregulated spying and banking of all wireless communication – http://truth-out.org/news/item/11540-uncle-sam-is-watching-you http://www.democracynow.org/2012/4/20/whistleblower_the_nsa_is_lying_us

h/t The Whited Sepulchre

“Dogpile on the Rabbit! Dogpile on the Rabbit!”

(c) Warner Bros.

Walls Of The City addresses the recent kerfluffle of Robert F***** and his blog, The T**** A**** G****.  He is the latest of a number of bloggers incensed that Mr. F***** just received an award from a prestigious Gun Rights organization.  Other blogs have gone on to conclude that this portends the end of gun blogging as we know it.

(By my count five or more blogs posted about him, thus far…)

The reason for the anger has to do with Mr. F*****’s alleged copyright infringement, misrepresentation, lies, exploitation, abuse, negative interaction with others and other miscellaneous literary and personal crimes and torts.

If you wish to view Walls Of The City’s evidence, please adjourn to the above link.

While I philosophically agree with the general reaction of the gun blogging world to this guy’s actions, I do not see it as an end of anything for me.

You see, I blog because it is a way for me to contribute, to reach out educate and inform.  And sometimes atone.  I won’t say I don’t care what others think, but, I AM surprised people stop by.  After one and a half years!

Thanks, again.  You know who you are.  Being a libertarian (small L) I won’t request you not visit Robert F*****’s site.  You are educated enough to make your own choices.  Most of you are smart and principled, though.

h/t Linoge

“Ees gun, ees not safe!”

A few other blogs this week have pointed out the idiocy of people acting unsafely with firearms.

Specifically, blank-shooting firearms.

Immediately, a couple things came to mind:  1)  The Four Rules – see right sidebar for specifics, and

2)  Jon-Erik Hexum

Mr. Hexum was a rising young star in the 1980s.  Deep voice, great physique, okay actor.  I remember reading in a TV Guide interview that while he cut a striking figure, he was not (and I quote him) “Not just another drop-dead clothes horse.”
Obviously, though, he’d not heard of The Four Rules.

(from IMDB)

However, on October 12th, 1984 after a long and draining day’s shooting on the set of “Cover Up: Pilot (#1.0)” (1984), Hexum became bored with the extensive delays and jokingly put a prop .44 magnum revolver to his temple and pulled the trigger. The gun fired, and the wadding from the blank cartridge shattered his skull, whereupon the mortally injured Hexum was rushed via ambulance to hospital to undergo extensive surgery. Despite five hours of work, the chief surgeon, Dr. David Ditsworth, described the damage to Hexum’s brain as life-ending. One week later, on October 18th, he was taken off life support and pronounced dead. However, Hexum’s commitment to organ donation meant five other lives were assisted or saved with organs harvested from him. The youthful & charming Hexum was dead at only 26 years of age.

I believe it was Jeff Cooper who told a story of a Russian discussing the ‘safety’ of a particular firearm.  He said, “Ees gun, is not safe!”

We cannot stress this enough.  Firearms (EVEN blank firearms) are dangerous tools.  Just as with chain saws and other tools, there are safety protocols.

Do You Know Your Enemy?

Mom With a Gun poses this question by way of Greg Elfritz (of U.S. Concealed Carry.com) and the venerable Sun Tzu.

The meat of Greg’s article she re-posted was the following:

Previous research conducted by the Bureau of Justice Statistics tells us that in all criminal victimizations with firearms; only 11 percent of the victims were shot or shot at. When criminal attacks with all weapons (knives, clubs, etc.) are included, less than one percent of armed criminal victimizations resulted in a gunshot wound. These statistics have always been puzzling to me. Why aren’t more people getting shot by criminals?

Now I know the answer. The criminals’ weapons won’t fire! Let’s break down the numbers again: Out of 85 weapons seized:

• 24 are not loaded
• 2 are not loaded with the correct ammunition
• 9 are completely broken

Combine those facts and you will see that 41 percent of the weapons we seize from criminals are completely non-functional!

Now include the four guns that weren’t fully loaded and the 17 with extremely limited function (no magazines, malfunctioned within the first three rounds, etc.) and take a look at the results. In total, 66 percent of the guns we took from criminals were unable to be fired or could be fired for fewer than three rounds before being empty or experiencing a malfunction!

Imagine that!  Bad guys with unloaded, improperly loaded or broken firearms!

Furthermore:

What does this tell us about criminal behavior that might help us in a self-defense situation? For one thing, it says that resistance against armed assailants is much more likely to be successful than one might think. If a criminal is carrying a gun that is broken, unloaded, loaded with the wrong ammunition, or less-than-fully loaded, he’s banking on the sight of the weapon paralyzing his victim with fear. He’s betting he can intimidate her into compliance. Now, to be sure, compliance – or, at least, temporary compliance until the tactical situation gives one a window for resistance – might well be the best strategy sometimes. This is especially true if there are other “friendlies” in the line of fire. And, there are no guarantees in anything. You might end up being unlucky, and being one of the 11% of crime victims that are shot or shot at. But resisting an attacker armed with a firearm might be a good strategy a shocking percentage of the time.

It would behoove you to go and read the entire post.  As Tammy advises, knowing your enemy is the first step toward overcoming them.

h/t Tammy, Greg Elfritz, Sun Tzu

15 Maxims for Being a Reliable Man

The Art of Manliness has been posting a series aimed at young men (and presumably young women, as well) regarding what is appropriate and necessary for them to learn as they embark on their journey out into the World.

The most recent is entitled Heading Out on Your Own: Day 26 — 15 Maxims for Being a Reliable Man.

As one who wrestles with my own neuroses on a daily basis, I love stuff like this.  Many of these are things that were taught to me by my Father and Grandfather, but never codified.  And I don’t think there’s an age limit to when one needs to learn them.

Being reliable.

The word reliable has its origins in relier, Old French for “fasten” or “attach;” the reliable man was an immovable pillar of strength on which you could hang your hat, someone you could lean and depend on, a man you could trust.

Compare that image with its opposite: the flake. Floating, drifting, fragile. Melting as soon as it meets any resistance.

We’ve all known reliable men, and we’ve all known flakes. We admire the former, and avoid the latter. To become the kind of man you’ve grown up trusting and counting on, read on.

Please visit the link and pass them down to your youth.  Or refresh your own memory.

It couldn’t hurt.

Workers of the World Unite? – I Don’t Think So…

Today is May Day.  The ‘traditional’ pagan holiday to celebrate the rites of Spring (Maypoles and such) and remembrance of the great socialist/communist/marxist revolution(s).  You may notice these are NOT in caps.  This is intentional.
I believe in The United States of America.  Warts and all.  I do NOT believe that Progressing past this Constitutional Republic is a good idea.  Utopian ideas NEVER work, in fact they bring about death and destruction – for the good of the People, of course!  Dystopia, not Utopia.
What is my evidence?  History.  Show me a communist/socialist/marxist/national socialist/totalitarian/we elitists know better society that functions well AND preserves individual rights, and I might change my view.
Until then, stop this nanny-Stating, the ‘this is for your own good’, we’re nudging you in the direction we want, surveillance cameras everywhere, gov’t spying on your Internet, equipping the cops as Sturmabteilung stuff.
Justice William O. Douglas said, “The right to be let alone is indeed the beginning of all freedom.”
I perceive far-leftist folks as either pie-in-the-sky dreamers who think Utopia is possible, if only the non-believers would just come on board, OR, control freaks who demand we come along for the ride, because they know best.  Of course, both are wrong.
Just like the right-wing nut bars who want access to my Internet or my bedroom, for the common good.
We are NOT a collective.  Resistance is NOT futile!
Workers of the World United States – Think for Yourselves!  Your individuality IS for the common good!
As it is for the Republic.

The Decline and Fall of…

Back when I was working at TMCCC, for a time, I worked with a guy named Joe S.  Joe seemed to be a decent kid, although he did sport a smattering of tattoos and piercings, including one tattoo he’d received whilst visiting Thailand with a Christian church group a few years earlier.
It was on his lower leg, and was alleged to translate as Peace and Love.  I always told him it probably said Stupid Round Eye.  (I was able to view his lower leg, unfortunately, as he was allowed to wear those stupid men’s long shorts, aka pedal pushers.)
He also had a collection of various, disparate ink art displays on both hands and arms.  Nothing obscene or meaningful, just patterns and such.
I remember one occasion, I was speaking with another co-worker, Harry (a retired Flagstaff police officer), when Joe approached us.  He was all excited about another new tat.
As he proudly showed us the acquisition, I said to Harry, “You know, ritual scarification and body mutilation are signs of the decline of Western Civilization and a return to tribalism.” (I think I’d heard that on PBS?).  Joe stomped off.
And Harry cheered, to me, “You are my Hero!”
One hundred years ago, we didn’t have antibiotics, cellular telephones, computers or space flight.  We’d not fought any World Wars, yet.  Or needed to number them.
Today, we have antibiotics, cell phones, tablet computers, but no more space flight.  NASA has been tasked with creating positive communication with the Arab World (?!)  Radical segments of whom we are at war, continually.  I wonder how effective rocket scientists will be at this task? 
More people view skin art and piercings as simply self-expression.  And more and more street gangs require it, as do the Maori.
Scratch civilization and discover tribalism.

convicted rapist