The Senate

BATFE Is Looking For More Info…About You

Knuckledraggin’ My Life Away gives us yet another example of the misdirection this administration is so (in)famous for…

A recent solicitation from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) reveals that the agency is seeking a “massive” online database capable of pulling up individuals’ personal information, connections and associates.

On March 28, ATF posted the notice on FedBizOpps.gov, entitled “Investigative System.”  The solicitation was updated on April 5 with a few minor changes.

The document says that the system will be utilized by staff “to provide rapid searches on various entities for example; names, telephone numbers, utility data and reverse phone look-ups, as a means to assist with investigations, and background research on people, assets and businesses.”

The system is described as a “massive online data repository system that contains a wide variety of data sources both historically and current that can be utilized in support of investigations and backgrounds.”

An overview of the solicitation states, in part:

The investigative system will allow ATF to “obtain exact matches from partial source data searches such as, incomplete social security numbers, address, VIN numbers, etc.”

The United States Senate…

…is up to her old tricks!

I remember the Clinton Assault Weapons Ban passing.  Twenty years ago?  The Senate was getting ready for a Thanksgiving weekend break.  The media were all saying it wouldn’t pass.  Then, after some midnight negotiation double-dealing, it passed!

Fast-forward to the current pending legislation.  A filibuster is threatened – looks like the bill could go away.  Suddenly, someone waves their wand, or wiggles their nose, or makes a cash deposit (/supposition), and the filibuster is history, and the bill goes to the floor for 30 hours of debate.  Unless they change the rules again!

Sixteen Republican Senators voted to block filibuster, and go for a hearing and vote!  So much for differences between the parties.  Shame on my Senators McCain and Flake.

Is this all window dressing for the next election in 2014?  Don’t want to look pro-gun and lose?

Of course, none of these measures would have prevented Tucson, Aurora or Connecticut massacres.

But the fat lady has yet to sing!

What kind of smoke-filled, backroom, double-dealing is awaiting inclusion into the final bill?  Will we be lulled into complacency, yet again, only to have the rug pulled out from under us?

Oh, I forgot, no smoking allowed in the backrooms, now.  Who knows what else will be restricted secretly?

Keep those card and letters coming in, folks!  And call and email your Senators, again before it’s too late!

Drang @ The Clue Meter has the actual text of the current bill, S649.  You should go read it, and make certain there are no late-night anti-rights amendments before the vote.  Proposed ‘pro’ amendment excerpts:

Section 122, FIREARMS TRANSFERS
It affirms your right to “transfer” a gun to a relative (t) (2) (C):

…the transfer is made between spouses, between parents or spouses of parents and their children or spouses of their children, between siblings or spouses of siblings, or between grandparents or spouses of grandparents and their grandchildren or spouses of their grandchildren, or between aunts or uncles or their spouses and their nieces or nephews or their spouses, or between first cousins, if the transferor does not know or have reasonable cause to believe that the transferee is prohibited from receiving or possessing a firearm under Federal, State, or local law

Otherwise, private transfers are legal if

“(B) the transfer is made between an unlicensed transferor and an unlicensed transferee residing in the same State, which takes place in such State, if-
“(i) the Attorney General certifies that State in which the transfer takes place has in effect requirements under law that are generally equivalent to the requirements of this section; and
“(ii) the transfer was conducted in compliance with the laws of the State;

In other words, the status quo.

IF THIS PASSES WITH THIS AMENDMENT, this bill has been much ado about nothing…

S649, as currently written.

RINO Form Letter

Some days back, when voting on the Feinstein Make-It-Illegal-To-Possess-A-Modern-Firearm ‘Assault Weapon’ Ban bill seemed imminent, and Senator McCain was supporting measures designed to stop the filibuster measure against it (?!), I both called the offices of both AZ senators and sent them E-mails expressing my concerns and disapproval of both measures.  And ANY and ALL ‘gun’ control measures.

(Have you contacted YOUR Senators, yet?)

The same day, Senator Flake sent me an Email confirmation of my communication, along with verbiage stating he was not in support of any such measure.

Senator McCain’s office response? (crickets – chirp-chirp-chirp)

Until, a couple of days ago!  I finally received a form letter from Senator McCain’s office.  It says in part:

On January 16, 2013, President Obama and his administration introduced a twenty-three point plan which lays out both executive and legislative proposals that would attempt to prevent future violence. As the details of the President’s proposals become more clear, I look forward to reviewing them, and working with my colleagues to find sensible solutions that respect the Second Amendment but also help us prevent these type of horrific events from ever happening again.

While I am an unwavering supporter of the Second Amendment, please know that I will seriously consider all reasonable public safety legislation…

The RINO is charging, yet again!  When is he ever going to learn that more control simply means more control?  And that acceding to the demands of the ‘reasonable-sensible solutions’ folks is simply more tyranny for the law-abiding?

There was a time that Republican meant smaller government.  Of course, this was before a P.O.W. and veteran came forward to claim Barry Goldwater’s seat in the United States Senate.

Barry would be outraged.

Sigh.

‘Johnny, we hardly knew ye…’

National Conservative Examiner reports on behind-the-scenes groundwork being laid to pass ‘new’ gun control legislation, in spite of growing opposition.

Conservatives and gun rights groups have said from the beginning that the gun ban legislation does not arise from the Newtown massacre but from an overriding, longstanding desire on the part of anti-gun politicians and activist groups to ban as many guns as possible. Massacres are thus easily used by such persons to whip up citizen frenzy, making it possible for the politicians to pass unpopular legislation that has little or nothing to do with the shootings themselves.

In this case, GOA director Larry Pratt stated that U.S. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., is secretly working with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., to change Senate rules so that a simple majority of 51 votes would be all that is necessary to pass the gun bans. McCain is reportedly working with U.S. Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., to prevent the filibuster from holding up the legislation, which U.S. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., vowed to to use to prevent any new gun ban legislation.

McCain and Levin are also working secretly to change the rules so that gun ban legislation could be easily added to any bill being considered in conference, and then when it is presented on the Senate floor it must be voted upon on an “as is” basis with no changes.

Another stealth measure McCain and Levin are attempting to weasel through the Senate is a provision that would bar any senator except for McCain and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., from offering amendments to bills coming out of conference.

These measures have the full blessing and approval of the Democratic majority, led by Reid and Levin.

Isn’t this the same John McCain who was the Republican RINO Presidential candidate in 2008, who stood along side pro-gun Vice-Presidential candidate Sarah Palin?

And we we’re supposed to trust this guy to keep the Democrat out of office and away from our rights?

And he ‘represents’ my State, dag-nabbit!

h/t Anthony Martin, The Liberty Sphere

Daniel Inouye RIP

Senator Daniel Inouye, the longest serving U.S.Senator after the passing of Robert Byrd, died today.

While I disagreed with most of the man’s politics, he was indeed a true American hero.

His Medal of Honor citation:

Second Lieutenant Daniel K. Inouye distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action on 21 April 1945, in the vicinity of San Terenzo, Italy. While attacking a defended ridge guarding an important road junction, Second Lieutenant Inouye skillfully directed his platoon through a hail of automatic weapon and small arms fire, in a swift enveloping movement that resulted in the capture of an artillery and mortar post and brought his men to within 40 yards of the hostile force. Emplaced in bunkers and rock formations, the enemy halted the advance with crossfire from three machine guns. With complete disregard for his personal safety, Second Lieutenant Inouye crawled up the treacherous slope to within five yards of the nearest machine gun and hurled two grenades, destroying the emplacement. Before the enemy could retaliate, he stood up and neutralized a second machine gun nest. Although wounded by a sniper’s bullet, he continued to engage other hostile positions at close range until an exploding grenade shattered his right arm. Despite the intense pain, he refused evacuation and continued to direct his platoon until enemy resistance was broken and his men were again deployed in defensive positions. In the attack, 25 enemy soldiers were killed and eight others captured. By his gallant, aggressive tactics and by his indomitable leadership, Second Lieutenant Inouye enabled his platoon to advance through formidable resistance, and was instrumental in the capture of the ridge. Second Lieutenant Inouye’s extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit on him, his unit, and the United States Army.

He was a medical volunteer immediately after the Pearl Harbor attack, and enlisted in 1943, after the U.S. Army dropped it’s ban on Japanese-Americans.  I remember seeing him on a late-night talk show (Tomorrow – Tom Snyder?) and he spoke of being 17 and looking skyward at the attacking planes flying over his home shaking his fist and saying, “God Damn Japs!”

RIP Senator.

h/t TinCan Assassin