Category Archives: civil rights

Ever Wonder If Obama (and other Dems) Want to Tell People In His Administration “Shut Up!”

February 28, 2010

Attorney General Eric Holder states that the administration will seek a permanent “assault weapons” ban and other gon control measures.

The Obama administration will seek to reinstate the assault weapons ban that expired in 2004 during the Bush administration, Attorney General Eric Holder said today.

“As President Obama indicated during the campaign, there are just a few gun-related changes that we would like to make, and among them would be to reinstitute the ban on the sale of assault weapons,” Holder told reporters.

I will pick apart some of the things that he is attributed as saying in the article:

  1. The AR15 is now one of the most common rifles in the USA. Part of the Heller decision was that firearms in common use can not be banned. Thus, this would fail the test. The same can probably said for other firearms they seek to ban.
  2. The infamous “cop killer” bullets – This usually refers to ammunition designed to pierce body armor, which is already illegal to sale to civilians. The only other thing I can think they are referring to is rifle ammunition. Except for SWAT teams, police officers generally don’t wear body armor that can stop rifle ammunition. The reason is simple, it is extremely unlikely that a street cop will face rifle fire. The only other round I can think they would be wanting to ban is 5.7x28mm round. This round is often called a “cop killer” round because it was originally offered in an armor piercing configuration. Before the law changed, they stopped selling the armor piercing version of the round.
  3. The gun smuggling to Mexico – This has repeatedly been proven to be a red herring. The vast majority of weapons in the drug cartels’ hands are stolen from the Mexican military (these were sold to them legally and with US government support). So, of course they show up as coming from the USA. Their is weapon smuggling. But, it is not the major source of cartel weaponry.
  4. The “gun show loophole” – There is no loophole for gunshows. This is the right of every day citizens to transfer property between each other without government interference. These transactions are still illegal if the seller knows, or even has reason to suspect, that the buyer can not legally possess the weapon. Any firearms dealer at a gunshow has to still perform background checks on any buyers. Just because they are not in their normal storefront location does not change the law.
  5. Right now many Second Amendment rights supporters are willing to give Democrats the benefit of the doubt right now. If the administration and/or party leadership manages to strongarm the Democrats in congress into passing this legislation. The next elections will make the Republican take over of Congress in 1994 look mild by comparison. Most likely, unless the Republicans completely screw up their choice for President, the next Presidential election would also go to them. The fact is, the majority of people in this country do now see gun control measures as being useless and strongly object to them. The Democrats who have been elected to Congress recently have largely been put there with understanding that they will not pass gun control. If it passes, it might destro the Democratic party for a long time.

A not inconsequential side note. The companies that produce the assault weapons (and all of the side gear), employ a good number of Americans in well paying jobs. In the current economy, passing a new AWB will hurt the economy.

Also posted in 2nd Amendment, AR15, America, BATFE, Fascism in America, Government, Heller, Obama, President, Supreme Court, Tyrrany, discrimination, firearms, politics, weapons – Comments Off

8 Year Old Cub Scout On Terrorist Watch List

January 14, 2010

The TSA says there are no children on the the ‘no-fly’ and ‘selectee’ lists. Yet, little Mikey Hicks (a frequent flyer), has been getting patted and searched since he was 2. Is it any wonder that I find these lists and their proposed expanded usage troublesome.

Also posted in Fascism in America, Government, TSA, Terrorism, Tyrrany, constitution, cruelty, discrimination, freedom, society, stupidity – Comments Off

Why the World and the USA Don’t Understand Each Other

October 7, 2009

Understanding America’s Identity: Individualism vs. Collectivism

This is a blog post from a Brit who I think has hit on why there is such misunderstanding between most of the World and the USA.

This discovery came after reading Mark Levin’s fascinating book Liberty and Tyranny – I reviewed it here. I learned from Levin’s book that there’s an important ideological difference between the United States and the countries I grew up in – one that goes a long way to explaining why people on the right wing think so ‘differently’ to Eurotrash like me.

In America – since the nation’s birth – individualism has been key foundation of society. Conversely, in Europe (especially following World War II) there’s always been more of a push towards collectivism.

The difference is subtle, but profound.

He goes on to show how this resulted from the USA’s founding and how it also influences politics in the USA. Individualism explains the opposition to health care, the draft, prohibition, and many other issues. He also shows how the extremes of both the left and the right are collectivist in nature. It is well worth the read.

Also posted in Blogging, conservative/liberal, society – Comments Off

The Outdoors Needs More Diversity

September 2, 2009

CNN – Aiming to Add More Diversity Under America’s Blue Skies

Summary – Audrey Peterman is trying to attract more minorities to visit national parks and take part in outdoor recreational activities.

My take – I agree with her goal, and would like to see it expanded to more minorities taking part in outdoor sports. Whether it is mountain biking, skeet shooting, hiking, archery, or fishing, I want to see as many people as possible enjoying these sports. Things are way to monochromatic at the stores that cater to those who enjoy the outdoors and the sporting events they partake in. I think it would be good for everyone to partake of more outdoor recreational activities and sports.

Also posted in Activities, Hobbies, Outdoors, archery, bowhunting, freedom, hunting, life, politics, racism, shooting, the country – Comments Off

This is why I had reservations about these laws

June 30, 2009

They now want to take away more of the rights of those on the “terrorist watch list.” (CNN)

When people on the government’s terrorist watch list have tried to buy guns or explosives in recent years, the government has let them the vast majority of the time.

That’s the finding of a new report by the Government Accountability Office, sent to lawmakers last month and released publicly Monday.

—————————————————————————————————–

The GAO provided the report in response to a request from Sen. Frank Lautenberg, D-New Jersey. The GAO said Lautenberg had requested an update to a 2005 report.

In a statement Monday, Lautenberg said, “this new report is proof positive that known and suspected terrorists are exploiting a major loophole in our law, threatening our families and our communities. This ‘terror gap’ has been open too long, and our national security demands that we shut it down.”

The statement said Lautenberg is introducing legislation that would give the U.S. attorney general “authority to stop the sale of guns or explosives to terrorists.”

There is a huge problem with this, nobody on the terrorist watch list has been found guilty of anything. At one time, Senator Edward Kennedy was on the list. The list just has names. And, if your name is similar to someone’s name on the list, you are hit with the same restrictions (this has happened to two-year-old). If we allow the government to arbitrarily restrict this Constitutionally protected right, what is to stop them from restricting others? What is to prevent them from putting all of the current (or future) administrations’ opponents, on this list? What will prevent them from adding you, your friends, and/or your family to this list? This very list is the problem. Unless it is modified such that being put on the list is the result of a court action, where the accused is allowed to defend him/herself, the terrorist watch list needs to go away.

Also posted in 2nd Amendment, America, Fascism in America, First Amendment, Government, TSA, Terrorism, Tyrrany, constitution, discrimination, free speech, freedom – Comments Off

They Just Don’t Get It

April 9, 2009

Apparently, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi was on Good Morning America (I can not find a direct link to the transcript, this is the video) saying that they needed to get a compromise on a new assault weapons ban that includes registration and prohibit the transportation of weapons across state lines. First of all, those who believe in the Second Amendment as an individual right compromised from 1934 to 1994. We are sick of compromising. Here is a novel approach. How about going after those who intentionally break the law and punish them to the fullest extent of the law.

As to registration, why? Registration will not solve or prevent any crimes. Will the money from firearms registration be used to pay for free public ranges the way the money from vehicle registration does? The only reason I can see to register firearms is to take them away at a later date. If they want compromise, are they willing to accept the registration of printers, printing presses, and other means of using your First Amendment rights?

Also, why do they want to ban the interstate transportation of firearms? Are firearms that are legally transported across state lines that big of a problem?

Also posted in 2nd Amendment, Fascism in America, Government, Tyrrany, discrimination, freedom, registration, stupidity, weapons – Comments Off

I’m Completely Cool With This

February 24, 2009

Liberals Use Heller to Bolster More Than the Second Amendment

The Supreme Court’s 2008 ruling in D.C. v. Heller was a constitutional earthquake, breathing life into the Second Amendment as a guarantee of an individual right to bear arms.

But the aftershock of that decision is beginning to transform the constitutional landscape well beyond gun rights, in ways that have liberals cheering and even joining hands with one-time adversaries like the National Rifle Association.

In a follow-on case pending before the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, a progressive legal group and liberal law professors including Yale Law School’s Jack Balkin earlier this month joined gun-rights advocates in urging that the right established in Heller, which involved only the District of Columbia, be extended to apply against gun restrictions in the 50 states. The case is McDonald v. Chicago, a challenge to that city’s strict gun control law and, no matter what, the outcome is likely to be appealed to the Supreme Court.

But these academics and the liberal Constitutional Accountability Center, which filed a brief in the case, have not suddenly taken up the Second Amendment cause, Charlton Heston-style. Rather, they joined the case to urge the court to adopt a new way of making the rights protected by the federal Constitution apply to the states (a process known as “incorporation”).

Basically, instead of the piecemeal incorporation of rights by taking each one through the courts, this could lead to the entirety of the Bill of Rights being incroporated. Go and read the article. It is great food for thought.

Also posted in 2nd Amendment, First Amendment, Government, Supreme Court, constitution, food, free speech, freedom, politics – Comments Off

Second Amendment March

February 12, 2009

Second Amendment March

A Second Amendment march is being planned for early next year (April, 2010). People will be marching on Washington D.C. and all of the state capitols in support of our Second Amendment rights. The web site is currently down. I will be posting more as I learn more.

Also posted in 2nd Amendment, Government, Second Amendment March – Comments Off