In case you were curious about the results, but totally forgot about it because you had real things going on in life, here is the Dick Cheney shotgun shell auction results from eBay.
Yes, that is $5,000.
Dick Cheney , Hunting Accident , Guns , eBay
The Dutch are the epitome of tolerance. At least, they used to be.
Dutch borders have been virtually shut. New immigration is down to a trickle. The great cosmopolitan port city of Rotterdam just published a code of conduct requiring Dutch be spoken in public. Parliament recently legislated a countrywide ban on wearing the burqa in public. And listen to a prominent Dutch establishment figure describe the new Dutch Way with immigrants. "We demand a new social contract," says Jan Wolter Wabeke, High Court Judge in The Hague. "We no longer accept that people don't learn our language, we require that they send their daughters to school, and we demand they stop bringing in young brides from the desert and locking them up in third-floor apartments...Welcome to the end of tolerance, or at least to the nonnegotiable limits to what Europeans will tolerate. Whether it's the Netherlands' rediscovery of Dutch communal values, or the universal affirmations of free speech (to mock religion, or anything else), Europe is everywhere on the defensive."
I flew out of state to attend a conference a few months ago. During the flight, I grabbed a soda when the beverage cart passed by (note to Michiganders - it is "soda", not "pop"). I cracked open the tab and poured the soda into the cheap see-through plastic cup they gave me and prepared to enjoy - but due to an unfortunate convergence of an air pocket and the airplane, the soda ended up all over me. I didn't have a change of clothes in my carry-on, so I had to endure it.
What does this have to do with the "Port Controversy"?
Because I have to sit and endure this news story until something else becomes the MSM flavor of the week - just like I had to sit 30,000 feet upstairs, uncomfortably enduring 7-Up all over me for what seemed like forever.
Just a quick comment to the Dems - foreign companies already run our ports. Every blogger has read this umpteen times, but it is still worth mentioning.
Also, let's not forget that our good buddies in the UAE hate Israel, hence an embargo and boycott of Israeli-made stuff.
"If a product contained even some components that were made in Israel, and you wanted to import it to Dubai, it would be a problem."
Muhammad Rashid a-Din
Dubai Customs Department
Office for the Boycott of Israel
According to Arutz Sheva, Sheikh Ismail Nawahda called for a restoration of the Khalifate during while preaching from the Temple Mount on Friday.
What exactly is a Kaliphate (also written as Caliphate)?
It is a similar concept to the Pope and the Roman Catholic Church.
Basically, the leader (Khalif) presides over worldwide Islam. His decisions are binding on all Muslims.
The last Kaliphate collapsed in 1924.
A Muslim foundation working to restore the Kaliphate, The Guiding Helper Foundation, urges Muslims to organize into a network of small groups around the world. This will stop the "enemies of Islam" from stopping worldwide domination. The "enemy" will have a "much harder task, if not impossible, if they are faced with a myriad of small groups of differing locations, ethnicities," etc. This method also "ensures that if one group... is found and cut off, other similar groups will remain undetected."
Sounds a lot like what Lenin advocated with his concept of cells.
In the Western world, the political leadership has been duped into believing there is not Islamic threat. Perhaps this will remove the blinders from their eyes. Other policiticans simply are afraid to face this threat. Perhaps the Temple Mount proclamation will inspire them to courage.
Tags: Islam
Yesterday, Kevin L. Collins walked into a church and opened fire.
Collins walked into the Zion Hope Baptist Church looking for his girlfriend. He didn't see her, but did see her mother, and demanded the mother to tell him where the girlfriend was. She refused. He left, then returned and shot her... in church. In front of 300 worshippers. The shooting also injured the girl, a god-daughter, sitting next to the victim.
Later, he tried to carjack a lady and shot her husband, who was trying to defend her.
Police were tipped to his whereabouts, and Collins shot himself as police closed in.
The article doesn't include a lot of outraged quotes from parishoners. What is the deal? You can't get on to "business as usual" after some thug murders a fellow church member - during church.
This also reiterates how dangerous "gun-free" zones can be when the only person armed is some thug intent on killing.
Tags: Gun violence , Church
It is no big shock, but Iran's foreign minister reiterated that his country will not suspend nuclear research (i.e. building a nuclear bomb).
I have two questions buzzing around in my head.
First, which country will take out the "research" facilities? US or Israel? Or, perhaps, a third country?
Second, how soon will this happen? My guess is some kind of attack will take place by April, but since I am not prophetic nor do I have access to top secret spy data and Defense Deparment planning, I have no idea.
Tags: Iran
According to the IRS, there is a "disturbing amount" of church politicking going on. What is so disturbing about this? Well, for one, most churches are tax-exempt organizations, and part of the tax-exempt deal is to keep your mouth shut when it comes to election-backing.
Growing up in Michigan, it was not unusual to watch the Sunday night local news and see different politicians speaking at different churches. Whether they were Jewish, Christian, atheist or agnostic, many churchese would open their pulpit to a preferred candidate a few weeks before an election.
Common violations in the 2004 elections included distributing campaign literature and lists recommending candidates, endorsing or opposing candidates from the pulpit, and inviting candidates to appear at church meetings or other social functions, according to a task force set up by the agency to investigate complaints.
Some groups blatantly violated the law by making cash campaign contributions, while the political activities of others were more vague and harder to discern, Mr. Everson said.
I received one of those annoying internet chain letters today, forwarded to my by an acquaintance who often sends out standard issue internet garbage. Since I know this person fairly well, I let my delete key handle her emails instead of my spam checker.
Usually she sends stuff like a poem written so when you scroll down it looks like an angel. She especially likes to send out the internet hoax of the week. Unfortunately, she believes these hoaxes and forwards them without ever checking out the truth. These hoaxes, of course, come from another source (who we will call Person A) who received this information from Person B, who knows Person C (usually either an employee of the FBI, the State Police, the Sheriff's Department, etc.). Person C has warned Person B about AIDS-infected needles left at gas pumps, or pay phones (remember them?)... and this junk is passed around ad nauseum by folks who don't check out readily available sources to figure out it is a hoax.
Today she forwarded a plea that just made me shake my head. We all know that George W. Bush is responsible for every problem in this country, and perhaps every problem on this planet. At least, that is what the liberals say.
Well, he is also responsible for the high price of gasoline - according to this email I received. This email explained that President Bush used to work in the oil industry, and made sure gas prices were high so his buddies would profit.
I thought readers may enjoy a snippet from that email. As a prelude, here is some free advice to chain letter email writers - please use correct spelling.
As you know, Goerge W. Bush got his start in the oil business. He made several friends with people in this business and with Halliburtton. Now his friends are using their conection to make gas prices high.
We demand that George W. Bush lower our gas prices, right now. We demand a congressional investigation into why George W. Bush has raised the price of gasoline nationally.
Please add your name to this list and forward it on to a friend. Have that friend add their name on the list and pass it on. When 1,000 people have done this, forward it to the White House and demand that they print it off for the president to read.
In case anyone is interested, here is the Michigan Senate Bill 1046, Michigan's version of the Castle Doctrine.
It doesn't have a lot of legalese, and as you read, you can see for yourself this is pretty good and reasonable legislation.
It may be viewed online at the
Michigan Legislature web site. The website will also produce updates about the legislation as it passes through the voting process.
SENATE BILL No. 1046
February 15, 2006, Introduced by Senator CROPSEY and referred to the Committee on Judiciary.
A bill to clarify the rights and duties of self-defense and the defense of others; to provide for criminal and civil immunity under certain circumstances; to regulate the investigation of incidents involving self-defense or the defense of others; and to provide for certain remedies.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:
Sec. 1. (1) A person is presumed to have held a reasonable fear of imminent peril of death or great bodily harm to himself or herself or another when using defensive force that is intended or likely to cause death or great bodily harm to another if both of the following apply:
(a) The person against whom the defensive force was used was in the process of unlawfully and forcibly entering, or had unlawfully and forcibly entered, a dwelling, residence, or occupied vehicle, or that person had removed or was attempting to remove another person against that person's will from the dwelling, residence, or occupied vehicle.
(b) The person who uses defensive force knew or had reason to believe that an unlawful and forcible entry or unlawful and forcible act was occurring or had occurred.
(2) The presumption set forth in subsection (1) does not apply if any of the following apply:
(a) The person against whom the defensive force is used has the right to be in or is a lawful resident of the dwelling, residence, or vehicle, such as an owner, lessee, or titleholder, and there is not an injunction for protection from domestic violence or a written pretrial supervision order of no contact against that person.
(b) The person sought to be removed is a child or grandchild of, or is otherwise in the lawful custody or under the lawful guardianship of, the person against whom the defensive force is used.
(c) The person who uses defensive force is engaged in an unlawful activity or is using the dwelling, residence, or occupied vehicle to further an unlawful activity.
(d) The person against whom the defensive force is used is a law enforcement officer who enters or attempts to enter a dwelling, residence, or vehicle in the performance of his or her official duties and the officer identified himself or herself in accordance with applicable law or the person using force knew or reasonably should have known that the person entering or attempting to enter was a law enforcement officer.
(3) A person who is not engaged in an unlawful activity and who is attacked in any other place where he or she has a right to be has no duty to retreat and has the right to stand his or her ground and meet force with force, including deadly force if he or she reasonably believes it is necessary to do so to prevent death or great bodily harm to himself or herself or to another person or to prevent the commission of a forcible felony.
(4) A person who unlawfully and by force enters or attempts to enter a person's dwelling, residence, or occupied vehicle is presumed to be doing so with the intent to commit an unlawful act involving force or violence.
(5) As used in this section:
(a) "Dwelling" means a building or conveyance of any kind, including any attached porch, whether the building or conveyance is temporary or permanent, mobile or immobile, that has a roof over it, including a tent, and that is designed to be occupied by people.
(b) "Residence" means a dwelling in which a person resides either temporarily or permanently or is visiting as an invited guest.
(c) "Vehicle" means a conveyance of any kind, whether or not motorized, that is designed to transport people or property.
Sec. 2. (1) A person is justified in using force, except deadly force, against another person when and to the extent that the person reasonably believes that the conduct is necessary to defend himself or herself or another against the other's imminent use of unlawful force.
(2) A person is justified in the use of deadly force and does not have a duty under this section to retreat if either of the following applies:
(a) He or she reasonably believes that such force is necessary to prevent imminent death or great bodily harm to himself or herself or another or to prevent the imminent commission of a forcible felony.
(b) Any of the circumstances enumerated under section 1.
Sec. 3. (1) A person is justified in the use of force, except deadly force, against another when and to the extent that the person reasonably believes that the use of force is necessary to prevent or terminate the other person's trespass on or other tortious or criminal interference with real property, other than a dwelling or personal property, that is lawfully in his or her possession or in the possession of another person who is a member of his or her immediate family or household, or of a person whose property he or she has a legal duty to protect.
(2) A person is justified in the use of deadly force only if he or she reasonably believes that deadly force is necessary to prevent the imminent commission of a forcible felony. A person does not have a duty under this section to retreat if the person is in a place where he or she has a right to be.
Sec. 4. (1) A person who uses force as permitted in section 1, 2, or 3 is justified in using that force and is immune from criminal prosecution and from any civil action for the use of that force, unless the person against whom force was used is a law enforcement officer who was acting in the performance of his or her official duties and the officer identified himself or herself in accordance with any applicable law or the person using force knew or reasonably should have known that the person was a law enforcement officer. As used in this subsection, "criminal prosecution" includes charging or prosecuting the defendant.
(2) The court shall award reasonable attorney fees, court costs, compensation for loss of income, and all expenses incurred by the defendant in defense of any civil action brought by a plaintiff if the court finds that the defendant is immune from prosecution as provided in subsection (1).
The Free Press only allows 150 words to respond, so I had to keep it short. Nonetheless, here is my response to the article:
I was disappointed in Chris Christoff’s poor representation of the self-defense bill now before the Michigan Senate Judiciary Committee. It almost appears he never read the proposed legislation. This bill nowhere allows “gun-toting citizens” to “shoot first and ask questions later.” Rather, this bill clarifies the rights and duties of those engaged in self-defense (with or without a firearm). It also lays out circumstances when deadly force may not be used.
This bill clearly and at great length states these self-defense protections do not apply to those engaged in illegal acts. It will not allow a gang member to get away with murder, no matter which anti-gun “expert” Mr. Christoff quotes.
“Now, Cropsey and the NRA want to tell trained gun owners: Remember those legal technicalities over blasting someone? Don’t bother. Just shoot.” Pure drivel, reported as fact. Unfortunately, the Free Press chose to place this article in the Local section instead of the Editorials.
David Quammen of GunShowOnTheNet received a response to his letter to Detroit Free Press writer Chris Christoff.
To view Mr. Christoff's article - posted in the Local section of the Detroit Free Press on Monday, not in the opinion page - click here.
Mr. Christoff's response is posted today David's blog gunshowonthenet.blogspot.com.
Tags: Gun Control , Gun Rights , 2nd amendment , Castle Doctrine , Self Defense
Got this in the email today. Sorry, I don't know who gets the credit, but I'll post as soon as I find out.
UPDATE (2/24/06): HuntinDude out of Waterford, MI produced this photo.
Tags: Dick Cheney , Ted Kennedy
photo source: Jerusalemites/One Jerusalem "Our mission is to liberate Jerusalem and purify the al-Aqsa Mosque. Islam goes forward because its power comes from Allah and it will continue to advance in spite of its opposers."
- Khaleid Mashaal
The crowd on hand urged Mashaal not to recognize Israel and called out chants for the destruction of Israel.
E. David Quammen of GunShowOnTheNet wrote this response to the Detroit Free Press article mentioned here at 2 Valuable yesterday.
Brief, well-written, and to the point.
Tags: Gun , 2nd amendment , Castle Doctrine , Self Defense
Where do opinions belong in the newspaper? The Opinion section?
They belong as a news article presenting fact, according to the actions of the Detroit Free Press and Chris Christoff, the Free Press Lansing Bureau Chief. Lansing is our State Capitol for all you non-Michiganians, or those of us educated in Michigan public schools.
Tomorrow, the Michigan Senate begins debates on Senate Bill 1046, Michigan's version of the "Castle Doctrine." The bill would
...allow citizens to use deadly force to "prevent the commission of a forcible felony" without facing criminal or civil action. The defender/shooter must have a reasonable fear of great harm. That goes for burglars.
Opponents of such "no retreat" laws say they could lead to vigilantism or criminals using the law to evade prosecution. Peter Hamm, of the Washington-based Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, said Cropsey's bill is a solution without a problem. Nowhere, he said, are citizens being locked up for exercising their legal right to defend themselves under current laws.
Cropsey and the National Rifle Association won a huge victory in 2000 when a lame-duck Legislature relaxed the rules for carrying concealed weapons. So far, gun-toting hotheads aren't shooting up freeways and malls, even though the number of CCW permits statewide has more than doubled to about 114,000.
One reason might be that concealed weapon applicants must attend a gun safety course. Instructors emphasize the criminal and legal implications of shooting someone, even in self-defense. They teach that pulling the trigger is a last option.
Now, Cropsey and the NRA want to tell trained gun owners: Remember those legal technicalities over blasting someone? Don't bother.
I love the Olympics, especally the Winter Olympics. Where else do you see an otherwise sane person voluntarily do things like the ski jump - where they fly through the air further than the distance of a football field! I remember all to well the "Agony of Defeat" guy on ABC's Wide World of Sports. Not a fun situation to find yourself in.
And how exactly do you learn the ski jump? I understand how some Olympic caliber athlete may train, but what if you are the poor sap just learning? Seems like a steep and painful learning curve.
Speaking of crazy sports, I love watching the skeleton. What do these guys say to themselves for motivation as they prepare to race? "Let's lay down on my belly, head first on a sled, and have fun at 70 MPH."
As a 2nd Amendment guy, I particularly enjoy the Biathalon. Cool sport, one I would like to try if I could stand up on cross-country skis.
Well, Bode Miller is now 0-4 in his Olympic quest.
No shame in not medalling - the competition is fierce and the times that separate the gold medal from last place are often within a second or two.
What is a shame is the way this man has been hyped. Who wasn't sick of the advertising prelude to the Olypics featuring Bode and his obnoxious attitude? For that matter, I am tired of hearing NBC commentators chiming about all the gold medal favorites, only to watch them never get close to the medal stand. Again, no shame in not getting a medal. But NBC, please, shut up. Thank goodness there is a mute button on the remote.
Finally, I am glad I live so close to Canada. CBC does a much better job covering the Olympics than NBC. Except they seemed to take too much pleasure when the US Womens' Hockey team lost in the semi-finals.
It only happens every four years, but the Winter Olympics are my favorite sporting event. Too bad we are already 50% through it. I can't wait for 2010 and Vancouver.
Tags: Winter Olympics , Olympics
When the morning started, I was wondering: Why Attack Christians in Nigeria? Several hours later, the violence has spread to Indonesia, Turkey and Pakistan.
Hundreds of Muslims protesting caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad tried to storm the U.S. Embassy on Sunday, smashing the windows of a guard post but failing to push through the gates. Several people were injured.
Protests over the cartoons, which first appeared in a Danish newspaper in September and have been republished in other European publications and elsewhere, have swept across the Muslim world, growing into mass outlets for rage against the West in general, and Israel and the United States in particular.
Christians also have become targets. Pakistani Muslims protesting in the southern city of Sukkur ransacked and burned a church Sunday after hearing accusations that a Christian man had burned pages of the Quran, Islam's holy book.
In Jakarta, about 400 people marched to the heavily fortified U.S. mission in the center of the city, behind a banner reading "We are ready to attack the enemies of the Prophet."
Let me get this straight. Some cartoonist in Denmark draws a few Muhammed cartoons.
Denmark is part of a (very proud) post-Christian Europe.
So Muslims in Nigeria attack and kill at least 15 Christians.
Nigerian Muslims protesting caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad attacked Christians and burned churches on Saturday, killing at least 15 people in the deadliest confrontation yet in the whirlwind of Muslim anger over the drawings.
It was the first major protest to erupt over the issue in Africa's most populous nation. An Associated Press reporter saw mobs of Muslim protesters swarm through the city center with machetes, sticks and iron rods. One group threw a tire around a man, poured gas on him and set him ablaze.
Keith Carabell stands on his land in Chesterfield Township. Sixteen of his 19.6 acres have been classified as wetlands. Federal regulators prohibited him from filling the land, even though he received a permit from a Michigan administrative law judge.
Photo Copyright 2006 ERIC SEALS/Detroit Free Press
The U.S. Supreme Court is hearing two property rights cases from Michigan. The rulings will impact millions of acres of federally-designated "wet land," even if these pieces of land are no where near actual streams, rivers, lakes or other bodies of water.
It also pits the property-rights crowd against the environmental/conservation crowd.
The rulings won't impact two pieces of property in Michigan - they will impact every property owner who wants to do something with his or her property.
The Supreme Court must answer this question: can the federal government restrict development on isolated wetlands not adjacent to navigable streams and lakes to protect water quality?
The Government says "yes." The Clean Water Act allows it to protect isolated wetlands, drainage ditches and tiny streams because of their impact on the health of larger lakes and rivers.
The Property rights crowd says "NO!" The Clean Water Act only regulates navigable waters and wetlands adjacent to them. Applying this Act any other way is effectively a confiscation of private property.
Tags: Property Rights , Environmentalism , Conservation , Supreme Court
"A man's home is his castle," according to the old British saying. Apparently not so in Houston, where a man's home (or a woman's home, for that matter) will be an opportunity for police voyeurism. That is, if Houston Police Chief Harold Hurtt gets his way.
He wants surveillance cameras in apartment complexes and private homes as a means to combat an unfortunate combination of hurricane refugees (150,000 or so), lots of officers retiring, and low numbers of recruits replacing these retirements.
Silly me. I thought the Fourth Amendment guaranteed:
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
Rabbi Daniel Lapin has a great article in the in the WND today.
Iran wants to blow us to smithereens, American soldiers are fighting a deadly enemy in Iraq, and the central bank might raise interest rates – but many journalists consider only one piece of news worth reporting: Vice President Dick Cheney accidentally shot his friend in a hunting accident.Liberals regard people who own firearms and who go hunting as weird. Repeatedly telling the Cheney hunting story proves that Republicans are not fit to govern a civilized country. Liberal news media really believe that reminding Americans that they have a hunter for a vice president will bring a Democratic victory.
It is nice to know some things never change. But the opposite is true, too. It can be sad, realizing some things will never change.
Hamas, overwhelming winner in the Palestinian elections, posted some dandy video on their website yesterday.
Each terrorist had a separate message for Jews. The first said:
"My message to the loathed Jews is that there is no god but Allah, we will chase you everywhere! We are a nation that drinks blood, and we know that there is no blood better than the blood of Jews. We will not leave you alone until we have quenched our thirst with your blood, and our children's thirst with your blood. We will not leave until you leave the Muslim countries."
The second terrorist declared:
"In the name of Allah, we will destroy you, blow you up, take revenge against you, [and] purify the land of you, pigs that have defiled our country... This operation is revenge against the sons of monkeys and pigs."
The second terrorist also told how he saw his death for Allah as a wedding:
"I dedicate this wedding to all of those who have chosen Allah as their goal, the Quran as their constitution and the prophet [Muhammad] as their role model. Jihad is the only way to liberate Palestine – all of Palestine – from the impurity of the Jews."
He then spoke directly to his mother.
"My dear mother, you who have cared for me, today I sacrifice my life to be your intercessor (on Judgment Day). O my love and soul, wipe your tears, don't be saddened. In the name of Allah, I've achieve all that I've aspired. Don't let me see you sad on my wedding day with the Maidens of Paradise. So be happy and not sad, because in the name of Allah, after death is merciful Allah's paradise."
The clip has a farewell scene in which the mother helps the terrorist don his explosive vest. The scene is accompanying by a song with the lyrics, "My dear mother, don't cry over us."
The men of Company E (2nd Battalion, 28th Regiment, 5th Marine Division) raise the flag on Mr. Suribachi.The five Marines: Michael Strank, Rene Gagnon, Ira Hayes, Frankline Sousey and Harlon Block. The Navy Corpman was John Bradley. Only Hayes, Gagnon, and Bradley survived the battle.
Image copyright of Joe Rosenthal / Associated Press
Sixty-one years ago, America's "other D-Day" began. The Invasion of Iwo Jima.
It started at 02:00 on February 19 as battleships began unloading on the island fortifications, followed up by about attacks from almost 100 bombers... then back to the battleships.
At 8:30, the first Marines began their amphibious assault. In total, 30,000 Marines would be involved in the attack.
Many people don't understand why we fought this battle. Iwo Jima is just a piece of rock almost halfway between Saipan and Tokyo - about 700 miles from each location. It is a dinky island, measuring 7.5 square miles. Why waste lives over it? Especially so close to the end of the war?
The answers are simple - this was February, 1945. Germany didn't surrender until May, 1945. No one knew V-J was coming; they didn't know about the atomic bomb. When Admiral Nimitz began preliminary planning for the invasion, the objectives were:
Iwo Jima would also serve as an airbase to land crippled B-29's. These bombers were now flying from the Marianas and hitting the Japanese mainland. The island also served as an early warning system, notifying the mainland when B-29's were in the air. US control of the island would end that problem.
Even though the US had bombed Iwo Jima for months prior to the invasion, the bombing did little good. There were between 21,000 and 23,000 Japanese naval and military personnel on the island at the time of the invasion, protected by a network of caves and tunnels - more than 11 miles of tunnels. Bombing did little good to destroy the vast network of pillboxes and artillery, all aimed to kill large groupings of Marines with a bold strategy: Japanese artillery was to remain silent during the expected prelanding bombardment, so they wouldn't disclose their positions to the Americans. Upon landing, the Americans were not to encounter any opposition on the beaches. Once American forces advanced inland about 1/4 mile, they would be taken out with concentrated automatic weapons fire and artillery.
Japanese positions were, by order, to be defended to the death; a "come and get me" strategy that would cost the lives of thousands of Marines. Japanese leadership didn't want any large scale counterattacks, withdrawals, nor banzai charges, as they didn't anticipate this would kill as many Americans.
The Marines entered a killing zone much worse than they expected. The battle raged for over one month. Two flags were raised on Mt. Suribachi, the highest point on the island. The second of these was immortalized in the Joe Rosenthal photograph as five Marines and a Navy Corpsman raised the Stars and Stripes using a waterpipe for a flagpole. That image is now synonomous with the bravery of the USMC. Three of these men died later in battle.
Of the Congressional Medals of Honor given to World War II Marines, over 25% were awarded to Marines for their actions during this battle.
Iwo Jima was declared secure on March 26, 1945. The US had 26,000 casualties including the loss of 6,821 brave men. Only 200 Japanese survived.
Imagine what these men went through. There was almost a 25% chance that any Marine would be killed during the invasion. About 85% of the force was wounded or killed.
Marines of any era, we salute you. Veterans, we salute you too. Thank you for serving so bravely and protecting us regardless of the cost.
The USMC War Memorial in Virginia. From Reuters:
VIENNA (Reuters) - EU president Austria said on Wednesday Iran's resumption of work to enrich uranium for nuclear fuel had needlessly raised tensions with the West, which fears Tehran is covertly striving to build atomic bombs.
Well, at least one good thing came out of the Dick Cheney hunting trip... I didn't have to hear about the Cartoon Controversy BS.
I am sorry the VP was involved in a hunting accident - I am sorry when anyone is. His position has certainly provided ammunition to the anti-gunners. Most of the pro-gun blogs I've checked out are rather angry with Mr. Cheney.
Yes, I can see why. This is causing damage to the pro-gun argument. But at the same time, let's not be guilty of figuratively stabbing someone in the back. Mr. Cheney has been a supporter of gun rights for his entire career. He stuck his neck out for us. Now, he needs our support.
It was an accident, a very public accident. Let's use this in our education programs and as a constant warning that bad crap can happen at any time when we let our guards down and don't follow the basic rules of gun safety.
How many police officers are wounded in accidental discharges? Military personnel? This story wouldn't have made it into a local newspaper distributed for free at a Mom & Pop shop if it were Joe Average that pulled the trigger. Let's not over-react.
Slicing and dicing one of our own will not get us anywhere, and it is the wrong way to treat a loyal friend of the Second Amendment.
Tags: 2nd Amendment , Dick Cheney , Hunting Accident , Gun Safety , Guns
Last night was the second of my CCW classes. Another great night of learning.
All you pros out there probably don't find this to be a big deal, but it excites me. Our lead instructor told us that we needed to know what to practice in order to be proficient - and that part of proficiency is shooting with the weak hand. I'd never shot left handed before, and I was a bit worried. Not worried in the sense of danger, just worried that I'd look like a fool.
I did - on the first clip. The second clip was pretty accurate, and the third clip was actually something to be proud of.
Once again, throughout the shooting session, I learned more about safety and shooting in the 1 hour of training than I'd learned in the last 20 or so years of shooting. This time, though, I'd been practicing the good form and good habits for a week - and it showed. I used to practice a lot, but developed some bad habits along the way. As my old band teacher, Mr. Miller, used to say: "Practice does not make perfect. Perfect practice makes perfect." That was true with trumpeting and it is true with shooting.
Tags: Gun , 2nd amendment
Recap
The Bill of Rights was based on the Virginia Declaration of Rights, a document that boldly proclaimed, among other things, that the right to defense was declared an inherent right, a God-given right. It is not bestowed by the government; it may not be taken away by the government.
We also leaned that there was to be a well-regulated (that is, disciplined) militia, composed of the body of the people.
The Declaration of Independence
One other document - The Declaration of Independence - shows the influence of George Mason's Virginia Declaration. George Mason's influence is especially obvious in the opening paragraphs of this Thomas Jefferson masterpiece (I made all areas dealing specifically with the Second Amendment bold-type).
A transcript is available from the National Archives website.
IN CONGRESS, July 4, 1776.
The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America,
When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.--Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.
He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.
He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.
He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.
He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.
He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.
He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected; whereby the Legislative powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.
He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.
He has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary powers.
He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.
He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harrass our people, and eat out their substance.
He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.
He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil power.
He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:
For Quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:
For protecting them, by a mock Trial, from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:
For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:
For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:
For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury:
For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences
For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies:
For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:
For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.
He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.
He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.
He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.
He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.
He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages, whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.
In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.
Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our Brittish brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which, would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.
We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.
Image is copyright San Francisco Chronicle / Brant Ward
Thanks to That Dang Otter for picking this up.
San Francisco's Police Chief holds up a copy of the San Francisco Chronicle. The article, part of hard-hitting series of profound investigative journalism, details cop John Haggett and his (alleged) history of misuse of force.
Unfortunately, the picture isn't of John Haggett. The man pictured isn't even a police officer.
Oops.
WARNING - I RELY ON A MASSIVE AMOUNT OF GENERALIZATION IN THIS POST. READ AT YOUR OWN RISK.
As Americans, we like to think we are tough. "Mess with us and we will kick your butt." We like to think this both internationally and on our streets.
The truth of the matter, though, is that as a nation, we are simply weaklings.
Have we paid attention whenever we go to work, the restaurant, the stadium, to church, on an airplane? We are FAT. We are out-of-shape and fat. Why? There is no excuse for letting our bodies go like we, as a nation, have.
Our "education" system is simply a joke. We teach our male youth how to wear rubbers, but can they do math? Do they know history? Can they name their state senator? Can the name the Vice President? No. Why not? Over the years, we've thrown more and more money into the education kitty, and we receive less and less benefit. We produce lots of kids who can burn our flag, use birth control, and say nasty things about the President. Fewer kids who can write a sentence correctly and think for themselves. Even fewer kids who can be an assset to their employer.
These are two nasty strikes against us as a nation. Not to sound like Dean Wormer in Animal House, but "Fat and stupid is no way to go through life, son."
We are trained by the police to simply give a thug whatever he asks for - your wallet, your wedding ring, etc. "Your property is not worth your life," is the standard reasoning. So what, let thugs run around demanding - and getting - what they want?
When we hear the window shattering in the night, we are told to gather up the kids, take them into a safe room, and call 9-1-1. Let the professionals deal with this problem. The citizen is not trained to handle this potentially nasty situation.
Why? Because we have lost the foundation of personal responsibility. Darn it, why is the "average citizen" not trained to handle situations when the bad guy comes at night? Because we have traded in personal responsibility for false comfort that a simple phone call will bring in superman with a badge. We have exchanged the truth for a lie.
Don't get me wrong - I am not cop-bashing. I thank God for the women and men who serve and protect our communities. But the simple fact is they cannot be everywhere to stop every bad guy at once. We must take the initiative in making our homes a place criminals wouldn't want to visit.
We must take the initiative to educate ourselves, to ensure that our children are educated properly - and to remove them from situations where they are not educated properly.
It is our job, not the government's, to make sure our retirement is funded. Who cares more about your money - you or the government. Wait, bad example.
But sticking with money issues, who cares more about your money, you or a professional stock broker or financial planner? You'd better care more. Not to say we should seek professional advice, but we are responsible for investment knowledge, we are responsible for our money. If we don't have any, we are responsible put ourselves in the position where we do have money. The professional financial crowd responsible, nor the government, responsible.
I could go on and on, but it wouldn't help.
America, we've become lazy. We've traded in our health, our brains, our work ethic, our finances, our personal responsibility. We've traded them in for slothfulness, lethargy, lack of honor and dignity, false security, and loss of integrity.
There is a way out - but only if we as a nation will take the personal responsibility to dig ourselves out of this hole. It is not too late, but time is rapidly running out.
Tags: Responsibility , Education
When the last dutiful & humble petition from Congress received no other Answer than declaring us Rebels, and out of the King’s protection, I from that Moment look’d forward to a Revolution & Independence, as the only means of Salvation; and will risque the last Penny of my Fortune, & the last Drop of my Blood upon the Issue.
--George Mason, October 1778
The Virginia Declaration of Rights
A DECLARATION OF RIGHTS made by the representatives of the good people of Virginia, assembled in full and free convention which rights do pertain to them and their posterity, as the basis and foundation of government.
Section 1. That all men are by nature equally free and independent and have certain inherent rights, of which, when they enter into a state of society, they cannot, by any compact, deprive or divest their posterity; namely, the enjoyment of life and liberty, with the means of acquiring and possessing property, and pursuing and obtaining happiness and safety.
Section 2. That all power is vested in, and consequently derived from, the people; that magistrates are their trustees and servants and at all times amenable to them.
Section 3. That government is, or ought to be, instituted for the common benefit, protection, and security of the people, nation, or community; of all the various modes and forms of government, that is best which is capable of producing the greatest degree of happiness and safety and is most effectually secured against the danger of maladministration. And that, when any government shall be found inadequate or contrary to these purposes, a majority of the community has an indubitable, inalienable, and indefeasible right to reform, alter, or abolish it, in such manner as shall be judged most conducive to the public weal.
Section 4. That no man, or set of men, is entitled to exclusive or separate emoluments or privileges from the community, but in consideration of public services; which, nor being descendible, neither ought the offices of magistrate, legislator, or judge to be hereditary.
Section 5. That the legislative and executive powers of the state should be separate and distinct from the judiciary; and that the members of the two first may be restrained from oppression, by feeling and participating the burdens of the people, they should, at fixed periods, be reduced to a private station, return into that body from which they were originally taken, and the vacancies be supplied by frequent, certain, and regular elections, in which all, or any part, of the former members, to be again eligible, or ineligible, as the laws shall direct.
Section 6. That elections of members to serve as representatives of the people, in assembly ought to be free; and that all men, having sufficient evidence of permanent common interest with, and attachment to, the community, have the right of suffrage and cannot be taxed or deprived of their property for public uses without their own consent or that of their representatives so elected, nor bound by any law to which they have not, in like manner, assembled for the public good.
Section 7. That all power of suspending laws, or the execution of laws, by any authority, without consent of the representatives of the people, is injurious to their rights and ought not to be exercised.
Section 8. That in all capital or criminal prosecutions a man has a right to demand the cause and nature of his accusation, to be confronted with the accusers and witnesses, to call for evidence in his favor, and to a speedy trial by an impartial jury of twelve men of his vicinage, without whose unanimous consent he cannot be found guilty; nor can he be compelled to give evidence against himself; that no man be deprived of his liberty except by the law of the land or the judgment of his peers.
Section 9. That excessive bail ought not to be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.
Section 10. That general warrants, whereby an officer or messenger may be commanded to search suspected places without evidence of a fact committed, or to seize any person or persons not named, or whose offense is not particularly described and supported by evidence, are grievous and oppressive and ought not to be granted.
Section 11. That in controversies respecting property, and in suits between man and man, the ancient trial by jury is preferable to any other and ought to be held sacred.
Section 12. That the freedom of the press is one of the great bulwarks of liberty, and can never be restrained but by despotic governments.
Section 13. That a well-regulated militia, composed of the body of the people, trained to arms, is the proper, natural, and safe defense of a free state; that standing armies, in time of peace, should be avoided as dangerous to liberty; and that in all cases the military should be under strict subordination to, and governed by, the civil power.
Section 14. That the people have a right to uniform government; and, therefore, that no government separate from or independent of the government of Virginia ought to be erected or established within the limits thereof.
Section 15. That no free government, or the blessings of liberty, can be preserved to any people but by a firm adherence to justice, moderation, temperance, frugality, and virtue and by frequent recurrence to fundamental principles.
Section 16. That religion, or the duty which we owe to our Creator, and the manner of discharging it, can be directed only by reason and conviction, not by force or violence; and therefore all men are equally entitled to the free exercise of religion, according to the dictates of conscience; and that it is the mutual duty of all to practise Christian forbearance, love, and charity toward each other.
That a well-regulated militia, composed of the body of the people, trained to arms, is the proper, natural, and safe defense of a free state; that standing armies, in time of peace, should be avoided as dangerous to liberty; and that in all cases the military should be under strict subordination to, and governed by, the civil power.
Some people are just plain evil. What is so hard to understand? Why certain liberal elements in the US cannot understand, or accept, this plain and simple truth is beyond me.
Yet, these liberal elements want to make a case that the US was responsible for 9/11. They want to blame Denmark or a newspaper or whoever else for the current violence from the cartoon controversy. Newsflash: these elements are full of it. Why should the Danish people be responsible for the actions of a newspaper - and why should any person be killed over a cartoon? It was a cartoon, for crying out loud, and not even a funny one at that.
Some people (and this has nothing to do with religious preference, sexual preference -or orientation, if you prefer, economic status, etc...) are just plain evil. They like to hurt others, and the greater the number they hurt, the better they feel.
I keep hearing malarkey like "You can't lump all Islamic people in the 'dangerous' category." Yeah, no kidding. But you know what, it should be quite evident that some Islamic believers are very dangerous and want to inflict harm on us.
I don't know if liberals tend to think "if I am nice to evil people, they will only kill the conservatives," but it sure seems that way. Two words for libs who fall into that category: Neville Chamberlain. He appeased Hitler, sold out different ethnic groups, cut deals, and know what - Hitler still fought against the English, killing those who supported the war and those who didn't support the war. More recently, we saw innocent people settling in for a day of work die in the World Trade Center attacks - people of all faiths, including Muslims. People of all political backgrounds.
Wimpy liberal thinking extends to the dangerous streets of America. For some reason, murderous thugs are excused from their actions because of their background (too poor, didn't have same opportunities as the guy he knocked off, etc.) Guess what - murder is evil, and so are the people who excuse it.
Liberals - get this through your head: Evil will attack you no matter how "progressive" you are. Get serious about meeting it head on, or it will destroy you.
Before I get hate email or vulgar comments that I have to delete, don't play the "he is stereotyping people" poppycock - that is a diversion from the issue at hand. There is no stereotype... Evil people who do evil things are plain evil and dangerous to everyone. And those who make excuses for these thugs share in their evil deeds.
When Americans in general can heal themselves of their rectal-crainium inversion and exorcise the liberal "let's-all-hold-hands-and-sing-Kum-Bah-Yah" mentality, we might actually make our world, both domestically and internationally, a better place.
Tags: Self Defense , Justice
"A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed."
There is a rush to post new and offensive cartoons of Muhammed on many blogs. We have freedom of speech in this country, but know what? People around the world are rioting and killing over this stuff. Perhaps poking fun at it is not the best course of action.
It is easy to take cheap shots at what is going on, or at some of the people involved. But in reality, this is a mess. There is a difference between responsible dialogue and just pissing someone off. As we have learned, some people are willing to kill over a cartoon. Producing our own insulting images is not a good idea.
I don't mean back down in fear - now is a time to stand up against radicalism. But isn't there a better way to do it than to firing off insults toward Muslims-at-large? Perhaps we should throw some water on the fire instead of some gasoline. I look at it as a Christian - if someone identified as a Christian killed, for example, an abortion clinic worker, I would view that as murder. The murderer would deserve the punishment of life in prison or the death penalty. I'd have no problem with it. Yet, if blogs everywhere drew cartoons mocking Jesus because of the incident, my reaction would not be based on the action of a murderer who was receiving justice. The reaction would be based on what I saw as blasphemy. It would be an attack on me and what I held dear.
Let's use the events of the last few days to remind ourselves that there is an element of people who will kill over anything. No, I am not talking about Muslims in general - but there is a subgroup within Islam that we, as typical Americans, don't understand and completely underestimate. It is time to look at more effective ways to deal with this evil subgroup than to post pictures that insult all Muslims. Let's deal with evil - not with pissing off that which we don't understand.
Remember - these cartoons are not new. The publication happened months ago. Organized elements have been stirring this up for months, going from a simmer to a boil. A lot of planning went into making these riots happen. Let's not play into their hands and create a bigger problem.
Tags: Islam , Muhammed Cartoon
Yesterday, as people around the world were burning down buildings, rioting, and killing other people over a bunch of dumb cartoons, I settled in to my car for the drive home. I tuned into a local talk-radio station when the host poised the question:
What if the shoe were on the other foot? What if it were cartoons of Jesus shown in a Middle East newspaper. Don't you think Christians would react just as violently?
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the sons of God.
- Jesus
Matthew 5:9
As David Hardy mentioned a couple of days ago, the Canadian Gun Registry is going the way of the dodo, and soon.
While completely ineffective, the cost of the registry program rose from an anticipated $2 million all the way to an astonishing and wasteful $2 billion. Oops. And gun crimes are soaring, not declining.
Yet, some people, like Winnipeg Police Service Chief Jack Ewatski, think the system is needed.
Ewatski said while the program was mismanaged, the registry still has merit because police constantly use it to find out if places they are about to enter have firearms. He said it’s used as much as 2,000 times a day by Canada’s police agencies.
What a story out of. Lockport, NY.
Michael Guerra, 20, was accused of violating a personal protection order. He pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge: second-degree criminal contempt.
At the hearing, his attorney told the judge that that Guerra wanted to join the Army but couldn't if he was on probation. The judge offered Guerra the chance to follow through - but he had only 30 days to enlist. Failure to do so would land him an arrest and a jail sentence.
Prosecutor Caroline Wojtaszek was doubtful Guerra would actually enlist but said, ``maybe they're the only ones who can whip him into shape.''
The Conservative Zone guys produced a great argument for the Concealed Carry cause.
Tags: Concealed Carry , 2nd amendment , Guns
The Korean War is often called "The Forgotten War." Our 10th Amendment is our forgotten amendment. Southern Pundit has a well-written, clearly-thought-out article on the subject of this "forgotten" amendment.
Tags: Bill of Rights , 10th amendment , 2nd amendment
I went to the first night of CCW class on Monday. What a blast (no pun intended).
The first hour was a video introducing the gun basics, and it starred Gerald McRaney (the cool brother - Rick - from Simon & Simon, back in the day). It was a bit cheesy, but thorough.
The second hour was range practice. We each had an instructor watching over our shoulder. I have always prided myself in my approach to safety around guns. Last night, I learned more about safety and shooting in the 1 hour of training than I'd learned in the last 20 or so years of shooting. These guys knew their stuff. I'd been through some classes before, a long time ago, but over the years I'd been picking up some and training with some real bad habits. These guys wouldn't tolerate my bad habits, and they within 60 minutes made me a much better shooter. We were practicing with the 22's this week, but will finish the rest of training with the center-fire pistol of our choice. NRA - you guys produce great instructors.
The last hour was state and federal law. Once again, I was amazed at how little I knew. Excellent stuff.
I would recommend everyone take some kind of gun class. I've been an NRA-lifer for years, shot several times a month for 20+ years, and learned a ton in only one night. I never thought I "knew it all," but I never realized how much more there is to learn. Who would have thought Monday's could be so entertaining?
Tags: Gun , 2nd amendment , Concealed Carry
