Don't Do Unto Others...

Recently in our neighborhood we have had some uproar.  Thank God I am not directly involved, mainly I’m an observant by stander and neighbor.  Quite a few people in our neighborhood like to shoot.  In fact some of our family shot today for about 30 – 45 minutes. 

I am a member of the neighborhood where all the hoopla has occurred.  While our little neighborhood is not in town, it is sort of a little town of its own.  We have no “Home Owners Agreement” on either side of the highway, but we usually all get along alright, in fact usually rather well.  We help each other out, pass around little gifts at Christmas and generally try to maintain good relations.

In this case, at least as I understand it, some daytime shooting exceeded what one neighbor’s nerves could take on that particular day.  Some intense and heated words followed.  This led to some hard feelings and an over-reaction that caused some target shooting followed by touching off of some Tannerite (BOOM!) in the evening hours.  That in turn disturbed many other neighbors and then the escalation really occurred.  IOWs the WAR was ON!

It is important to understand that we have a fundamental right to KEEP and to BEAR an arm for the defense of ourselves, family, friends, and our country.  Along with the right would come the need to practice proficiency etc.  However it is critical that we understand that all rights have a corresponding fundamental responsibility to exercise that right in a manner that is in harmony, as much as possible, with all your neighbors.  In this case "gasoline" was poured on the fire and now there are some really raw feelings on the part of many neighbors against one neighbor.

The fact is that in order for our society to survive we have to ask ourselves certain questions.  “Will my actions unduly create discomfort, annoyance and discordant feelings on the part of my neighbor?  If so, just how bad do I need to do whatever it is I want to do? 

I like to use Biblical examples to guide my life.  My first thought is the old Jewish saying that went like this, "Don't do unto others what you have them not do to you."  Jesus enhanced the old saying and said, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”  I think these two sayings apply to this case.  If your conduct/action leads to very harsh feeling from your neighbor then figure out a way to avoid that if possible.  Now, I haven’t even talked about “loving your neighbor as yourself” or WWJD, what would Jesus do?

Some solutions that might work here is to find another place close by if you must shoot at inconvenient hours.  And only shoot for short periods when in close proximity to folks.  Let’s face it loud noises are obnoxious to folks, period.  If done frequently it leads to hard feeling and that just doesn't fit with what the Good Book says.

A little shooting during normal waking hours should be fine.  Shooting during times when people are settling in for the evening should be avoided.  If shooting has to be done at times that might be inconvenient, then let’s find a different place.  This is Pike County we can surely make that work.  Now if we can find a way to bury the hatchet and get back down to our usual boring existence that would be fine with me.  I think everyone involved are good folks.  Just have to get it figured out and get things cooled down.  AND, NO, we don’t need any stinkin’ new law!  Oh, and Merry Christmas.

USDA Seeks Serious Firepower

Truth really can be stranger than fiction.  What possible circumstances might require the U.S. Dept of Agriculture (USDA) to be armed to the teeth?  I am talking armed with, this is a direct quote, “…submachine guns, .40 Cal. S&W, ambidextrous safety, semi-automatic or 2 shot burst trigger group, Tritium night sights for front and rear, rails for attachment of flashlight (front under fore grip) and scope (top rear), stock-collapsible or folding, magazine - 30 rd. capacity, sling, light weight, and oversized trigger guard for gloved operation.”

Thinking that this was most obviously a hoax I went to the official government website at: http://tinyurl.com/l3zewaw.   There it is plain and simple.  Once I confirmed the authenticity that led to the next in a series of thought processes.  There certainly needs to be a good reason for the acquiring the heavy duty firepower.  Perhaps it is concern for an outbreak of “mad cow” disease, which would lead to a pandemic of cows running through the streets goring the unsuspecting public. 

I can see it now; the USDA inspectors, secretaries, and other office workers would charge out in the streets, fields, and by ways to the save citizenry in an act of unparalleled bravery, casting their bodies in front of wave after wave of “mad cows” firing in full auto, magazine after magazine at these insane, or perhaps, just angry cows. 

They certainly wouldn’t actually plan on using full auto weapons on farmers and ranchers who refuse to comply with unconstitutional orders; orders that would drive 52 out of 53 ranchers and farmers off their land, purportedly to save a desert tortoise, like in a Nevada situation recently; desert turtles that another group of Feds are destroying because they have overpopulated themselves. 

There is an old saying that to a man with a hammer, everything looks like a nail.   Could it be that to a federal government bureaucrat with a submachine gun, every citizen may begin to look like a terrorist?  The next thing you know the postal system will “need” the same kind of firepower.  What’s that you say?  The postal service is already getting them?  Who’s next? 

Maybe it should be, “who’s last?”  That’s easy the average citizen will be last.

I ran across John W. Whitehead's post which really lays out clearly the hard place citizens are being put into at this point in the history of America.  He begins with this quote from John F. Kennedy:

“Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable.”

—John F. Kennedy

 And then goes on to make it very clear in a short concise article the various components which bring about the rebel, the revolutionary and the slave...  

The Bundy Paradigm: Will You Be a Rebel, Revolutionary or a Slave?

By John W. Whitehead

Published: Wednesday, April 23, 2014 12:14 PM CDT

    “Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable.”

—John F. Kennedy

Those tempted to write off the standoff at the Bundy Ranch as little more than a show of force by militia-minded citizens would do well to reconsider their easy dismissal of this brewing rebellion. This goes far beyond concerns about grazing rights or the tension between the state and the federal government.

Few conflicts are ever black and white, and the Bundy situation, with its abundance of gray areas, is no exception. Yet the question is not whether Cliven Bundy and his supporters are domestic terrorists, as Harry Reid claims, or patriots, or something in between. Nor is it a question of whether the Nevada rancher is illegally grazing his cattle on federal land or whether that land should rightfully belong to the government. Nor is it even a question of who’s winning the showdown— the government with its arsenal of SWAT teams, firepower and assault vehicles, or Bundy’s militia supporters with their assortment of weapons—because if such altercations end in bloodshed, everyone loses.

What we’re really faced with, and what we’ll see... MORE

Bundy Ranch range war gets ugly...

Cliven Bundy made some awkward remarks that were edited out of context by the New York Times.  Imagine that!   The best documenting of this was done and exposed by Pat Dollard in the post titled HOAX EXPOSED.  You must watch the whole unedited video to understand the context for the remarks he made that have everyone so hot and bothered.

I have enjoyed watching particularly astute posts by folks of color who lay it all out in "black and white."  I recommend that you view these two videos...

And then check this one out...

Never underestimate the length that the main stream media will go to to destroy the message of Liberty.

****Added Sunday 4-27-2014

Nevada congressional candidate adds his perspective as a person of color to this.  I think he really did a good job of dealing with this...:

Nevada Congressional Candidate Deals with Bundy’s Comments with Class

Bundy Ranch range war...

In the past I have commented that citizens will follow laws, rules, or regulations that have a basis in commonsense and that are just and fair.  What they object to are laws which come under the category of, as broadcaster, Derry Brownfield stated, “ignorance gone to seed.”

In the last couple of weeks we have seen this played out in the “old west” at the Bundy Ranch in Nevada.  We have seen the Feds come on to the ranch and try to steal the cattle of the Bundy’s by intimidation, overwhelming force and by sic’ing dogs on unarmed women and men.  The main stream media largely was not in attendance but the word got out and went viral throughout America via the alternative media.

Whether or not the Bundy’s are right or wrong I don’t know 100%, but the way in which the Feds went about strong arming this rancher, who was not armed and certainly had their home on this land several generations was not right.  It is completely reminiscent of the Weaver’s of Ruby Ridge fame and also Waco in which around 80 people were destroyed by the Feds including 15 little children.  It appears to me that this time the Feds were faced with a several hundred men and women who were determined that the Feds would not kill the Bundy family or take their cattle at gun point.

As the news begins to come out it appears that as the states were formed that the Federal Government was to cede the land held in trust by it to the new state derived from the territory.  This is what happened in every other state that was formed until Colorado.  For some reason the lands of 9 states in the far West were never turned over to the new states.  It appears that Cliven Bundy has studied this extensively over the years, and rather than go quietly into the night with some 52 other ranchers who have been pressured off the land decided that he would rather die than leave; that my friend, is the courage of our Forefathers demonstrated by taking a stand.  That is David facing Goliath.

The Good Book says my people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.  We must learn about the documents that found our country and that secure our freedom or the unelected bureaucrats will, by force of regulation, take our property and our Liberty.  Thomas Jefferson said, “Those who expect to be both ignorant and free, expect what never was and never will be.”  Thomas Jefferson also said to Abigail Adams Feb 22, 1787: “The spirit of resistance to government is so valuable on certain occasions, that I wish it to be always kept alive. It will often be exercised when wrong, but better so than not to be exercised at all. I like a little rebellion now and then. It is like a storm in the atmosphere.”

I am convinced that the so called threatened tortoise is not worth the extinction of the ranchers and their families who have been driven off the land by the bureaucratic bovine excrement emanating from the Feds.  I am convinced that we are in the process of experiencing similar ignorance gone to seed in Illinois.  If the people do not take a stand against this type of thing when it happens to our neighbor then when our turn finally comes who will stand with us and for us?

I would start with eliminating the FOID card which is clearly in violation of the Second Amendment, which states “the right of the People to keep and bear arms SHALL NOT BE INFRINGED.”  Just because some fellow in a black robe tries to treat it as if it says, “Shall not be infringed very much,” does not make it so.  There can be no test to exercise for lawful purposes a fundamental right by an otherwise law abiding citizen.

Samuel Adams reminded us in 1772 that “Among the natural rights of the Colonists are these: First, a right to life; Secondly, to liberty; Thirdly, to property; together with the right to support and defend them in the best manner they can.” I believe, as our founders did, that we have a FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT to defend life, liberty and property from oppressive and tyrannical governments.

So what would a government do to end political disent...?

Just how far would a government go to end protests against itself?  What does it look like?  Is it glamorous and exciting and then everyone goes home at the end of the day?  You can get an idea of what real story is when you mess with those who are determined to fight for Liberty at any cost.

6 Insane Things You Learn Overthrowing Your Own Government

But remember this could never happen in America, land of the free, home of the brave.  Our government would never deprive us of our Fundamental God given rights and then shoot us down like dogs.  Or would they?

There are Those Who Stand Ready; Ready to Stand

I came across this recent post under the Western Rifle Shooters Blog entitled "Public Notice: Dear Connecticut Patriots."  There are those out there who will stand by the Connecticut folks in their time of need if their government decides to come for them.  I can't help but think that King George really underestimated the resolve of the Colonists in their time and they may be about to underestimate the resolve of the Connecticut Patriots in the present time.

Illinois may have "dodged the bullet" for now but the arrogant legislators from Chicago and a few other places are still deluding themselves that they will be able to RULE with an iron fist here in Illinois.  As I have said in the past, quoting from the Declaration of Independence:

• "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;

 In this generation it is no different.  We the People of Illinois have put up with a long train of abuses, but the sleeping giant is waking and now believes that the tyrant WILL try to take away their means of self defense against the encroachment by government of their fundamental rights.  We have all wanted to believe that our governments would never take on the cloak of the tyrant, but the bloom is now off the rose.

There are still many who want to believe, but in their hearts realize that what the Founders said about government returning to its tyrannical nature is in essence just a matter of time.  To quote Thomas Jefferson:

• "The tree of Liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants." 

 Hopefully all will get the message that they are not to mess with our Fundamental God given rights.  Fundamental rights require no permission from any government anywhere to exercise.

I also found the following quote on the above website that speaks to me and my frame of mind. 

•  "I don't really like the label 'criminal', but I'll take it over 'slave'." – Anonymous Millenial

I sympathize with the folks in Connecticut, and I am not likely to travel unless it were to get totally out of hand.  I can't quite convince myself that the police and National Guard in Connecticut would break their Oath to confiscate guns from otherwise law abiding citizens.  I am not naive enough to believe that some would do it however my mind just won't let me believe that enough of them will break their Oath to crush their Citizens.

Your Tax Dollars at Work...

This is a particularly poignant story that needs to be shared everywhere along with the thousands of others who are being targeted...

I will not comply with unconstitutional laws and mandates! 

Another link here:
CSPAN Coverage of Catherine Engelbrecht

Hell hath no fury like a bureaucrat scorned...!

Paying it forward...

Over the past week parents of the local junior class came together to setup and promote the “After Prom” event that is designed to help our young people to have great time and not die through temptations to make destructive decisions. 
 

The junior class “pays it forward” by putting on the prom with assistance and guidance from the class sponsors.  In the process this lets the senior students have a year that they can celebrate and prepare to make their exit from high school without the responsibility of the heavy duty planning and execution for this event.  This process could be called “payin’ if forward.” We pay it forward this year, so that we can be at liberty to plan for graduation or just have it be less stressful as a senior.

Liberty is like that.  If our children are to be born free and experience the blessings of Liberty, then it is up to the preceding generation to hold the line and to “Pay it Forward,” so that the following generation can indeed be free.

As I look at the news across the water, I see the Russians lined up along the border of Ukraine.  It appears at this point that an invasion could be imminent.  As I understand it, the People of Ukraine have not been allowed to be armed for many years.  What defense can they use against this potentially invading army?  Sticks and stones and shovels and pitchforks against Russian tanks and Spetsnaz troops armed to the teeth.

While I “know” it can never happen here, I recall that the Emperor of Japan, or one of his commanders, was asked after he bombed Pearl Harbor if he would attack the American mainland.  He stated to the effect that he would not, “because there would be a rifle behind every blade of grass.

I watch these helpless folks as they tremble, waiting, watching, and wondering if they will be suddenly invaded in the middle of a cold dark night.  Perhaps their family will suddenly be caught up in an invasion with no means for self defense.  I sleep better knowing that in America, while not directly threatened at this point in time, I can rest a little easier knowing that I, and many others are trying to, “Pay Liberty Forward” by defending our sacred God given right to keep and to bear an arm from slick tongued politicians.

Police State Too Much? Send in a Marine!

I thought this was an excellent short speech by a marine speaking from the heart with knowledge and the experience of years.  This gentleman is Marine Colonel Peter Martino.  He is discussing the acquiring of an assault vehicle for the city of Concord, NH.  One key phrase among many is, "We are building a domestic army and shrinking the military because the government is afraid of it's own citizens."  Another is phrase is, "There is always free cheese in a mouse trap."  I suppose the armored vehicle would be a free gift or nearly free item from the Department of Homeland Security.

Enjoy...

Comments found below were on Youtube...

Published on Aug 15, 2013

This is how the Free State rolls. This is just the kind of active support for limited government, liberty and personal responsibility that's increasingly part of daily life in NH. Thank you FSP. What took you so long to get here...?
http://freestateproject.org/

During testimony at the Concord City Council public hearing regarding the acquisition of a ManBearPig-- er, I mean BearCat, the "Homeland Security" grant-subsidized (so, your money, regardless) armored attack truck (the manufacturer's description, although the cops prefer "rescue vehicle," which isn't exactly prominent in the marketing materials for some reason) by local law enforcement's Special Operations Unit, in Concord, NH, 8/12/2013, there was this little gem from retired Marine Colonel Pete Martino. Complete hearing at http://bikerbillnh.blogspot.com/2013/...

"Peter Martino is a citizen of the State of New Hampshire. Mr. Martino is a Colonel in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve who has been mobilized three times. During his military career, he commanded an infantry platoon, company, and battalion. He was also the senior U.S. adviser to an Iraqi Army brigade. Mr. Martino has had a successful civilian career providing training, consulting, and program management services to private companies and to state and federal agency contractors. Mr. Martino presently holds a top secret security clearance."
2008

And see the Colonel take on the NH House Commerce Committee regarding SB180, "establishing a recovery fund for victims of the Financial Resources Mortgage (FRM) fraud and continually appropriating a special fund," here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C92y0N...

Thoughts on the 9th Circuit Peruta v. San Diego County, CA.

Wow! Where to start…

On Feb. 13, 2014, the 9^th Circuit Federal Court of Appeals (9thC) produced a monumental decision on gun rights in Peruta, v. San Diego County, CA.  I have had many bad thoughts about the 9^th circuit and some of their decisions, however this time they hit one out of the park in favor of Liberty.  The quantity of legal decisions just keeps growing in support of the fundamental right to keep and to bear an arm.

This decision reflects powerfully on Illinois, since we have had very similar unconstitutional restrictions.  Illinois unfortunately remains the worst for the present.  Let’s look at some of the good stuff.  

• ·       “Constitutional rights are enshrined with the scope they were understood to have when the people adopted them, whether or not future legislatures or (yes) even future judges think that scope too broad.” (Heller).

• ·       “The Second Amendment secures the right not only to “keep” arms but also to “bear” them—the verb whose original meaning is key in this case.”

• ·       “At the time of the founding, as now, to ‘bear’ meant to ‘carry.’” (Heller)

• ·       “It was this inherited right of armed self-defense,” according to Heller, that “by the time of the founding [was] understood to be an individual right protecting against both public and private violence.” (Peruta)

• ·       “American edition of Blackstone’s Commentaries, id. at 594, St. George Tucker, a law professor… “The right to armed self-defense, Tucker insisted, is the “first law of nature,” and any law "prohibiting any person from bearing arms” crossed the constitutional line. (Heller/Peruta)(Bold is mine)

• ·       The 9thC reemphasizes, the Heller case “settled” two key elements, first the Second Amendment (2A) “has always” secured an individual right to keep and to bear an arm; second, that the right is, “and always has been, oriented to the end of self-defense.” (I shortened and paraphrased in part) “Any contrary interpretation of the right, whether propounded in 1791 or just last week, is error.” (Peruta p. 21).

• ·       The 9thC emphasized Heller, “[C]onstitutional rights are enshrined with the scope they were understood to have when the people adopted them. . . .”  A law that “under the pretence of regulating, amounts to a destruction of the right” would not pass constitutional muster “[u]nder any of the standards of scrutiny that we have applied to enumerated constitutional rights.”  Put simply, a law that destroys (rather than merely burdens) a right central to the Second Amendment must be struck down. Id.”

• -      “Undoubtedly some think that the Second Amendment is outmoded in a society where our standing army is the pride of our Nation, where well-trained police forces provide personal security, and where gun violence is a serious problem. That is perhaps debatable, but what is not debatable is that it is not the role of this Court [or ours] to pronounce the Second Amendment extinct.” (Peruta/Heller). Nor may we relegate the bearing of arms to a “second-class right, subject to an entirely different body of rules than the other Bill of Rights guarantees that we have held to be incorporated into the Due Process Clause.” (McDonald).

These are just a few of the gems pulled out of the decision by the 9^th circuit.  I would argue that in light of the last quote, that the courts definitely treat the 2A different than all other rights in spite of what they said in the last quote.  For example if you were to limit speech in any significant way as to where you can talk, what you can say and when you can say it, then it would be struck down.  Same is true with most religious issues among others.  Then they allow limitations as to where you can carry and what style, as to open or concealed, etc. 

I ask now, as I have asked any number of times before, “Will any criminal bother to get a concealed carry license?”  No.  He will carry anyway.  The greatest travesty in Illinois is the FOID card.  There is no criminal who will bother to get a FOID card.  The only advantage this gives to government is they can control retailers in the distribution of ammo and new guns to Illinois citizens.  It does not control ammo distribution to out of state persons.