Our Nation Can Do Better

If you haven’t been convinced our once great country has degenerated into a third world nation, Saturday’s attempted assassination of the former President and current presidential candidate should seal the deal. It’s bad enough our own government has been using coordinated public/private lawfare of the most dubious legalities to pursue political enemies and harass, bankrupt and imprison them. And now we have this. Congratulations, we are now officially a banana republic.   

Let’s be absolutely crystal clear about one thing. There is ZERO place in this country for political violence towards any candidate or office holder from any party. 

Yet someone, we’ve deteriorated to a place and time where it’s okay to make wild, baseless accusations against individuals, organizations and ideologies, as long as it targets the right one. 
It’s okay to make comparisons to genocidal maniacs, as long as it targets the right one. 
It’s okay to say that there will be no more elections, no more civil rights, no more equality, no more democracy and no more freedom in our country if one person wins, as long as it targets the right one. 
It’s okay to burn, loot and destroy property in the name of your own beliefs, as long as it targets the right one. 
It’s okay to persecute and prosecute individuals and groups based on their religious or political beliefs, as long as it targets the right one. 
It’s okay to make physical threats and encourage others to harass, intimidate and assault a candidate, as long as it targets the right one.

Interestingly, the same folks preaching inclusivity and acceptance are the once who are promoting the most violent rhetoric. That’s okay as long as it targets the right one. 

There is also a significant number of this same crowd who are jumping on the absolutely sickening bandwagon of the hashtag howcouldyoumiss. But again, that’s okay as long as it targets the right one.

There are an enormous number of questions about how this occurred and more importantly, how it was not prevented, even as more evidence comes to light that there were warnings and interactions with the individual responsible leading up to the shooting. It will be interesting to see where this goes, if it goes at all. 

The investigation itself is being led by the country’s former premier law enforcement agency. Given their current reputation, history of open hostility towards anything connected with conservatives or the former president/current republican candidate, as well as their recent history of instigation, disinformation and obfuscation, I can’t say I’m feeling confident the public will ever hear a full accounting of what happened in Butler, Pennsylvania.

I suppose the good news is there seems to be a resurgence in independent press as of late, and despite the best efforts of the media, tech companies and government agencies, they are getting more and more information out. A free press is protected by the First Amendment, and we’re seeing why more and more every day. 

There but for the grace of god, a slight head turn resulted in a grazing wound to the ear instead of a fatal shot. But let’s not forget one individual in the crowd of attendees did suffer a fatal wound and two others were critically injured. These innocent people and their families deserve our love and support. 

Does this incident damper my support for the Second Amendment or my opposition to the restriction of ‘whatever the hell they come up with this time’? Absolutely not. Our individual rights and the freedom of our nation will NOT be dictated by the actions of lunatics, psychopaths, fanatics, criminals, terrorists and thugs. 

How can you protect your rights and help our nation do better? Vote. Every seat on every board in every community is important. If we are not showing up, we are ceding control of our communities, our states, and our nation to those who may not share our interests. 

Bob

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Knee-High By The Fourth of July 

Happy Birthday America! On this Independence Day In 2024, our country celebrates its 248th birthday as a sovereign nation, winning her freedom from Great Britian in the Revolutionary War. 

The saying “Knee-high by the Fourth of July” was used by corn farmers as a measure of success of their crops on Independence Day. It was said that knee-high stalks by the fourth of July would mean a good crop yield. Today, through advances in agricultural technology, farming techniques and genetic improvements, stalks in the Iowa corn fields are typically eight feet tall by now. Those of us in the northern most parts of the country who experienced hard frosts into June this year can still be happy with knee-high corn today.

Corn stalk growth is one of many things that have improved in the 248 years of our country. The quality and longevity of our lives, our standards of living and our recognition and protection of rights have all made great strides. We are a better and stronger nation not in spite of our diversity, but because of it. Peoples from all around the world coming together, united in the common belief that freedom is worth fighting for and protecting. 

Yet progress has not always been easy. Our civil war tore us apart. International enemies have attacked us. Internal turmoil, propagated by those who would profit from the chaos and division, cause our citizens to fight among themselves instead of working together.  

The general elections are coming up and the partisan rhetoric, slanders and lies are flying fast and furious. Money is flowing not to convince you that someone is the right candidate, but that the other candidate is wrong. A very sad state of affairs. 

In the 2020 general elections, 66% of the eligible voters participated, the highest turnout since 1900. This was up from about 55% in 2016. (The number of actual vs. fictious voters is still debated, but that’s a different topic.) But while the 2020 numbers are a good, our nation still lags far behind other so-called developed nations. Our voting participation seems to have peaked in 1876 when approximately 82% of eligible voters cast their ballots. I guess voting was cooler back then. 

Of course, election participation doesn’t always equal quality elections. Free and fair elections are subject to the whim of whomever is running them, a fact well known around the world. We’ve also learned that more technology doesn’t make voting better or more accurate, it just makes it more vulnerable. 

Consider also that in just about every other country, all the votes are tabulated, even with millions cast and counted by hand, and the winners announced at the by the end of the actual election day. It wasn’t so long ago we used to be able to do that in our country. So much for a technological advantage. 

Sometimes the old ways are the best ways, even in our high tech, AI driven, hyper politically correct society. Just because there is a new technological solution to a problem, doesn’t mean it should be done that way. 

I’ve said it before. Every seat on every board in every community is important. If we are not showing up, we are ceding control of our communities, our states, and our nation to those who may not share our interests. 

It used to be very common for Americans to have home gardens. Many had chickens or other small livestock, even in cities. While technology has helped increase the quality and yield of many crops, someone still has to plant it.  


United States citizens used to vote a lot more too. We used to think of our voting rights as our civic responsibly. Now far too many are content to let others handle things while they sit back and complain. 

There’s still time to plant some seeds and grow some wonderful fresh veggies this year. While you’re at it, register to vote and grow a great country too. 

Bob

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Election Theater Act 3, The Elections

As expected, the 2020 General Elections have devolved into political chaos, accusations of widespread voter fraud, riots and armies of lawyers descending into battleground states, and it’s just getting started. While counts are still in progress, winners and losers have been declared and lawsuits are now in play. As expected, this election is heading to the courts. Our country’s election system that in 2016 was decried as being hacked and influenced by the Russians is now acclaimed as being the most secure ever, despite the abundant evidence of widespread ‘irregularities’. Whomever is eventually certified as the winner, the one clear loser in this election is the American people. The will of the people has been replaced by the whim of the political party. It is truly election theater and we only have the illusion of being a participant in it. 

The allegations are numerous: 

– Over 100,000 ballots for one candidate, and none for the other, showing up in the middle of the night. 
– A tabulating software ‘glitch’ switching thousands of votes from one party to the other.
– Ballots being marked as received on time, after the polls have closed. 
– Ballots found in the trash, dumpsters and trunks of cars. 
– Ballots being completed in the counting centers.
– Observers not given access to the counting centers and being evicted. 
– Counting centers blocking their windows to observers. 
– Votes from the dead, some dead for decades, being counted as valid. 
– Votes cast exceeding the number of registered voters in given areas. 

There is more, much much more, but that doesn’t seem to matter. Are any of allegations true? It depends on who you ask. We’re told that our elections with the mass of COVID-19 inspired, non-requested vote-by-mail ballots is the securest ever. It’s now in the hands of the lawyers and courts to sort out. 

It’s also interesting to note the Electoral College, previously called an obsolete relic of the past following the elections in 2016, is now hailed as the ‘law of the land’ who’s result must be respected. Even the losing 2016 Presidential candidate who has called for the abolition of the Electoral College is now proud to join her ex-President husband as a New York State Elector. It’s amazing how a little time and circumstance changes perspectives. 

If only there were a way to ensure only valid voters could vote only once in an election. Certainly, demanding voter ID and a validation system at the polling place would do that, but then, free photo ID easily available to every U.S. citizen in every part of the country would be discriminatory to someone, like ineligible voters. 

If nothing else the 2020 elections will go down as the most questionable and least trusted in our nation’s history. And we the people of the United States are the ones who have just lost. 

Bob

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Election Day 2020 Violence?

Today is Election Day. While a substantial number have already voted early or by mail, many will be voting in person today. As the tallying of votes begins, it should be a day of celebration of our nation’s most basic rights and values, the people’s voice in who will represent them in government as well as decisions on key issues around the country. Instead, our law enforcement and National Guard forces are being called out for threatened post-election violence. In cities all over the country, businesses are boarding up their doors and windows and closing for the day – in some places the entire week – in anticipation of violence, riots, looting and arson.  

I’m at a loss to understand this. I don’t recall in my lifetime ever having the National Guard deployed in anticipation of election and post-election violence. Perhaps someone else remembers a time when this has happened around our country. Third world nations, yes, but here? Personally, I think it’s a sad, sad commentary for our country. 

I suppose it shouldn’t really surprise me considering the violence we’ve seen around the country this year. What started out as genuine protests quickly devolved into the BLM/Antifa riots that have turned downtowns into wastelands that look more like third world war zones than the business districts in one of the most developed nations in the world. 

So-called “peaceful protests”, many over perceived injustices have in fact been nothing more than an excuse for intimidation, wanton violence, destruction, arson and looting. Individuals and businesses who disagree or don’t show the proper support for the mob mentality are targeted and punished with intimidation, extortion and violence. The mobs, given support and cover by the extreme left politicians, withhold police protection for the effected neighborhoods and dismiss criminal charges against the perpetrators. Meanwhile, the news media portrays those who are ravaging our cities and terrorizing our citizens as modern-day heroes. The cause of anything and everything is blamed on systemic racism stemming from the founding of our nation to modern day rules, regulations and laws. 

So where is this thread of election day violence coming from?  If you listen to the news and content allowed on social media, it is being provoked by the President’s actions and white supremacy, which he allegedly supports. All of that is of course untrue. 

The threat of violence is coming from groups and individuals who have been whipped up into a frenzy over the last four years by lies and distortions of truths. The party of peace, love and inclusiveness has been passively and actively supporting those who will include you IF, AND ONLY IF you fully agree with them. If you don’t, you are subject to intimidation, assault and even murder. The threat of violence is from people who have been convinced that everything that is wrong with our country is because of our President, and ONLY our President. 

There are groups who are advocating to “burn it all down” and “take back the country” should the President “steal the election”, a phrase made popular by the losing candidate in 2016. Plans such as “Stopping The Coup” which says “Preventing Donald Trump from stealing the election and remaining in office is likely to take mass, sustained disruptive movements all over the country.” are available all over the Internet. Many discuss the need to remove the President from office by force. 

Of course, none of these left extremist guides, calls to action or manifestos I’ve seen have included anything on accepting the results of the elections. I’ve only seen how the losers; the Trump supporters, will be tracked down and severely punished for their past actions in the new society they will be building.  

Have we seen calls for violence and disruption from the opposing side of the political spectrum? No, of course not. While losing would be devastating, you don’t see these supporters calling for literal destruction of the country if the election isn’t concluded on their terms.  

So there you have it, federal, state and local law enforcement agencies on high alert. The National Guard deployed or on standby in many states. Security companies being hired by anyone that can afford them. Businesses closing and being hardened against looters while sending their employees away to keep them safe. Homeowners stocking up on supplies in case of riots.  All because the most self-absorbed, it’s-all-about-me-and-my-beliefs group of radicalized anti-current administration supporters are threatening violence if they don’t win. 

If you haven’t voted yet, get out and vote today. Be safe, be careful, take care of yourself and your family, and be damn proud you peacefully participated in the one of the most precious rights and responsibilities we have as citizens in the United States. 

When the counting and inevitable, multiple court challenges are all concluded, we will move on to what awaits us as the responsible citizens we are. 

Stay safe and vote wisely. 

Bob

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Where’s The Police When You Need Them?!

What better irony could there be than the words of the District of Columbia Delegate after she and a reporter were nearly attacked in the so-called ‘Black House Autonomous Zone’. This while standing on words “Black Lives Matter” painted on the street, looking for the police to protect them while advocating to defund the police. Politicians kowtowing to the mobs are doing all they can to defund, disband and abolish local law enforcement agencies across the country. They are more than willing to sacrifice your safety, but still demand the police protect them. It’s the future of law enforcement and it’s all about who controls it.  

It’s an injustice every Second Amendment supporter can relate to, all law enforcement officers are being blamed and punished for the actions of a single, bad officer. Without proof to support the accusations, and abundant evidence showing the opposite, the entire law enforcement community is being accused of systematic racism so severe that the agencies themselves cannot be salvaged and must be completely dismantled.  The pre-history of police in the Southern states going back to the days of slave patrols is being used as indisputable proof of their continued racial bias and support of white supremacy nationwide today. It doesn’t matter how many years have passed or how much progress has been made since then, the old ties to slavery is considered a fatal flaw that cannot be corrected. 

Again, I’ll state there is nothing more patriotic than exercising your First Amendment protected right to petition the government for redress of grievances along with the right to peaceably assemble. But what was a legitimate protest for justice has become a full-scale effort to erase history and reshape society to conform to some utopian dream. Eliminating local police departments, which has long been the goal of centralized government advocates, was ever so easy to slip into the current mob agenda.  

What we are seeing today are not peaceful protests, they are riots. The MOMENT these so-called peaceful protesters start shooting at police, throwing rocks, bricks, bottles filled with urine and other substances, breaking into stores and looting, vandalizing private property, tearing down statues, vandalizing public property, beating, raping and killing, you no longer get to call it a “peaceful protest.” 

We’ve already seen some of this new vision for our country. Those who can afford it will be protected by well-armed private companies. Example: The Minneapolis City Council’s hiring of a private security company for $4,500/day of taxpayer money to protect themselves, a job formerly handled by Minneapolis Police Department they are defunding. Elsewhere, gangs control their own neighborhoods as they have since the riots. Sharia patrols enforcing Sharia law in their communities. At the same time, private citizens who take up arms to defend themselves are ostracized and severely punished.  

Municipalities defunding their police departments will invest that money in the new “public safety services prioritizing a holistic, public health-oriented approach”, “restorative justice” and social services. These massive new government agencies will in very short order, fail miserably.

Why they will fail is easy to understand. Criminals, thugs, gang members and terrorists who already don’t fear the police, the courts or prison systems, aren’t going to give a damn about what the community thinks about them or taking responsibility for their actions. These are the same people who attack, rob, rape or kill innocent people on a whim, steal whatever they want  and will fight an armed police officer to death if they get in their way. These are the same people who loot stores and burn down businesses in their own neighborhoods.  A “holistic, public health-oriented approach” isn’t going to turn them into better citizens, ever. 

At some point, the people and any remaining businesses in these communities are going to get tired of being victimized by the criminals, thugs, gang members and terrorists as well as the local government agencies. Local governments won’t ever be able to defund social services, even the ones that aren’t effective, and they won’t have the money to establish police departments again. Everyone then turns to the state for help. 

State law enforcement agencies who have been spared the accusations leveled at the local departments, will be tasked with limited law enforcement in these communities. All policy, direction, oversight, control and accountability will be taken out of the hands of local elected officials by a state level appointee. It will never be as timely or effective as the former local department, but it will be just enough to say the state is doing something. Welcome to the state-controlled local police. 

Of course, this is just my take on what will happen and it’s only one of many possible scenarios. Opening the government wallet to people who have no concept of public safety, criminal justice or history beyond their own vision of an ideal world is going to produce many costly and ineffective plans. When they fail, the lives and property lost can be blamed on the next scapegoat and another plan devised. 

Keeping your community from becoming a government funded sociology experiment where the conclusion has already been written means you have to speak up now. It is your safety and the safety of your family that is on the line, not the politicians or special interest groups who will always be protected. It means taking control back from a vocal minority of moral elitist politicians who are willing to sell their votes to the loudest mob and the biggest contributor, all at your expense. 

What do you want for your community?  

Bob

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California Freedom Week V2 – NOT!

For a very brief period, law-abiding California residents were free from the draconian ammunition purchase restrictions imposed by Proposition 63. A federal judge ruled the ammunition restrictions were unconstitutional and issued an injunction.  But alas, that freedom was quickly taken away. After being denied a stay from said federal judge, the State appealed to the Ninth Circuit who issued a stay the very next night. Of course, if this was about keeping ammunition from prohibited persons as the State argues, it would be one thing. But California’s motives and design behind their so-called “ammunition background check system” are more far reaching than they admit. And it is all designed to strip more of your rights away from you. 

By the by, for those of you who don’t think this will impact you since you don’t live in California, think again. Ammunition restrictions are the future of gun control and every gun control extremist in every state wants it. 

On Thursday, April 23rd around 3:00 pm, United States District Judge Roger T. Benitez issued a preliminary injunction against the State of California in Rhode v. Becerra prohibiting the enforcement of the ammunition restrictions imposed by Proposition 63. This included the requirement for a background check for the purchase and transfer of ammunition as well as the restriction on the purchase of ammunition from out-of-state vendors delivered to the purchaser’s home. 

It is worth noting this is the same federal judge who ruled against California’s so-called “large capacity” magazine ban in March 2019. For one week before Judge Benitez issued a stay on his own ruling, Californians were free to possess, sell, purchase, trade, give and most importantly, use standard capacity magazines. Conservative estimates place the number of magazines acquired by Californians at between one and two MILLION. While selling and purchasing standard capacity magazines is once again banned while the stay is in place, the possession and use of them is still allowed in the state. 

In this case, Judge Benitez issued another masterfully worded 120 page ruling against the state, essentially picking apart the State’s argument piece-by-piece, calling out “onerous and convoluted” regulations that violate the constitutional right to bear arms. It’s lengthy, but it’s worth reading to understand the reasoning behind the injunction. A link to the document is at the end of this article. 

But the State was ready this time. The following morning, the State filed a motion to stay the preliminary injunction with Judge Benitez. It also set a time limit of 3:00 pm that day, for Judge Benitez to issue a ruling or the State would consider an appeal to the Ninth Circuit. Judge Benitez denied this motion, again with a well-crafted rejection of the State’s argument. Not to be outdone, the State did appeal to the Ninth Circuit and a stay was issued at 9:54 pm on April 24th.  Thus the duration of the stay, and California ammunition buyers freedom, lasted only about 30 hours. 

So why is this NOT about keeping ammunition out of the hands of prohibited persons? If that was the objective as the State insists, they would have adopted a simple check of prohibited persons similar to what most states use with NCIS (National Instant Criminal Background Check System). Instead, California chose to piggyback the existing DROS (Dealer Registration of Sale) system which is tied into a number of sub-systems including the error prone APPS (Armed and Prohibited Persons System).  Other than creating a system with an error rate of 16.4 % and blocking over 101,047 law-abiding citizen purchases over 10 months, it allows the state to register each and every ammunition purchase to the buyer.  Now why in the world would they want to do that? 

To answer that, look no further than previously proposed legislation in California that was unable to be implemented as the system to support it was not in place, until now. 

Limits on the amount of ammunition you can purchase in a given time period

California has long wanted to limit how many rounds you can buy in a day/week/month, etc. Cries of ‘You shouldn’t be able to walk in and buy an arsenal’ have been around for years. The state has successfully implemented limits on how many handguns and semiautomatic centerfire rifles you can purchase thanks to the DROS entries. Ammunition registration enables this. 

Limits on the type of ammunition

California has outlawed the use of lead ammunition for hunting and has proposed that ban be extended for all shooting ranges. They’ve even proposed that only lead-free ammunition, as certified by the State DOJ (Department of Justice) be available for sale. In other words, think handgun roster for ammunition. Without a registration system for all approved ammunition, this would not be possible. 

This also allows bans of other non-desirable ammunition such as so-called “assault bullets”, otherwise known as common defensive hollow point rounds, or ammunition in certain calibers such as 5.56, .223, 7.62×39 or 5.45×39, ammunition commonly used in AR or AK pattern rifles. 

Limit ammunition purchases to calibers matching your registered firearms

Let’s say of all your firearms registered with the state, none shoot 5.56 / .223. So why then would you need to purchase ammunition in that caliber? The logical conclusion from the state is you have an unregistered firearm. Never mind that it’s possible and completely legal to have firearms that were never registered or even required to be registered now, but that means the state doesn’t know about it. By limiting your purchases to firearms registered in DROS, you can either not shoot that firearm, or you have to register it to get ammo for it.  

Ammunition bans and restrictions are the new promised land in the world of gun control since firearms without ammunition are just expensive clubs. They also know this area is currently very lightly regulated and small, incremental steps to restrict and eliminate it, such as licensing ammunition vendors, restricting internet purchases with consumer direct shipments, background checks and registration will dramatically increase the costs and give them more control over how much ammunition you can have and use.  

Of course, you can’t help but appreciate this short-lived ammunition law injunction being a cruel joke on so many levels. Not only did it only last for about 30 hours, but it occurred at a time when a lot of Californians were out of work and didn’t have any money, many of state’s guns stores were closed as non-essential, ammunition was scarce because of the panic buying over the last month and what was available was priced so high it wasn’t affordable.

As with all legal cases, this one will not play out for years to come. During this time, California resident’s Second Amendment rights will continue to erode and the only ones enjoying the ride will be the lawyers. The ONLY way to keep this from happening again in other states is to STOP electing people who will not protect our natural, Constitutionally protected rights. 

Bob

https://michellawyers.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/2020-04-23-Order-Granting-MPI.pdf

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United Socialist States of America

In a little over a month into our nation’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we’ve seen our entire economy shut down resulting in 26.5 million Americans, representing 20.6% of our workforce, losing their jobs.  It is currently the highest level of unemployment in our country since 1934 following the Great Depression. With each passing week of our workers being locked in their homes and out of their jobs, it becomes worse. You would think at a time like this our government would be doing everything they can to get us back to the robust economy we had before. Instead, what we have seen is a systematic loss of our rights, our jobs, our freedom and our way of life as opportunistic, power hungry politicians have seized the chance to implement extreme progressive changes they could never have done before without this crisis. The mantra of “never let a crisis go to waste” is quickly turning our nation into the United Socialist States of America. 

At first, the media stoked fear of COVID-19 convinced us that the only way to effectively react to this unknown was to shut down the country except for so-called “essential services”. The first hints of socialist favoritism came when the definitions of essential services varied across the nation. Large and small communities alike granted themselves extraordinary powers to shut down commerce, restrict purchases of goods and services and even permanently seize private property. Statewide restrictions followed and the essentials list grew more restrictive, even to the point of what products could be purchased. Shortages of basic food and other staples spread across the nation. While big box, large chain stores were allowed to remain open, smaller family owned businesses were forced to close. Permitted commerce now only benefits these large stores. 

Health care was limited to essential, COVID-19 relates services. Any other health services are prohibited. Hospitals were cleared out and huge field hospitals were constructed in preparation for the huge influx of patients that never arrived. 

At the same time, shelter-in-place and stay-at-home orders were introduced and it became a crime to leave your house except for a strictly defined list of essential needs. Travel outside your immediate neighborhood was outlawed. Travel between some states was restricted. Roadblocks on the highways questioned everyone with out-of-state plates. National Guard troops in one state went door-to-door looking for out-of-state residents who had left their home state.  Those breaking the rules have been fined, arrested or put into mandatory quarantine. 

Traffic and cell phone data have been collected so authorities can determine if people are staying in their homes. Law enforcement agencies have been using drones to monitor the public. Newer drones can now determine if someone has a fever, is coughing and their heart rate from hundreds of feet away. Heavy handed police tactics have been used to deal with mothers, fathers, families and others who dare to break the most minor of state or local rules.  

In the interest of public health, prisoners have been released on mass. Over 17,000 in 21 states, many times as the result of secret, non-public hearings or rulings, with some prisoners even provided with free cell phones and hotel rooms. Keep in mind, this isn’t a temporary furlough where they’ll be coming back when the crisis ends, this is a permanent, get out of jail free card. 

This comes as law enforcement agencies are reducing the type of calls they respond to. The results are what you would expect. Burglary and violent crimes including rape, robbery and murder have increased, many committed by these released convicts. Under the new rules, most who are now arrested must be immediately released. 

“Snitch lines” have been established so you can report non-essential businesses who are open and your neighbors who are defying social distancing rules. One mayor has even proudly proclaimed that ‘snitches get rewards’. 

In different parts of the country, law changes have been administratively altered including such things as extending the time frame for an initial hearing following a red-flag firearms seizure from 10 days to 100 days (California) and eliminating the right to open carry a firearm (Mississippi). 

Perhaps the most egregious rules are those that directly infringe on First and Second Amendment rights. Prohibiting the free exercise of religion, the freedom of speech, the right to peaceably assemble, the right to petition the government for redress of grievances and the right to keep and bear arms. 

Still waiting in the wings is a proposed follow-up to the one-time stimulus payment, is monthly payments to all residents, legal and illegal, for at least a year – in other words, a universal basic income. 

If you’re wondering how this all equates to socialism, it’s really rather simple. The government is determining who is allowed to work and who is not. The government is determining what goods and services can be offered and by whom. The government is determining who can make a profit and who will be required to live on government payments. The longer the economy is shut down, the more small businesses will close forever and the more people will be forced into poverty and will need to rely on government assistance. 

As with all socialist economies, there is an elite class that thrives. As we’ve already seen, the wealthy and the high-level politicians are not only exempt from the daily restrictions placed on the rest of the population, they are able to profit from it too. The politicians pick and choose what industries and what businesses are allowed to operate and which are not. The restrictions on the population keep them at arm’s length and the elimination of their rights keep the elites safe. 

Is this the future you want for yourself and your country? Are you willing to give up not only your natural, constitutionally protected rights as well as your ability to provide for yourself and your family as you see fit?

Yes, COVID-19 is a serious health issue, but it can be mitigated without the draconian control measures being used in some areas of the country. The most basic level of personal responsibility, social distancing and sanitation, is enough to stop this, without giving up our rights.

Bob

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Liberty Is Essential

While breaking my self-imposed isolation yesterday for a supply run, I saw an older gentleman beside the road in a lawn chair with two flags, an Old Glory and a Gadsden. He was holding a sign that read, “Liberty is Essential”. I couldn’t help but think to myself how appropriate this was right now. Around the country from Maine to California, everyday people are coming together to protest the draconian restrictions, loss of business and the loss of their civil liberties that have become so synonymous with COVID-19.  They are demanding that their states begin to reopen their economies and let people get back to work and take care of their families.  Seeing these loud but peaceful protests springing up, and this one man sitting alone beside the road, makes me proud of what our country can be. 

No doubt you have seen how quickly our rights have been stripped away in the interest of “public health”. Businesses not defined as “essential” by their state or local government have been ordered closed. Of course, there is no standard definition of what essential is. In some areas even those allowed to stay open cannot sell so-called non-essential items such as vegetable seeds or plants. Large retailers are allowed to remain open while small mom & pop shops are ordered closed. Health care has been limited to emergency care only. “Outside is for a brief respite” only. Otherwise, you are expected to remain in your home. 

Yet the worst infringements have attacked our natural, constitutionally protected rights. Religious services banned. The ability of the people to assemble banned. The right to petition our government banned. The right to bear arms banned. 

All of this has been done in the name of public health. Yes, I know. With no effective means to treat or vaccinate against COVID-19, the current best way to prevent the spread of the disease is isolation, social distancing along with protective masks, gloves and good old-fashioned hand washing. Yet all of that can be accomplished without taking away our rights. 

It’s important to keep in mind our constitutionally protected rights don’t have an asterisk next to them. There is no condition, natural or manmade that suspends our rights. In fact, in times of a local, regional or national crisis, I would argue our constitutionally protected rights are even more important. 

Yet our history tells us our governments have done just that. Notably during Hurricane Katrina when personally owned firearms were confiscated from everyone, even those trying to protect their lives and property or attempting to flee the city. Residents were not allowed to congregate and were forcibly removed from their own homes and property seized.  By all accounts, Katrina was a human rights disaster. As a result, laws were passed to prevent abuses like this in the future. Somehow, all this seems to have been forgotten today. 

This crisis has seen the same overzealous enforcement of emergency executive orders as we saw during Katrina. Leaving your home for anything not expressly listed as an essential activity subjects you to arrest. Examples from around the country have shown clearly inappropriate uses of force to enforce social distancing and stay-at-home orders.  

In a protest rally at the capitol in South Carolina, a protestor was arrested, and others dispersed by the State Capitol Police. The Raleigh Police defended the action by putting out a statement “Protesting is a non-essential activity.” 

In Mississippi and Kentucky, among other places, people attending religious services in parking lots, while sitting in their cars, windows rolled up and listening to the services on low-power radio stations, were cited or reported to health departments for mandatory 14-day quarantines. 

Firearms and ammunition retailers have been forced to closed in numerous states and localities as they are not considered “essential”. At the same time, liquor stores and marijuana dispensaries in the same areas have been allowed to operate. 

Probably the most telling comment comes from the Governor of New Jersey when questioned about why he allowed arrests at religious services to be part of coronavirus quarantine enforcement. Asked; “By what authority did you nullify the Bill of Rights in issuing this order? How do you have the power to do that?” The governor responded, “That’s above my pay grade, Tucker, I wasn’t thinking of the Bill of Rights when we did this.”

So there you have it. Enacting laws and executive orders without considering the Constitutional implications OR, not giving a damn about the Bill of Rights or just plain figuring they can do anything they want. Either way, our rights are being stripped away. 

If you’re thinking, well… this is just a temporary measure for everyone’s safety and protection, isn’t it better to give up our rights for a while? Unfortunately, that’s not how it works. Rights taken away are seldom fully returned. There are always asterisks, conditions and exceptions that come along with it that allow rights to be taken away again and taken further away. This year it’s COVID-19. Next year it could be an earthquake or flood, or a bad year for the seasonal flu, or a small group of protesters marching to the capitol. Are you willing to give up your rights during any time of crisis? 

Our natural rights were so important that our Founding Fathers listed them in the Bill of Rights, a document that doesn’t grant those rights, but rather limits our government’s ability to restrict them. This nation was founded during a time of crisis, when we were fighting for our independence from an oppressive government. Men and women were putting their lives on the line and dying so that we could live free.  Knowing our history, how can anyone believe our Constitution and Bill of Rights do not apply in a time of national emergency?  

I’d like to thank that gentleman sitting beside the road yesterday for reminding me and everyone who went by of what is really important. Unfortunately, I’ll likely never know his name and I was only able to give him a couple of beeps of my horn as I passed, but if he provides a little inspiration for just a few us of, then his time very well spent.  

Liberty is Essential 

Bob

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COVID Part 3: Send Lawyers, Guns and Money

Send Lawyers, Guns and Money

Following the liberal / progressive strategy of “Never let a crisis go to waste”, gun control politicians around the country have been using COVID-19 to make further infringements on your Second Amendment protected natural rights. Calling firearms retailers non-essential, they are ordering these businesses closed.  This comes at a time when hundreds of thousands of Americans are choosing to purchase firearms for the first time to protect themselves and their families. Their justifiable fear comes from their local and state governments’ own actions of limiting the types of calls law enforcement will respond to while simultaneously releasing prisoners from state and local lockups “to protect them from COVID-19”.  Just as they have always done, the gun control politicians are creating public safety problems and not allowing law-abiding citizens to protect themselves. 

There are many facets to this problem. With non-essential businesses closed down, retail property is left unprotected. Downtown shopping districts in cities around the country look like they are preparing for a hurricane with windows and doors boarded up to help protect the property from break-ins. Of course, burglaries have been on the increase despite the pleas from local politicians for criminals to stop their law-breaking activity. Go figure. 

At the same time, many law enforcement agencies are no longer responding to non-priority calls, instead taking reports over the phone. Physical arrests are being replaced by citations in most non-violent misdemeanor and felony cases. These actions are meant to minimize the potential exposure of officers, protect the offenders from COVID-19 and not over burden the emergency systems. 

To make things even worse, state, county and local officials are releasing thousands of convicted prisoners from jails and prisons ‘to protect them from COVID-19’. In some areas like California, they claim they are only releasing “non-violent” offenders. Of course, keep in mind that California considers assault with a deadly weapon on a peace officer; battery with serious bodily injury; solicitation to commit murder and rape/sodomy/oral copulation of an unconscious person or by use of a date rape drug all non-violent. New York has even gone to the trouble of providing transportation, hotel rooms and pre-paid cell phones at no cost to the prisoners being released for COVID-19 protection. In some states, the ACLU is petitioning for large scale release of prisoners to “protect them from COVID-19”. The results of this are what you would expect. Violent crimes, including rape, robbery and murder have been committed by these released convicts. 

So now an environment has been created where property is unprotected, officers are not responding to calls and so-called “non-violent” criminals are being released back into the community. This on top of a nationwide shortages of essential consumer goods and millions of people out of work with no source of income. 


Guns

A natural response to this would be the desire to protect yourself and your family. Firearm retailers around the country have been mobbed with people looking to purchase firearms and ammunition. So much so that many stores are selling out on a daily basis and desperately seeking new inventory from distributors. NCIS (National Instant Criminal Background Check System) reported running 3,740,688 background checks in March, a number 33 % higher than the previous record of more than 2.8 million set in February. 

But of course, the reaction from the gun control groups has been predictable stating: “As a result of fears stoked by the National Rifle Association (NRA) and other gun-industry groups, we saw more federal background checks initiated in March 2020 than any other on record.” 

While the desire to purchase firearms has been an entirely organic response to the decrease in public safety, the most radical anti-gun control states and communities have decided that firearms and ammunition, a natural right protected by the Second Amendment, are not essential and closed firearm and ammunition retailers. 

A few examples from around the country: 

  • The governors of Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey (see below) and New Mexico decided firearms retailers were not essential and ordered them closed. Some exemptions were given to those retailers and ranges that service law enforcement or security companies.   
  • New Jersey shut down all firearms sales by simply shutting down the state system used to do background checks. One of 12 “point of contact” states that perform their own background checks, it gives the state instant ability to stop sales statewide with the click of a mouse. (Side note: California’s DROS (Dealer Record of Sales) system has the ability to shut off single retailers, groups, geographic regions or the entire state but surprisingly has not been used in this situation, or at least not yet.) 
  • In North Carolina and Ohio, Sheriffs who were overwhelmed by the influx of pistol and concealed carry permit requests decided to stop processing them until after the COVID-19 crisis, effectively shutting down handgun purchases and new concealed carry permits. 
  • The Los Angeles County Sheriff, and other local authorities, determined firearms retailers were not essential and ordered them to be closed. 

Lawyers

If you’ve read any of my articles before, you already know I’m not a fan of lawyers and filing lawsuits to overturn gun control laws. Even in the absolute best of circumstances, it’s a crapshoot. The chances of getting gun control laws reversed is slim at best and even when they are reversed, new ones are crafted to take their place. 

But I’ll be the first to admit that in this particular crisis, we have seen some success in getting the executive orders closing firearms and ammunition retailers and ranges reversed. It hasn’t been across the board and in places like Los Angeles County, they have flip-flopped back and forth so often it’s difficult to keep track of the current status. 

Highlighting the issue these lawsuits have is that courts are still using “intermediate scrutiny” to determine the merits of the case. Some courts, especially in most liberal circuits are also relying on faulty evidence and ignoring the Constitution and Supreme Court precedence to reach their decisions. The hope is that someday the United States Supreme Court will rule in favor of “strict scrutiny” for all Second Amendment cases. It won’t solve activist judges ignoring the law, but it will be a start. 

One positive thing that has occurred at the federal level is the March 28 guidance from the Department of Homeland Security. In it, the updated list of “essential critical infrastructure workforce” now includes “Workers supporting the operation of firearm or ammunition product manufacturers, retailers, importers, distributors, and shooting ranges.”

Money

Protecting our rights isn’t free. It should be, since supporting the Constitution and the Bill of Rights should be what every United States citizen does every day. But we’ve come to realize that there are those who wish to subvert our rights for the enrichment of their own needs. 

Sadly, lawsuits must be filed which means lawyers are involved. So giving to the Second Amendment / firearm rights protection organization of your choice is essential. If you can’t afford to right now, then volunteer a little time to send letters or emails and help get others to contribute. 

But always remember, the ONLY way to keep these kinds of unconstitutional laws from being enacted in the first place is to STOP electing anti-gun politicians. Regardless of how attractive their other platform items are, if they can’t support and defend the most basic elements of the United States Constitution and the Bill of Rights, how are you going to trust them to do anything else? Find and support politicians at the local, county, state and federal levels who will support and defend the Constitution. 

Warren Zevon got it right, the sh*t has really hit the fan during this health crisis. But rather than sitting back and watching our rights erased before your eyes, it’s time to get up off your ass and do something about it. While mass marches and protests at the capitol aren’t the wisest move during a pandemic, if you have a phone or an internet connection, you can make a HUGE difference. Let your elected representatives know how you aren’t willing to give up your rights for COVID-19. And when you get that “Dear Constituent” letter blowing you off back in the (e)mail, you’ll know who you won’t be supporting in the next elections. 

Time to get on the list! 

Bob

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Tyranny – Closer Than You Think

Here in the United States, we often think of ourselves as being immune from tyranny. We sit comfortably knowing our nation freed itself from a tyrannical government and our Constitution and Bill of Rights will protect us. Unfortunately, it’s not quite that easy. A Ronald Regan quote helps to put it in perspective. “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same.” Those who would oppress us are actively working to take our rights and freedoms away. And, like before, during the time of our revolution, they are the very same ones in charge of protecting our rights. 

Tyranny doesn’t generally occur overnight. Unless you’ve been conquered by force, it’s going to be a slow yet deliberate process. After all, it’s much easier to subjugate a population a little at a time. And it’s so much easier if you can convince the masses that the slight infringements in their rights are in the best interest of all. Wouldn’t you want to give up a little bit of your own individual rights if it meant society would be safer? Wouldn’t your life be better if you let the government take care of more things? Wouldn’t you want to contribute more so that your community would provide for everyone? 

Take a look at the modernized Communist Rules for Revolution for an example of how this is done. 

1) Healthcare: Control healthcare and you control the people.

2) Poverty: Increase the Poverty level as high as possible, poor people are easier to control and will not fight back if you are providing everything for them to live.

3) Debt:  Increase the debt to an unsustainable level. That way you are able to increase taxes, and this will produce more poverty.

4) Gun Control: Remove the ability to defend themselves from the Government. That way you are able to create a police state.

5) Welfare:  Take control of every aspect of their lives (Food, Housing, and Income).

6) Education: Take control of what people read and listen to — take control of what children learn in school.

7) Religion: Remove the belief in the God from the Government and schools.

8) Class Warfare:  Divide the people into the wealthy and the poor. This will cause more discontent and it will be easier to take (Tax) the wealthy with the support of the poor.

While these steps are pretty clear, I’m going to contend there is a prerequisite in order to accomplish this list, the full control of the government. And control doesn’t just mean having one party in complete control, it means the government has set itself up as a privileged entity with rights, benefits and protections not available to the regular public. 

Take a look at our current federal government. Members of congress enjoy salary, vacation and retirement, weakened insider trading restrictions and many other perks not commonly available to the general public. And, they themselves are in complete control over raises and increase in perks. With no term limits for members of congress, they are free to build their government service into virtual lifetime positions. 

But it’s not just our congress that protects its own interests above that of the people it represents. As examples: California’s primary and general elections have been tweaked to the point where the party in charge is ensured of remaining in charge. Virginia’s legislature responded to the Second Amendment protests and calls to replace their representatives by proposing changing the law governing recalls. Instead of requiring 10% of number who voted in the last election, it would require 25% and must be completed within 60 days. 

Control of the courts is also vital. With our three separate branches of government – executive, legislative and judicial – the courts are supposed to be the independent arbitrator of facts and interpreters of the Constitution. Sadly, this is no longer true. Judicial appointments are made to those who will carry out the will of the politicians who appoint them. These activist politicians-in-robes are in place to approve to any law created by politicians who appointed them, regardless of legal precedent or even Supreme Court rulings. Look no further than the history of the Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, representing the western United States for vivid examples of judicial activism run amuck. 

This year’s all-out assault on the Second Amendment in places like Virginia, Vermont, New Mexico, California, Hawaii and all points in between have clearly demonstrated our elected officials have no interest in representing our needs, only the agendas set by deep pocketed special interests. We’ve witnessed the hubris of representatives who have used their positions to retaliate against communities and law enforcement officials who have taken a stand against them.  

At the same time, we’ve also seen the results of the pressure brought by masses with representatives voting against draconian gun control laws they once supported. Those results, even if few and far between, are the encouraging news.  We The People still have a measure of control over our own government, if we choose to use it. 

We The People get to decide what kind of government we have and who represents us, IF we stand together and participate.  Tyranny isn’t that far behind us and right now, our best means of defense is our vote.  Make your vote count this year. 

Bob

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