Lawmakers Consider New Curbs on Incendiary Speech

Scares the hell out of me, a notion like that. Who decides what is “incendiary”?

It’s another slippery slope towards the loss of freedoms in our country. A phrase I am fond of comes to mind:

I am not responsible for my thoughts, but I AM responsible for my actions.

The key phrase is “I”. NO ONE is responsible for last Saturday’s shooting spree except Jared Loughner.

Here we go again.

My heart goes out to the victims of Loughlin’s insanity, as well as Carolyn McCarthy.

But I choose to exercise my Second Amendment rights responsibly. And I will take no responsibility as a gun owner, as a member of the NRA, as one who identifies with the Tea Party, and as a fiscal conservative who has voted Republican – for the actions of a madman.

It sounds as if DHS is trying very hard to link Loughner to the Right, the Tea Party, and demonize both in the process:

New details emerging about the suspected shooter behind Saturday’s deadly rampage reveal a 22-year-old man with a troubled past who law enforcement say may have been influenced by American Renaissance, a pro-white publication.

A law enforcement memo based on information provided by the Department of Homeland Security and obtained by Fox News suggests that alleged gunman Jared Loughner — accused of killing six people, shooting Arizona Democratic Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and wounding 12 others — may have ties to the American Renaissance group, though it’s unclear if he was directly affiliated with the publication or group.

The Southern Poverty Law Center describes the group as “white nationalist” whose leader, Jared Taylor, is “a kind of modern-day version of the refined but racist colonialist of old.”

The memo states that there is “no direct connection” between Loughner and the group, “but strong suspicion is being directed at AmRen / American Renaissance. Suspect is possibly linked to this group. (through videos posted on his MySpace and YouTube account.). The group’s ideology is anti-government, anti-immigration, anti-ZOG (Zionist Occupational Government), anti-Semitic.”

The memo also includes information about the suspect’s mother, who works for the Pima County Board of Supervisors and notes that Loughner has multiple arrests but no criminal record.

But Taylor, a 1973 graduate in philosophy from Yale University, told Fox News on Sunday that he had never heard of Loughner until Saturday and has checked the group’s records going back 20 years and has not found any subscriptions for Loughner to American Renaissance publications.

He added he has no indication that Loughner ever attended any of the group’s events, which have been held on the East Coast where the organization is based.

Taylor also denied references to the group as being “anti-ZOG.”

“That is complete nonsense,” he said. “I have absolutely no idea what DHS is talking about. We have never used the term ‘ZOG.’ We have never thought in those terms. If this is the level of research we are getting from DHS, then heaven help us,” he said.

I admittedly don’t know much about American Renaissance (will do further research but on the face of it they seem to be a White Power type of organization), but I don’t really care who Loughner might be affiliated with. He’s clearly a nutjob and does not represent anyone I know who identifies with the Tea Party or any conservative groups. A healthy distrust of our government is our duty as citizens, but that does not mean we act outside the parameters of established law. In addition, Loughner is reputed to be registered as a Democrat, and was a volunteer for Obama’s presidential campaign.

Note to the Department of Homeland Security:

Gun Rights.

and guarantees that we will not succumb to tyranny in future. The point behind open carry at Tea Party rallies is to remind our government that we were forced, AS A LAST RESORT, to violently overthrow a government that no longer represented us but taxed us with impunity, and that we are able and willing to do so again, if necessary.

I personally don’t see the problem with it, given my current financial situation:

I make $15.00 per hour because of the current economic crisis, the government has threatened to take the home I own by force to settle a prior tax debt and I am “making too much as the single earner for a household of four” to qualify for more than $242.00 per month in food stamps and absolutely no emergency aid. We are currently $2900.00 behind in rent, and I am supposed to pay back taxes to a government that no longer represents me as a law-abiding and hard-working citizen of this country?

This government has failed us as a citizenry. I fully support anyone’s right to carry openly anytime, anywhere in the United States.

Thanks to Folly for the updated information!

The Environmental Protection Agency has denied a petition filed by environmental activists seeking to ban lead in ammunition and fishing tackle, saying such regulation is beyond the agency’s authority.

The agency’s decision, announced Friday shortly after FoxNews.com published its report on the issue, sided with hunters and fishermen who had argued that the such regulations weren’t allowed under the Toxic Substances Control Act of 1976.

full of fresh-faced hope and promise for a new Russia.

And then she accidentally blew her nose off…

I never pass up an opportunity to try and educate people on gun safety, including in internet comment threads, and I am constantly amazed at how many people are woefully ignorant when it comes to this topic, and tragedy ensues. My attitude may seem abrasive or harsh, but there are no second chances. Period. I have always been a stickler for details when it comes to firearms. I first “met” Pamibe by arrogantly chiding her for referring to a magazine as a clip. I guess I just can’t help myself…

The National Rifle Association is a ‘single issue organization’.