» Freedom

Reinforcement

Pam — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 15:38:10 +0000

President Obama “reinforced” his stance on the controversial contraception mandate while speaking at the Democrats’ annual retreat at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C. today, Senate Democrats said.

Following President Obama’s speech at the retreat, a small group of Senate Democrats, mostly women, left the retreat early in order to hold a news conference on Capitol Hill to counter the Republicans’ news conference today at which they called for the mandate to be overturned.

Democrats said they will “fight strongly” to keep the mandate in place.

“It is our clear understanding from the administration that the president believes as we do, and the vast majority of the American women should have access to birth control,” Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., said pointing out that 15 percent of women use birth control for medical issues. “It’s medicine, and women deserve their medicine.”

Democrats today called on Republicans to stop using women as a “political football,” and stop defining this debate, as Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., did earlier in the day, as a religious issue.

“It’s time to tell Republicans ‘mind your own business,’” said Sen. Frank Lautenberg, D-N.J. ”Ideology should never be used to block women from getting the care they need to lead healthier lives.

“The power to decide whether or not to use contraception lies with a woman – not her boss,” said Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y. “What is more intrusive than trying to allow an employer to make medical decisions for someone who works for them?”

ABC

A few days ago Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius wrote:

“Today, virtually all American women use contraception at some point in their lives. And we have a large body of medical evidence showing it has significant benefits for their health, as well as the health of their children.”

Oh, really? According to the National Cancer Institute, oral contraceptives may increase the risk of breast, cervical and liver cancer.

And not every woman has used or will use birth control. I am an exception to her rule.

Meanwhile, House Speaker Boehner and fellow Republicans have vowed to fight the mandate. With what, pop guns?

Romney claims that obama is infringing on religious rights… Meanwhile, as Governor, he did the same thing with Romneycare? Oh, what a tangled web we weave…

Just Folks

Pam — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 14:14:21 +0000

We went to a gun show at the Fort Lauderdale War Memorial Auditorium yesterday. And in spite of the fact that there was another gun show running concurrently in Dade county, the place was solidly packed. As in, can’t move, can’t breathe, think I’m bolting out the side door, sardine tin packed.

But, mission at hand, we persevered and Mike bought a stealthy new carry piece. He’d gone with Kel-Tec in mind, but I and every dealer he spoke with talked him out of it, so he ended up with a subcompact little Ruger LCP, a .380 double action with a laser. You can’t believe how tiny and light the thing is; like a deadly toy.

Gun show regulars in Dade county back in the early 90′s, people watching was half the fun for us. The crowds then were mostly… ‘aficionados’. Lots of strange shirts, bandanas, rough looking types…
This crowd was ‘just folks’. I only saw one Harley t-shirt. There were people of all ages, from every walk of life. The disparity between then and now was stunning.

Interesting facts about the auditorium – Opening in 1950, it cost just $450,000. in community donated funds to build.
The lobby floor features the names of WWII battles radiating from a floor seal and there’s also a statue of a Vietnam War soldier, donated by the Gold Star Mothers in the mid 1970’s.

The Ten Commandments sit out front. It IS city property and atheist groups have tried to get it removed, but evidently someone has fought for them. I was surprised and pleased to see them.

This image is stock from around 1990, but they look the same today.

My Brother’s Keeper?

Pam — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 19:12:17 +0000

Click for a larger image...

I don’t know about you, but I wouldn’t discriminate against the foolish…

Instinct

Pam — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 13:55:20 +0000

This 18 year old mother blows my mind. Her husband died of cancer on Christmas day and she had the poise to shoot an intruder a week later.
You just want to reach out and give her a hug.

“I knew if I screamed I would give my position away in the house. And I wanted to see him first.”

She’s now gearing up to protect herself and her child from the accomplice. May God bless them and keep them safe.

NDAA

Pam — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 17:39:27 +0000

Senate vote – House vote

Salon:

Our Constitution was written to restrict government’s power and to ensure our rights as citizens. I don’t care what a United States citizen has done, we are guaranteed the right to a trial.

Terrorism seems a cause just enough to codify such a venerated document, eh? Not when it means the military can arrest and detain us for… well, ever… on suspicion of terrorist activities. Are there homegrown terrorists? Yes. Do they deserve all the rights guaranteed them under the Constitution? Yes. YES!

What’s so difficult to understand about representation, a speedy trial and judgement carried out under the law?

And it breaks my heart that Allen West voted ‘aye’.

Captain Kirk

Pam — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 12:08:23 +0000

It’s no secret that I have a deep and abiding admiration for Bill Whittle.
Ten or so years ago we called him Captain Kirk and waited on tenterhooks for his next essay at Eject Eject Eject! These days he’s busy spreading the message through media.

Just when I’ve grown utterly weary of people like pelosi, obama and the OWS crowd, Bill comes out with something that gives me hope for America - and Americans.

Facebook update:

And there’s a new Afterburner!

Take that, Klingons!!

Gun store bans liberals, muslims

Pam — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 13:31:28 +0000

Mason, Texas concealed weapons instructor Crockett Keller ran a controversial radio ad for his class, in which he stated that liberals and muslims are not welcome.

“We will attempt to teach you all the necessary information you need to obtain your [Concealed Handgun License]… If you are a socialist liberal and/or voted for the current campaigner in chief, please do not take this class. You have already proven that you cannot make a knowledgeable and prudent decision under the law.
If you are a non-Christian Arab or Muslim, I will not teach you the class with no shame; I am Crockett Keller, thank you, and God bless America.”

Texas DPS immediately began an investigation and released the statement:
“Conduct by an instructor that denied service to individuals on the basis of race, ethnicity or religion would place that instructor’s certification by the Department at risk of suspension or revocation.”

Keller is unfazed by the government investigation, saying he’ll stop teaching if forced to include people who he feels are a danger to himself or this country:

Keller, 65, has said in media interviews that he just regards the message is just common sense. “The fact is, if you are a devout Muslim, then you cannot be a true American,” he told local news station KVUE, while fielding calls congratulating him for his stance. “Why should I arm these people to kill me? That’s suicide.”

“I call it exercising my right to choose who I instruct in how to use a dangerous weapon,” he added.

Yahoo

If someone walked into the store and asked to take the class who was… sort of twitchy… Crockett could turn them down, or no? Does he have rights in this case or is he required to teach all comers, regardless? Not giving an experienced instructor any leeway in who he teaches is troubling… and frankly, frightening.

‘NO’ from the folks at A Human Right.

Adjusting to the Carlucci Act

Pam — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 13:00:57 +0000

Florida’s Joe Carlucci Uniform Firearms Act, which gives gun regulation solely to the state, went into effect October 1st.

The Act is forcing cities and counties to modify their laws, as it makes all future and existing local government ordinances related to firearms regulation illegal. This has caused no little anxiety amongst city and county commissioners all over Florida.

Right here in my neck o’ the woods, our commissioners are upset, even frightened… and looking for ways to change it somehow.

“Basically, what the state of Florida has said is that if any local government attempts to enforce anything regarding firearms, because regulation of firearms is controlled to the state, the individual employee or officer would be violating the law and could be prosecuted,” Margate City Attorney Eugene Steinfeld said.

In Margate they are amending six sections of the city’s code and deleting two sections. Coconut Creek is deleting one section of its code and amending two sections. Both cities are removing similar sections banning the firing of guns within city boundaries and Margate is also erasing a section about needing a permit to fire within city limits.

Margate did not have an ordinance about carrying guns in public parks, but Coconut Creek did. The city is changing the language so that it no longer prohibits people from having guns while in a city park. Also, Coconut Creek can no longer discipline employees for bringing a gun to work on city property.

The six amended sections of Margate’s include allowing a security guard to carry a gun without a police permit, anyone to fire a gun without a permit, and no more permitting fees for manufacturing, keeping, storage, sale and transportation ammunition and blasting powder.

“I think it’s pretty terrible what the legislature did. Innocent people are going to get hurt,” Coconut Creek Commissioner Becky Tooley said. “I don’t think it’s right that they can carry [guns] into public parks and buildings. If someone makes an appointment to see me, they can bring [a gun] into my office and blow me away. It needs to be overturned A.S.A.P.”

“If someone makes an appointment to see me, they can bring [a gun] into my office and blow me away.”

Coconut Creek Commissioner Lisa Aronson agreed with Tooley, and is looking at how the new law can be adjusted.

“I’ve asked the Broward League of Cities Public Safety Committee to discuss the new limitations and propose an amendment next legislative session in Tallahassee,” Aronson said.

Margate Mayor Pam Donovan was equally as frustrated with the new law while explaining it at a city commission meeting.

“Years ago the city of Margate had an ordinance saying you could not bring [a gun] into city hall,” Donovan said. “You couldn’t walk though those doors with a gun; permit, no permit, whatever, you could not go through those doors. Now you can.”

Sun-Sentinel

I love how they always make it sound like the Dalton gang is going to ride up and whip out their Winchesters… In reality, they have nothing to fear from law abiding concealed carry permit holders! The bad guys will always find a way to bring a gun in somewhere and do evil with it… and the people carrying concealed can actually be a help if that happens.
Besides, Courthouses are lousy with LEOs, whose job it is to spot trouble, serve and protect… and then fill out reams of paperwork. Yeah, I know I changed it.

Yesterday about mid-morning, a crime occurred at our community clubhouse. It’s sort of across the street from us, diagonally speaking. So, this asshole walks in, all the way to the back where Ed, the treasurer, sits. It’s all very informal and the door is always unlocked. The asshole walks in like he owns the place, pulls a knife and demands Ed give him money. All Ed had on him was 5.00, so the asshole took it… made a phone call and then left! I’m sure the police have him by now, what with his prints all over everything and redial!

All-too-near, just-over-the-hedge Clubhouse of Horror

What if Ed hadn’t had any money? Would that have upset the asshole enough to use his knife? If I were sitting over there every day, I’d have a gun and would go with the familiar ‘just let me get my purse’. But I work out in the yard all the time unarmed… which now concerns me more than ever…

I’m getting off the point, of course. If the asshole had had enough money of his own, he wouldn’t have relied solely on a knife to rob Ed; he’d have used a gun, as all bad guys aspire to the largest, baddest weapon possible. The point, and I do have one, is that if Ed had his own gun, the asshole would have been stopped in his tracks and he’s still have his money.

Concealed carry holders have been kept out of county and state parks for years and now we’re free to go back… it’s a nice feeling.

Florida News

Pam — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 15:23:14 +0000

Some of the news is actually good in Florida. Though home prices are expected to dip once again, Governor Rick Scott is upholding his promises to Floridians. He petitioned S&P to raise Florida’s credit rating, resulting in a savings of millions of dollars for the state.

S&P upgrades Florida’s credit rating

While the United States credit rating with Standard & Poor’s may have been downgraded recently, Florida’s jumped from AA+ to AAA.

S&P upgraded Florida in July, and the improved credit rating means better interest rates for the state. So Florida took advantage of that and refinanced some of its old bonds, thereby saving millions of dollars. Since July Florida has refinanced $1.5 billion in bonds, totaling $135 million in savings for the state.

Also, Governor Scott has been busy signing pro-gun legislation!

In June he signed HB 155 and HB 45 and HB 7161, protecting both the rights and privacy of gun owners:

House Bill 155, Privacy of Firearms Owners, sponsored by state Representative Jason Brodeur (R-33) and Senator Greg Evers (R-2) will STOP pediatricians from invading privacy rights of gun owners and bringing anti-gun politics into medical examining rooms was signed into law on June 1 and will take effect IMMEDIATELY.

House Bill 45, Penalties for Violating Firearms Preemption Law, sponsored by state Representative Matt Gaetz (R-4) and Senator Joe Negron (R-28) will STOP local politicians and governments from violating Florida law by providing penalties for willful violations was also signed into law on June 1 and will take effect on October 1, 2011. The delay in the effective date is to allow agencies and local governments to REPEAL any and all regulations, policies, and ordinances that violate Florida’s firearms preemption law. Beginning October 1, citizens and organizations may bring actions against agencies and governments for violating Florida’s firearms preemption law.

ALSO SIGNED: Governor Scott signed House Bill 7161, sponsored by state Representative Jimmy Patronis (R-6), which will retain the exemption of personal identifying information of Concealed Weapons & Firearms license applicants and license holders from public records. This bill maintains the privacy rights of gun owners.

As a result of HB 45, signs are coming down! This is huge; concealed carry permit holders are no longer personae non gratae at parks and public buildings.

Local gun bans falling under Florida law

Florida towns have begun taking down signs banning guns in parks and public buildings to comply with a new state law.

Under a bill passed by the Florida Legislature that takes effect Oct. 1, all counties and municipalities must repeal ordinances limiting guns, under penalty of fines of up to $5,000 for officials, and gun owners can sue for damages if they think their rights have been abridged.

Now only the Legislature can curb concealed weapons. Guns still are banned in schools or bars but may be brought into government buildings when a meeting is not progress. Private businesses can decide whether to allow guns.

Of course, the mainstream media hates Scott with such fervor it makes me like him all the more…

Arkansas town bans free speech

Pam — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 14:08:21 +0000

Yes, even Book Clubs! WTF?