We're the Only Ones Securing the Homeland Enough

Bribery. Drug trafficking. Migrant smuggling.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is supposed to stop these types of crimes. Instead, so many of its officers have been charged with committing those crimes themselves that their boss in Washington recently issued an alert about the ''disturbing events'' and the ``increase in the number of employee arrests.''

I don't know what anybody expected. Oh, wait, I forgot--"Only Ones" are supposed to be better than this, because they're...uh...better and all.

"Homeland Security" always sounded like a term the Soviets would use anyway. I don't know why "civil defense" wasn't adequate, but I guess that's too uniquely American, and just doesn't sound like it fits with the international direction everything is going. Besides, it's not like you'd want local teams of volunteers working with the sheriff, the fire department, the hospitals--they'd just make a picnic out of training weekends, get to know each other, maybe figure out some things they could do to help, and it'd make folks a whole lot less dependent on (and obedient to) whatever FEMA teams we manage to get out there, supplemented by a few California Highway Patrolmen--just to make sure no old ladies drink contaminated water or shoot themselves.

I always thought it was ridiculous after 9/11 when the "Vote Freedom First President" basically told us as citizens to be on the alert (for what?) and just go about our business (meaning "spend") and they'd take care of everything--oh, and we'll just need to tweak a few liberties here and there, but that shouldn't worry you none unless you've got something to hide.

You don't, do you?

[Via Peter R]

Ideological Cleansing in the Golden State

I've heard many in the liberty movement advise taking kids out of government schools. Here's the problem--they won't let you--at least on the Left Coast. And most, under the back-breaking burden of taxes and regulations under which the average family strains to survive, simply cannot afford a private (albeit still regulated) school alternative.

Several of you have written to me about the ruling in California where the 2nd Appellate Court basically outlawed home schooling, putting over 160,000 families at risk of legal penalties if they don't bring their child in to worship at the altar of the state.

This, of course, is what happens when public employee unions abetted by fascist judges get the upper hand, and there is nothing more insidious than that alliance in the Golden State.

It would appear that even with an exodus of people from the productive sector abandoning California, they are prepared to sustain further losses (they can always raise taxes on their captive populace--or better yet--pass a bond measure that those who can't vote yet will end up obligated for)--they would rather have fewer of those people than allow their peculiar, dangerous, disrespectable way of living to continue (and give others any ideas).

We saw a similar imperious attitude when the loathsome Don Perata suggested a teenage sport shooter should leave the state and live elsewhere if she wished to continue her Olympic training.

See, those who have hijacked the term "liberal" place great stock in tolerance--as long as said tolerance consists of indoctrinating young skulls full of mush in Marxism and destruction of traditional values. Try practicing those and they quickly morph into the bigoted parochials they so abhor when they come from non-urban settings: "We don't like your kind around here."

We've heard the term "ethnic cleansing," and most of the world considers that a war crime. Here we have something evil that stabs at the very heart of human thought, spirit and liberty: Ideological cleansing.

Think like us or get out.

Stay and resistance is futile: You will be absorbed.

Oh, and those of you who do manage to get out--having to sell your home in an economic downturn, pull up roots, leave your job, friends, families to start over somewhere else, becoming essentially forced refugees in your own country: The dark cloud is spreading. It'll be coming your way again soon enough.

It'll be coming for all of us until we decide it's time to take back what is ours.

Another Hoop at Heathrow

Millions of British airline passengers face mandatory fingerprinting before being allowed to board flights when Heathrow’s Terminal 5 opens later this month.

Cool--I can't wait for that here. Because it will help make us feel safe and stop terrorists! Plus it will condition us to accept even more terms and conditions, demands and requirements, hoops and intrusions,to help keep us free.

I have no doubt that if some egghead working for a "public/private partnership" contractor demonstrated that individual colo-rectal patterns provided positive identification, there'd be no shortage of passengers lining up for their probes so they could get on a bus and go to work to pay their taxes.

[Via MacEntyre]

Speaking of Downplaying...

...someone's being awful quiet lately...

Downplaying?

An armed student at Jerusalem’s Mercaz Haray seminary played a crucial role in stopping a gun-wielding terrorist Thursday, but the American press is downplaying his heroism because it proves that armed students can stop campus gunmen, the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms said today.

Who'da thunk "Authorized Journalists" would insert their agenda into their work? Or require people outside their controlled circle to purchase a press release in order to get a word in edgewise...?

Clay has more.

This Day in History: March 8

That some desperate wretches should be willing to steal and enslave men by violence and murder for gain, is rather lamentable than strange. But that many civilized, nay, Christianized people should approve, and be concerned in the savage practice, is surprising; and still persist, though it has been so often proved contrary to the light of nature, to every principle of Justice and Humanity, and even good policy, by a succession of eminent men, and several late publications.

GUNS Magazine: March 1958

The realities are that firearms records give much comfort to the book-keeping personalities in government and law enforcement work, but are functionally of little use in most cases involving criminal uses of firearms. Guns employed by professional crooks are not registered to them. Factory records, although in some cases quite complete, show only the jobber to whom shipped, nothing more. Elements which make a conviction in any case, including those involving firearms, are far more concrete than the shadowy record of gun shipments which lead to a blind wall. The concept of firearms records for crime detection, while theoretically neat, in practice lacks merit. ["What's Happening on the Legal Front," pg. 8]

See, some people knew 50 years ago what a fraud the whole system was--and now, because they weren't listened to, the government is perpetuating the fraud as an excuse to close down gun dealers--all of which does nothing to fight violent crime.

The March 1958 issue of GUNS Magazine is now online. Even then they were at the forefront of informing their readers about regulatory threats to RKBA.

Also in this issue is a warm memorial tribute to the great Ed McGivern, a look at what Eli Whitney gave us besides the cotton gin, articles of interest to collectors, hunters and shooters, and of course, the classic period ads that are both fascinating and frustrating to look at--just remember--back then, a dollar was actually still worth about a dollar.

The Wrong Questions

Having a vested interest in the results can itself lead to an unethical abandonment of the scientific method. But the biggest problem with their “random” sample: None of the boys were active shooters. Aside from a bit of “don’t touch that” counseling, there’s no indication any of them were trained in proper firearms use, regularly participating in supervised shooting with responsible adults. Yet the fact that this, rather than ignorance, might prove the safest course was not even considered.

"The Wrong Questions," my Rights Watch column for the May 2008 (yes, really) issue of GUNS Magazine is now online.

The Chosen People

Who chose them?

Set, of course.I can't help but think of a T-shirt I saw a while back: "Campus Crusade for Cthulu: It Found Me"

Subsitute the chant "O-ba-ma!" with "Thul-sa-Doom!" It fits perfectly.

Friend Russ Howard sent this out the other day:

At first I thought Obama's slogan "Yes we can", was a vapid placebo, but a couple days ago it came to me what it means. We'll be hearing it a lot if Obama becomes President. While the use will always be generally similar, slight variants, emphasis, etc., will depend on the scenario. For example:

"Hey! You can't take 100% of my disposable income!"

"Yes we can."

Or,

"Hey, you can't take my guns!"

"Yes... We ... Can."

Suggested variations, depending on the situation,

* Sideways nod and raised eyebrows for emphasis

* "Oh ho ho ho, yes we can."...

* "Oh really?"...

* Dr. Evil pinkie on the corner of the mouth

etc.

Obama: The Little Commie Who Could.

Pfleger...Paging Snuffy Pfleger...

The stress of defending the pope has led to a number of casualties in the past, raising debate about whether the Swiss Guard and Gendarmerie are anachronisms.

A young Italian Gendarmerie cadet, Alessandro Benedetti, was found dead from gunshot wounds in an apparent suicide in September.

In 1998, Vatican City was rocked by the triple shooting deaths of Alois Estermann, the then-head of the Swiss Guard, together with his Venezuelan wife and a young Swiss Guard lance corporal, Cedric Tornay.

The Holy See blamed Mr. Tornay for shooting the other two before turning his gun on himself.

Shouldn't you be, like, outside protesting with a mob and threatening to "snuff out" Pope B-E-N-E-D-I-C-T or something...?

Just Who is Being "Indifferent" Here?

Appearing bright-eyed in a gold tie and dark suit, the tall blond gun seller comfortably deflected Ferguson's suggestions that he might intentionally violate the law.

His attorney, Richard Gardiner of Fairfax, Va., would often mock Ferguson's attempt to probe Horsley's intentions, aiming to steal Ferguson's thunder.

"Were you doing that because you didn't care about what the law was?" Gardiner asked Horsley, who answered "no."

"Were you doing that because you were disregarding the law?" he asked again. Again Horsley answered in the negative.

Ryan acquits himself well in spite of badgering by a US Attorney doing her level best to destroy his reputation and his family business.

Good grief, this entire fiasco is such an obviously overblown vendetta--let's just hope the judge sees through it--it's in his hands now.

I've talked to Ryan many times. This guy's a freakin' Norman Rockwell painting. He's like a boy scout, for cryin' out loud, the picture-perfect family man, responsible member of the community, just an all-around solid backbone-of-America citizen, and these...these power freaks are trying to paint him as some sort of shady slimeball intentionally loosing evil guns on the street. And because he didn't roll over and let them just crush him, they've pulled out all the stops.

I find it more than ironic that the operative word used in this story is "indifference." Especially when the people committing the offense of "deliberate indifference" are the ones who swore an oath to uphold the Constitution and who continue to willfully ignore it.

Count on this: If Teddy Kennedy and his partner in advocacy, the "Vote Freedom First President" get their way, Maximum Mike will give America's gun dealers more of the same. And then some.

I wonder what the government in general and BATFU in particular has spent so far on this? Oh well, it's not like it's their money, and they can always get more.

Illinois Continues War on Gun Owners

HB4357-- House Sponsors: Rep. Edward J. Acevedo, Elizabeth Hernandez, Maria Antonia Berrios, Luis Arroyo and Cynthia Soto

Amends the Criminal Code of 1961. Provides that 90 days after the effective date of this amendatory Act, it is unlawful for any person within this State to knowingly manufacture, deliver, sell, purchase, or possess or cause to be manufactured, delivered, sold, purchased, or possessed a semi-automatic assault weapon, an assault weapon attachment, any .50 caliber rifle, or .50 caliber cartridge. Provides that beginning 90 days after the effective date of this amendatory Act, it is unlawful for any person within this State to knowingly manufacture, deliver, sell, purchase, or possess or cause to be manufactured, delivered, sold, purchased, or possessed a large capacity ammunition feeding device. Provides that these provisions do not apply to a person who possessed a prohibited weapon, device, or attachment before the effective date of this amendatory Act if the person has provided proof of ownership to the Department of State Police within 90 days after the effective date of this amendatory Act. Provides that on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act, such person may transfer such device only to an heir, an individual residing in another state maintaining that device in another state, or a dealer licensed as a federal firearms dealer. Specifies penalties for violations. Provides exemptions. Provides that the provisions of the Act are severable. Effective immediately.

HB4393-- House Sponsors: Rep. Luis Arroyo and Elizabeth Hernandez

Amends the Criminal Code of 1961. Changes references in the statute on unlawful sale of firearms from "sell" or "give" to "transfer". Prohibits multiple sales of handguns within a 30-day period. Creates the offense of unlawful acquisition of handguns. Provides exemptions and affirmative defenses. Penalty is a Class A misdemeanor for a first offense and a Class 4 felony for a second or subsequent offense.

Well, the resident Marxists have made their orders clear. So, Illinois gun owners--what are you gonna do about it? Each and every one of you, personally?

[Via HZ]

Pulling Down Their Briefs

What a cheap trick, using a double entendre to get you to notice something educational.

David E. Young has added two more critiques of pro-DC Heller briefs to the one we discussed earlier. This time, he takes on the City of Chicago and the Education Fund to Stop Gun Violence.

These deserve widespread visibility. I hope each one of you reads them and then tells others about them.

Just don't tell 'em it's good for them.

We're the Only Ones Having You Take the Fall for Us Enough

Amnesty International says at least 290 people died after being struck by police Tasers between 2001 and 2007. The concerns have prompted at least seven states to ban use of the weapons among the general public.

We're all clear on how this works, right? "The Only Ones" abuse them, so we need to make sure they have them and you don't.

Ingenious!

[Via ChareltonHest]

Another Cryptic Subterranean "Only Ones" Festival

Jay. Mac has sent me multiple "Only Ones" posts before. He's got another crop in, and it's a good one:

http://crypticsubterranean.blogspot.com/2008/03/call-who.html
A man's home was being burgled as he hid in it and he tried to call police for three hours; when he had no luck he was forced to phone a local politician who in turn called the Chief of Police and the Mayor. Only then did they dispatch help.

http://crypticsubterranean.blogspot.com/2008/03/chicagos-finest.html
A Chicago cop assaulted two other police officers and a paramedic after getting drunk while off-duty.

http://crypticsubterranean.blogspot.com/2008/03/strawberry-meth-hoax.html
Brit cop gets hoax email about non-existent drug and promptly sends a warning to local schools and families.

http://crypticsubterranean.blogspot.com/2008/03/only-ones-go-to-sea.html
The Coast Guard have been warned to behave more professionally following complaints about how they treat civilian sailors.

http://crypticsubterranean.blogspot.com/2008/03/wasting-police-time.html
A senior cop, in the running to take over London's Metropolitan Police, has ordered staff to monitor his Wikipedia page so that nothing negative appears on it.

"The Only Ones."

Better than us and don't you forget it.

This Day in History: March 7

These Informations alone, ought to suggest to you the Necessity that there is of having, as many of your Militia as possible, immediately embodied and held ready to act as occasion may require.

The Other Yeshiva Solution

The Israeli Yeshiva Solution

One of the students at the yeshiva, Yitzhak Danon, eventually managed to hit the terrorist. "I climbed on the roof of the study hall with my gun after I heard the sound of gunshots. The firing continued while I lay on the roof with my weapon cocked. Suddenly he came up, and started spraying bullets in the air. I fired two shots at his head, and saw him stagger," Danon said. The terrorist was finally killed by a paratroop officer, a student at the yeshiva who lives close by and came to the scene with his weapon at the sound of gunfire.

vs.

The American Yeshiva Solution.

Any questions?

Cryptic Subterranean has more.

And Remember...

They hate us because we're free.

"Free"

Want to browse Vanity Fair magazine on the Denver airport's free Wi-Fi system? Sorry. You'll have to buy it at the newsstand, because DIA's Internet filter blocks Vanity Fair as "provocative."

I wonder if you can access WarOnGuns?

Why people wouldn't want to self-censor most of the trivia mentioned is beyond me, but I guess that's why they're wildly popular and this site is obscure.

Still what gets me most is some of the comments from the informed public along the lines of "Quit complaining--it's free."

Yeah, right. No one had the fruits of their labor plundered to pay for a public airport, so they have no say. The money to pay for it just grew on trees. Public trees.

Everybody wants "free." Nobody wants "freedom," or they do until they realize the two are incompatible.

Yet Another Mass Shooting

North Korea has publicly executed 15 starving people, mostly women, for illegally entering neighbouring China in search of food, an aid group said yesterday.

And "the second [one] this week"!

Maybe North Korea needs more "common sense gun control."