The murder rate in our country is about six people per 100,000 per year, and the aggravated assault rate is four per 1,000 per year. What this means is that the vast majority of Americans are not inclined to hurt one another.
Some estimates say two million Americans are victims of violent crimes every year, a tragic, staggering number, perhaps an all-time record rate of violent crime. But there are almost 300 million Americans, which means that the odds of being a victim of violent crime is considerably less than one in a hundred on any given year. Furthermore, since many violent crimes are committed by repeat offenders, the actual number of violent citizens is considerably less than two million.
Thus there is a paradox, and we must grasp both ends of the situation: We may well be in the most violent times in history, but violence is still remarkably rare. This is because most citizens are kind, decent people who are not capable of hurting each other, except by accident or under extreme provocation. Most of the people in our society are sheep. They are kind, gentle, productive creatures who only hurt one another by accident.
I mean nothing negative by calling them sheep. If you have no capacity for violence then you are a healthy productive citizen, a sheep.
For now, they need protection from the predators, that is, a Sheepdog.
If one has a capacity for violence and no empathy for his fellow citizens, then you have an aggressive sociopath, a wolf.
The wolves feed on the sheep without mercy. There are evil men in this world and they are capable of evil deeds. The moment you forget that or pretend it is not so, you become a sheep. There is no safety in denial.
If you have a capacity for violence, and a deep love for your fellow citizens, what do you have then? You have a sheepdog, a warrior, someone who is walking the hero's path, someone who can walk into the heart of darkness, and walk out unscathed.
The sheepdog lives to protect the flock and confront the wolf. Police officers, soldiers, and other warriors are like the sheepdogs, and hopefully, someday the civilization they protect will grow into something wonderful.
We know that the sheep live in denial. That is what makes them sheep. They do not want to believe that there is evil in the world. They can accept the fact that fires can happen, which is why they want fire extinguishers, fire sprinklers, fire alarms and fire exits throughout their kids' schools.
But many of them are outraged at the idea of putting an armed police officer in their kid's school. Our children are thousands of times more likely to be killed or seriously injured by school violence than fire, but the sheep's only response to the possibility of violence is denial. The idea of someone coming to kill or harm their child is just too hard, and so they choose the path of denial.
The sheep generally do not like the sheepdog. He looks a lot like the wolf.
He has fangs and the capacity for violence. The difference, though, is that the sheepdog must not, cannot and will not ever harm the sheep by his very nature. Any sheep dog that intentionally harms the lowliest little lamb will be punished and removed. The world cannot work any other way in a representative democracy or a republic such as ours.
Still, the sheepdog disturbs the sheep. He is a constant reminder that there are wolves in the land. They would prefer that he didn't tell them where to go, or give them traffic tickets, or stand at the ready in our airports, in camouflage fatigues, holding an M-16. The sheep would much rather have the sheepdog cash in his fangs, spray paint himself white, and go, "Baa" until the wolf shows up. Then the entire flock tries desperately to hide behind one lonely sheepdog.
The students, the victims, at Columbine High School were big, tough high school students, and under ordinary circumstances they would not have had the time of day for a police officer. They were not bad kids; they just had nothing to say to a cop. When the school was under attack, however, and SWAT teams were clearing the rooms and hallways, the officers had to physically peel those clinging, sobbing kids off of them. This is how the little lambs feel about their sheepdog when the wolf is at the door.
Look at what happened after September 11, 2001 when the wolf pounded hard on the door. Remember how America, more than ever before, felt differently about their law enforcement officers and military personnel? Remember how many times you heard the word hero?
Understand that there is nothing morally superior about being a sheepdog; it is just what you choose to be. Also understand that a sheepdog is a funny critter: He is always sniffing around out on the perimeter, checking the breeze, barking at things that go bump in the night, and yearning for a righteous battle. That is, the young sheepdogs yearn for a righteous battle.
The old sheepdogs are a little older and wiser, but they move to the sound of the guns when needed, right along with the young ones.
Here is how the sheep and the sheepdog think differently. The sheep pretend the wolf will never come, but the sheepdog lives for that day. After the attacks on September 11, 2001, most of the sheep, that is, most citizens in America said, "Thank God I wasn't on one of those planes." The sheepdogs, the warriors, said, "Dear God, I wish I could have been on one of those planes. Maybe I could have made a difference." When you are truly transformed into a warrior and have truly vested yourself into warrior hood, you want to be there. You want to be able to make a difference.
There is nothing morally superior about the sheepdog, the warrior, but he does have one real advantage. Only one and that is that he is able to survive and thrive in an environment that destroys 98 percent of the population.
There was research conducted a few years ago with individuals convicted of violent crimes. These cons were in prison for serious, predatory crimes of violence: assaults, murders and killing law enforcement officers. The vast majority said they specifically targeted victims by body language:
Slumped walk, passive behavior and lack of awareness. They chose their victims like big cats do in Africa, when they select one out of the herd that is least able to protect itself.
Some people are destined to be sheep and others might be genetically primed to be wolves or sheepdogs. Most people can choose which one they want to be. More and more Americans are choosing to become sheepdogs.
Seven months after the attack on September 11, 2001, Todd Beamer was honored in his hometown of Cranbury, New Jersey. Todd was the man on Flight 93 over Pennsylvania who called on his cell phone to alert an operator from United Airlines about the hijacking. When he learned of the other three passenger planes that had been used as weapons, Todd dropped his phone and uttered the words, "Let's roll," which authorities believe was a signal to the other passengers to confront the terrorist hijackers. In one hour, a transformation occurred among the passengers - athletes, business people and parents-- from sheep to sheepdogs and together they fought the wolves, ultimately saving an unknown number of lives on the ground.
"There is no safety for honest men except by believing all possible evil of evil men." - Edmund Burke
Here is the point. In nature the sheep, real sheep, are born as sheep. Sheepdogs are born that way, and so are wolves. They didn't have a choice. But you are not an animal. As a human being, you can be whatever you want to be. It is a conscious, moral decision.
If you want to be a sheep, then you can be a sheep and that is okay, but you must understand the price you pay. When the wolf comes, you and your loved ones are going to die if there is not a sheepdog there to protect you. If you want to be a wolf, you can be one, but the sheepdogs are going to hunt you down and you will never have rest, safety, trust or love. But if you want to be a sheepdog and walk the warrior's path, then you must make a conscious and moral decision every day to dedicate, equip and prepare yourself to thrive in that toxic, corrosive moment when the wolf comes knocking at the door.
Some individuals would be horrified if they knew a police officer was carrying a weapon in church. They might call him paranoid and would probably scorn him. Yet these same individuals would be enraged and would call for "heads to roll" if they found out that the airbags in their cars were defective, or that the fire extinguisher and fire sprinklers in their kids' school did not work. They can accept the fact that fires and traffic accidents can happen and that there must be safeguards against them.
Their only response to the wolf, though, is denial, and all too often their response to the sheepdog is scorn and disdain. But the sheepdog quietly asks himself, "Do you have any idea how hard it would be to live with yourself if your loved ones were attacked and killed and you had to stand there helplessly because you were unprepared for that day?"
It is denial that turns people into sheep. Sheep are psychologically destroyed by combat because their only defense is denial, resulting in fear, helplessness and horror when the wolf shows up.
Denial kills you twice. It kills you once, at the moment of truth when you are not physically prepared: you didn't bring your gun, you didn't train.
Your only defense was wishful thinking. Hope is not a strategy. Denial kills you a second time because even if you do physically survive, you are psychologically shattered by your fear, helplessness and horror at your moment of truth.
Gavin de Becker puts it like this: denial can be seductive, but it has an insidious side effect. For all the peace of mind deniers think they get by saying it isn't so, the fall they take when faced with new violence is all the more unsettling."
Denial is a save-now-pay-later scheme, a contract written entirely in small print, for in the long run, the denying person knows the truth on some level. And so the warrior must strive to confront denial in all aspects of his life, and prepare himself for the day when evil comes.
If you are a warrior who is legally authorized to carry a weapon and you step outside without that weapon, then you become a sheep, pretending that the bad man will not come today. No one can be "on" 24/7, for a lifetime.
Everyone needs down time. But if you are authorized to carry a weapon, and you walk outside without it, just take a deep breath, and say this..."Baa."
This business of being a sheep or a sheep dog is not an all-or-nothing, either-or choice. It is a matter of degrees, a continuum. On one end is an abject, head-in-the-sand-sheep and on the other end is the ultimate warrior. Few people exist completely on one end or the other.
Most of us live somewhere in between. Since 9/11 almost everyone in America took a step up that continuum, away from denial. The sheep took a few steps toward accepting and appreciating their warriors and the warriors started taking their job more seriously. The degree to which you move up that continuum, away from sheep-hood and denial, is the degree to which you and your loved ones will survive, physically and psychologically at your moment of truth.
The sheepdog must only be careful not to become too much like the wolf. Sheep can be easy prey. Just ask the wolves.
Honor never grows old, but rejoices the heart. It does so because honor is about defending those things that deserve defending, even if it comes at a high cost. In our time, that may mean social disapproval, public scorn, hardship, persecution, or even death itself. The questions remain: What is worth defending? What is worth dying for? What is worth living for?
This is an individual decision each and every one of us must make for himself.
Monday, April 27, 2009
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Darrell Scott, the father of Rachel Scott, a victim of the Columbine High School shootings in Littleton , Colorado , was invited to address the House Judiciary Committee's subcommittee. What he said to our national leaders during this special session of Congress was painfully truthful. They were not prepared for what he was to say, nor was it received well. It needs to be heard by every parent, every teacher, every politician, every sociologist, every psychologist, and every so-called expert! These courageous words spoken by Darrell Scott are powerful, penetrating, and deeply personal. There is no doubt that God sent this man as a voice crying in the wilderness. The following is a portion of the transcript:
"Since the dawn of creation there has been both good & evil in the hearts of men and women. We all contain the seeds of kindness or the seeds of violence. The death of my wonderful daughter, Rachel Joy Scott, and the deaths of that heroic teacher, and the other eleven children who died must not be in vain. Their blood cries out f or answers. "The first recorded act of violence was when Cain slew his brother Abel out in the field. The villain was not the club he used.. Neither was it the NCA, the National Club Association. The true killer was Cain, and the reason for the murder could only be found in Cain's heart."In the days that followed the Columbine tragedy, I was amazed at how quickly fingers began to be pointed at groups such as the NRA. I am not a member of the NRA. I am not a hunter. I do not even own a gun. I am not here to represent or defend the NRA - because I don't believe that they are responsible for my daughter's death. Therefore I do not believe that they need to be defended. If I believed they had anything to do with Rachel's murder I would be their strongest opponent. I am here today to declare that Columbine was not just a tragedy -- it was a spiritual event that should be forcing us to look at where the real blame lies! Much of the blame lies here in this room. Much of the blame lies behind the pointing fingers of the accusers themselves. I wrote a poem just four nights ago that expresses my feelings best.
Your laws ignore our deepest needs,Your words are empty air. You've stripped away our heritage, You've outlawed simple prayer. Now gunshots fill our classrooms, And precious children die. You seek for answers everywhere, And ask the question "Why?" You regulate restrictive laws, Through legislative creed. And yet you fail to understand, That God is what we need! " Men and women are three-part beings. We all consist of body, mind, and spirit. When we refuse to acknowledge a third part of our make-up, we create a void that allows evil, prejudice, and hatred to rush in and wreak havoc. Spiritual presences were present within our educational Systems for most of our nation's history. Many of our major colleges began as theological seminaries. This is a historical fact. What has happened to us as a nation? We have refused to honor God, and in so doing, we open the doors to hatred and violence. And when something as terrible as Columbine's tragedy occurs -- politicians immediately look for a scapegoat such as the NRA. They immediately seek to pass more restrictive laws that contribute to erode away our personal and private liberties. We do not need more restrictive laws. Eric and Dylan would not have been stopped by metal detectors.. No amount of gun laws can stop someone who spends months planning this type of massacre. The real villain lies within our own hearts. "As my son Craig lay under that table in the school library and saw his two friends murdered before his very eyes, he did not hesitate to pray in school. I defy any law or politician to deny him that right! I challenge every young person in America , and around the world, to realize that on April 20, 1999, at Columbine High School prayer was brought back to our schools. Do not let the many prayers offered by those students be in vain. Dare to move into the new millennium with a sacred disregard for legislation that violates your God-given right to communicate with Him. To those of you who would point your finger at the NRA -- I give to you a sincere challenge. Dare to examine your Own heart before casting the first stone! My daughter's death will not be in vain! The young people of this country will not allow that to happen!"
"Since the dawn of creation there has been both good & evil in the hearts of men and women. We all contain the seeds of kindness or the seeds of violence. The death of my wonderful daughter, Rachel Joy Scott, and the deaths of that heroic teacher, and the other eleven children who died must not be in vain. Their blood cries out f or answers. "The first recorded act of violence was when Cain slew his brother Abel out in the field. The villain was not the club he used.. Neither was it the NCA, the National Club Association. The true killer was Cain, and the reason for the murder could only be found in Cain's heart."In the days that followed the Columbine tragedy, I was amazed at how quickly fingers began to be pointed at groups such as the NRA. I am not a member of the NRA. I am not a hunter. I do not even own a gun. I am not here to represent or defend the NRA - because I don't believe that they are responsible for my daughter's death. Therefore I do not believe that they need to be defended. If I believed they had anything to do with Rachel's murder I would be their strongest opponent. I am here today to declare that Columbine was not just a tragedy -- it was a spiritual event that should be forcing us to look at where the real blame lies! Much of the blame lies here in this room. Much of the blame lies behind the pointing fingers of the accusers themselves. I wrote a poem just four nights ago that expresses my feelings best.
Your laws ignore our deepest needs,Your words are empty air. You've stripped away our heritage, You've outlawed simple prayer. Now gunshots fill our classrooms, And precious children die. You seek for answers everywhere, And ask the question "Why?" You regulate restrictive laws, Through legislative creed. And yet you fail to understand, That God is what we need! " Men and women are three-part beings. We all consist of body, mind, and spirit. When we refuse to acknowledge a third part of our make-up, we create a void that allows evil, prejudice, and hatred to rush in and wreak havoc. Spiritual presences were present within our educational Systems for most of our nation's history. Many of our major colleges began as theological seminaries. This is a historical fact. What has happened to us as a nation? We have refused to honor God, and in so doing, we open the doors to hatred and violence. And when something as terrible as Columbine's tragedy occurs -- politicians immediately look for a scapegoat such as the NRA. They immediately seek to pass more restrictive laws that contribute to erode away our personal and private liberties. We do not need more restrictive laws. Eric and Dylan would not have been stopped by metal detectors.. No amount of gun laws can stop someone who spends months planning this type of massacre. The real villain lies within our own hearts. "As my son Craig lay under that table in the school library and saw his two friends murdered before his very eyes, he did not hesitate to pray in school. I defy any law or politician to deny him that right! I challenge every young person in America , and around the world, to realize that on April 20, 1999, at Columbine High School prayer was brought back to our schools. Do not let the many prayers offered by those students be in vain. Dare to move into the new millennium with a sacred disregard for legislation that violates your God-given right to communicate with Him. To those of you who would point your finger at the NRA -- I give to you a sincere challenge. Dare to examine your Own heart before casting the first stone! My daughter's death will not be in vain! The young people of this country will not allow that to happen!"
Monday, March 30, 2009
HR 45 VS HR 17
HR 45 Gun Control Amendment
Blair Holt's Firearm Licensing and Record of Sale Act of 2009 - Amends the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act to prohibit a person from possessing a firearm unless that person has been issued a firearm license under this Act or a state system certified under this Act and such license has not been invalidated or revoked. Prescribes license application, issuance, and renewal requirements.
Prohibits transferring or receiving a qualifying firearm unless the recipient presents a valid firearms license, the license is verified, and the dealer records a tracking authorization number. Prescribes firearms transfer reporting and record keeping requirements. Directs the Attorney General to establish and maintain a federal record of sale system.
Prohibits:
(1) transferring a firearm to any person other than a licensee, unless the transfer is processed through a licensed dealer in accordance with national instant criminal background check system requirements, with exceptions;
(2) a licensed manufacturer or dealer from failing to comply with reporting and record keeping requirements of this Act;
(3) failing to report the loss or theft of the firearm to the Attorney General within 72 hours;
(4) failing to report to the Attorney General an address change within 60 days; or
(5) keeping a loaded firearm, or an unloaded firearm and ammunition for the firearm, knowingly or recklessly disregarding the risk that a child is capable of gaining access, if a child uses the firearm and causes death or serious bodily injury.
Prescribes criminal penalties for violations of firearms provisions covered by this Act.
Directs the Attorney General to:
(1) establish and maintain a firearm injury information clearinghouse;
(2) conduct continuing studies and investigations of firearm-related deaths and injuries; and
(3) collect and maintain current production and sales figures of each licensed manufacturer.
Authorizes the Attorney General to certify state firearm licensing or record of sale systems.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Congressman Rush seems blind to what has happened in Nazi Germany, Russia, China, North Korea and nearly all countries that have given up their guns and rights to defend themselves. This bill is against the law-abiding citizen, not the criminal. If he really wants to stop violence, let him introduce a bill that would allow a private law-abiding citizen to carry a concealed weapon in every state and the District of Columbia.
Guns have no legs, no hands, no brain -- humans do. Regulating guns has no place in this Republic. Aside from the general non-application , the specifics are worse. Note that the government is not under the same restrictions as citizens. An age old fascist approach is to disarm the populace, arm the government, and control the people. This is another attempt to socially engineer a population and we neither need it nor should we accept it.
"A government that fears arms in the hands of its people should also fear the rope".- Nathan Bedford Forrest
"Do not separate text from historical background. If you do, you will have perverted and subverted the Constitution, which can only end in a distorted, bastardized form of illegitimate government". – James Madison
"To disarm the people is the best and most effectual way to enslave them". – George Mason
"Laws that forbid the carrying of arms... disarm only those who are neither inclined nor determined to commit crimes... Such laws make things worse for the assaulted and better for the assailants; they serve rather to encourage than to prevent homicides, for an unarmed man may be attacked with greater confidence than an armed man". - Thomas Jefferson's "Commonplace Book,"
The 2nd and 14th Amendments go hand-in-hand. The 14th Amendment states "Nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property without due process of law". Guns are property. Any attempt to confiscate firearms is a violation of both amendments
HR 17 Citizens' Self-Defense Act of 2009 - A better alternative
To protect the right to obtain firearms for security, and to use firearms in defense of self, family, or home, and to provide for the enforcement of such right.
SUMMARY:
Declares that a person not prohibited under the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act from receiving a firearm shall have the right to obtain firearms for security and to use firearms in defense of:
(1) self or family against a reasonably perceived threat of imminent and unlawful infliction of serious bodily injury;
(2) self or family in the course of the commission by another person of a violent felony against the person or a member of the person's family; and
(3) the person's home in the course of the commission of a felony by another person.
Authorizes persons whose rights under this Act have been violated to bring an action in U.S. district court against the United States, any state, or any person for damages, injunctive relief, and such other relief as the court deems appropriate.
Blair Holt's Firearm Licensing and Record of Sale Act of 2009 - Amends the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act to prohibit a person from possessing a firearm unless that person has been issued a firearm license under this Act or a state system certified under this Act and such license has not been invalidated or revoked. Prescribes license application, issuance, and renewal requirements.
Prohibits transferring or receiving a qualifying firearm unless the recipient presents a valid firearms license, the license is verified, and the dealer records a tracking authorization number. Prescribes firearms transfer reporting and record keeping requirements. Directs the Attorney General to establish and maintain a federal record of sale system.
Prohibits:
(1) transferring a firearm to any person other than a licensee, unless the transfer is processed through a licensed dealer in accordance with national instant criminal background check system requirements, with exceptions;
(2) a licensed manufacturer or dealer from failing to comply with reporting and record keeping requirements of this Act;
(3) failing to report the loss or theft of the firearm to the Attorney General within 72 hours;
(4) failing to report to the Attorney General an address change within 60 days; or
(5) keeping a loaded firearm, or an unloaded firearm and ammunition for the firearm, knowingly or recklessly disregarding the risk that a child is capable of gaining access, if a child uses the firearm and causes death or serious bodily injury.
Prescribes criminal penalties for violations of firearms provisions covered by this Act.
Directs the Attorney General to:
(1) establish and maintain a firearm injury information clearinghouse;
(2) conduct continuing studies and investigations of firearm-related deaths and injuries; and
(3) collect and maintain current production and sales figures of each licensed manufacturer.
Authorizes the Attorney General to certify state firearm licensing or record of sale systems.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Congressman Rush seems blind to what has happened in Nazi Germany, Russia, China, North Korea and nearly all countries that have given up their guns and rights to defend themselves. This bill is against the law-abiding citizen, not the criminal. If he really wants to stop violence, let him introduce a bill that would allow a private law-abiding citizen to carry a concealed weapon in every state and the District of Columbia.
Guns have no legs, no hands, no brain -- humans do. Regulating guns has no place in this Republic. Aside from the general non-application , the specifics are worse. Note that the government is not under the same restrictions as citizens. An age old fascist approach is to disarm the populace, arm the government, and control the people. This is another attempt to socially engineer a population and we neither need it nor should we accept it.
"A government that fears arms in the hands of its people should also fear the rope".- Nathan Bedford Forrest
"Do not separate text from historical background. If you do, you will have perverted and subverted the Constitution, which can only end in a distorted, bastardized form of illegitimate government". – James Madison
"To disarm the people is the best and most effectual way to enslave them". – George Mason
"Laws that forbid the carrying of arms... disarm only those who are neither inclined nor determined to commit crimes... Such laws make things worse for the assaulted and better for the assailants; they serve rather to encourage than to prevent homicides, for an unarmed man may be attacked with greater confidence than an armed man". - Thomas Jefferson's "Commonplace Book,"
The 2nd and 14th Amendments go hand-in-hand. The 14th Amendment states "Nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property without due process of law". Guns are property. Any attempt to confiscate firearms is a violation of both amendments
HR 17 Citizens' Self-Defense Act of 2009 - A better alternative
To protect the right to obtain firearms for security, and to use firearms in defense of self, family, or home, and to provide for the enforcement of such right.
SUMMARY:
Declares that a person not prohibited under the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act from receiving a firearm shall have the right to obtain firearms for security and to use firearms in defense of:
(1) self or family against a reasonably perceived threat of imminent and unlawful infliction of serious bodily injury;
(2) self or family in the course of the commission by another person of a violent felony against the person or a member of the person's family; and
(3) the person's home in the course of the commission of a felony by another person.
Authorizes persons whose rights under this Act have been violated to bring an action in U.S. district court against the United States, any state, or any person for damages, injunctive relief, and such other relief as the court deems appropriate.
Friday, February 27, 2009
FIREARMS REFRESHER COURSE
'Those who hammer their guns into plows will plow for those who do not.' ~ Thomas Jefferson
IF YOU AGREE, PASS THIS 'REFRESHER' ON TO TEN FREE CITIZENS.
FIREARMS REFRESHER COURSE
1. An armed man is a citizen. An unarmed man is a subject.
2. A gun in the hand is better than a cop on the phone.
3. Colt: The original point and click interface.
4. Gun control is not about guns; it's about control.
2. A gun in the hand is better than a cop on the phone.
3. Colt: The original point and click interface.
4. Gun control is not about guns; it's about control.
5. If guns are outlawed, can we use swords?
6. If guns cause crime, then pencils cause misspelled words.
7. Free men do not ask permission to bear arms.
6. If guns cause crime, then pencils cause misspelled words.
7. Free men do not ask permission to bear arms.
8. If you don't know your rights, you don't have any.
9. Those who trade liberty for security have neither.
9. Those who trade liberty for security have neither.
10. The United States Constitution (c) 1791. All Rights Reserved.
11. What part of 'shall not be infringed' do you not understand?
12. The Second Amendment is in place in case the politicians ignore the others.
13. 64,999,987 firearms owners killed no one yesterday.
12. The Second Amendment is in place in case the politicians ignore the others.
13. 64,999,987 firearms owners killed no one yesterday.
14. Guns only have two enemies; rust and politicians.
15. Know guns, know peace, know safety.
15. Know guns, know peace, know safety.
No guns, no peace, no safety.
16. You don't shoot to kill; you shoot to stay alive.
17. 911: Government sponsored Dial-a-Prayer.
18. Assault is a behavior, not a device.
19. Criminals love gun control; it makes their jobs safer.
20. If guns cause crime then matches cause arson.
20. If guns cause crime then matches cause arson.
21. Only a government that is afraid of its citizens tries to control them.
22. You have only the rights you are willing to fight for.
23. Enforce the gun control laws we ALREADY have; don't make more.
23. Enforce the gun control laws we ALREADY have; don't make more.
24. When you remove the people's right to bear arms, you create slaves.
25. The American Revolution would never have happened with gun control.
25. The American Revolution would never have happened with gun control.
IF YOU AGREE, PASS THIS 'REFRESHER' ON TO TEN FREE CITIZENS.
Friday, February 20, 2009
Patriot's Dreams
Arlo Guthrie
"Living now, here but for fortune
placed by faith's mysterious schemes
Who'd believe that we're the ones asked
to try to rekindle the Patriot's Dreams
Arise sweet destiny time runs short
all of your patience has heard their retort,
hear us now, for alone we can't seem
to try to rekindle the Patriot's Dreams
Can you hear the words being whispered
all along the American stream,
tyrants freed and the just are imprisoned
Try to rekindle the Patriot's Dreams
But perhaps too much is being asked of too few,
you and your children with nothing to do,
hear us now, for alone we can't seem
to try to rekindle the Patriot's Dreams."
"Living now, here but for fortune
placed by faith's mysterious schemes
Who'd believe that we're the ones asked
to try to rekindle the Patriot's Dreams
Arise sweet destiny time runs short
all of your patience has heard their retort,
hear us now, for alone we can't seem
to try to rekindle the Patriot's Dreams
Can you hear the words being whispered
all along the American stream,
tyrants freed and the just are imprisoned
Try to rekindle the Patriot's Dreams
But perhaps too much is being asked of too few,
you and your children with nothing to do,
hear us now, for alone we can't seem
to try to rekindle the Patriot's Dreams."
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Failure of Gun Control Laws
You're sound asleep when you hear a thump outside your bedroom door. Half-awake, and nearly paralyzed with fear, you hear muffled whispers. Two people have broken into your house and are moving your way. With your heart pumping, you reach down beside your bed and pick up your shotgun. You rack a shell into the chamber, then inch toward the door and open it. In the darkness, you make out two shadows.One holds what looks like a crowbar. When the intruder raises it as if to strike, you raise the shotgun and fire. The blast knocks both thugs to the floor. One writhes and screams while the second man crawls to the front door and gets outside. As you pick up the telephone to call police, you know you're in trouble. In your country, most guns were outlawed years before, and the few privately owned are so regulated as to make them useless. Yours was never registered. Police arrive and tell you that the second burglar has died. They arrest you for First Degree Murder and Illegal Possession of a Firearm. When you talk to your attorney, he tells you not to worry: authorities will probably plea the case down to manslaughter."What kind of sentence will I get?" you ask."Only ten or twelve years," he replies. "Behave, and you'll be out in seven."The next day, the shooting is the lead story in the local newspaper. Somehow, you're portrayed as a vigilante, while the two men you shot are represented as choirboys. Their friends and relatives can't find an unkind word to say about them. Buried deep down in the article, authorities acknowledge that both "victims" have been arrested numerous times. But the next day's headline says it all: "Lovable Rogue Son Didn't Deserve to Die." The thieves have been transformed from career criminals into Robin Hood-type pranksters. As the days wear on, the story grows. The national media picks it up, then the international media. The surviving burglar has become a folk hero. Your attorney says the thief is going to sue you, and he'll probably win. The media reports that your home has been burglarized several times in the past and that you've been critical of local police for their lack of effort in apprehending the suspects. After the last break-in, you told your neighbor you would be prepared next time. The District Attorney uses this to claim you were lying in wait for the burglars. A few months later, you go to trial. The charges haven't been reduced, as your lawyer had predicted. When you take the stand, your anger at the injustice of it all works against you. Prosecutors paint a picture of you as a mean, vengeful man. It doesn't take long for the jury to convict you of all charges.The judge sentences you to life in prison.
This case really happened. On August 22, 1999, Tony Martin of Norfolk, England, killed one burglar and wounded a second. In April, 2000, he was convicted and is now serving a life term. How did it become a crime to defend one's own life in the once great British Empire? After the Martin shooting, a police spokesman was quoted as saying, "We cannot have people take the law into their own hands."
All of Martin's neighbors had been robbed numerous times, and several elderly people were severely injured in beatings by young thugs who had no fear of the consequences. Martin himself, a collector of antiques, had seen most of his collection trashed or stolen by burglars. It started with the Pistols Act of 1903. This seemingly reasonable law forbade selling pistols to minors or felons and established that handgun sales were to be made only to those who had a license. The Firearms Act of 1920 expanded licensing to include not only handguns but all firearms except shotguns. Later laws passed in 1953 and 1967 outlawed the carrying of any weapon by private citizens and mandated the registration of all shotguns. Momentum for total handgun confiscation began in earnest after the Hungerford mass shooting in 1987. Michael Ryan, a mentally disturbed Man with a Kalashnikov rifle, walked down the streets shooting everyone he saw. When the smoke cleared, 17 people were dead. The British public, de-sensitized by eighty years of "gun control", demanded even tougher restrictions. (The seizure of all privately owned handguns was the objective even though Ryan used a rifle.) Nine years later, at Dubliner, Scotland, Thomas Hamilton used a semi-automatic weapon to murder 16 children and a teacher at a public school. For many years, the media had portrayed all gun owners as mentally unstable or worse, criminals. Now the press had a real kook with which to beat up law-abiding gun owners. Day after day, week after week, the media gave up all pretense of objectivity and demanded a total ban on all handguns. The Dunblane Inquiry sealed the fate of any still owned by private citizens. During the years in which the British government took away most gun rights, the idea that a citizen had the right to armed self-defense came to be seen as vigilantism. Authorities refused to grant gun licenses to people who were threatened, claiming that self-defense was no longer considered a reason to own a gun. Citizens who shot burglars or robbers or rapists were charged while the real criminals were released. When the Dunblane Inquiry ended, citizens who owned handguns were given three months to turn them over to local authorities. Being good British subjects, most people obeyed the law. The few who didn't were visited by police and threatened with ten-year prison sentences if they didn't comply. Police later bragged they'd taken nearly 200,000 handguns from private citizens. How did the authorities know who had handguns? The guns had been registered and licensed. Kind of like cars. Sound familiar?
WAKE UP AMERICA; THIS IS WHY OUR FOUNDING FATHERS PUT THE SECOND AMENDMENT IN OUR CONSTITUTION.
"..It does not require a majority to prevail, but rather an irate, tireless minority keen to set brush fires in people's minds.."--Samuel Adams
Most readers of this are aware that gun control mainly keeps guns out of the hands of people that aren’t a problem. What about the people gun control should disarm?
America is faced with an ever-growing problem of violence.
Our streets have become a battleground where the elderly are beaten for their social security checks, where terrified women are viciously attacked and raped, where teen-age gangsters shoot it out for a patch of turf to sell their illegal drugs, and where innocent children are caught daily in the crossfire of drive-by Shootings. We cannot ignore the damage that these criminals are doing to our society, and we must take action to stop these horrors. However, the effort by some misguided individuals to eliminate the legal ownership of firearms does not address the real problem at hand, and simply disarms the innocent law-abiding
Citizens who are most in need of a form of self-defense.
To fully understand the reasons behind the gun control efforts, we must look at the history of our country, and the role Firearms have played in it. The second amendment to the Constitution of the United States makes firearm ownership legal in this country.
There were good reasons for this freedom, reasons which persist today.
Firearms in the new world were used initially for hunting, and occasionally for self-defense. However, when the colonists felt that the burden of British oppression was too much for them to bear, they picked up their personal firearms and went to war. Standing against the British armies, these rebels found themselves opposed by the greatest military force in the world at that time. The 18th century witnessed the height of the British Empire, but the rough band of colonial freedom fighters discovered the power of the Minuteman, the average American gun owner. These Minutemen, so named because they would pick up their personal guns and jump to the defense of their country on a minute's notice, served a major part in winning the
American Revolution. The founding fathers of this country understood that an armed populace was instrumental in fighting off oppression, and they made the right to keep and bear arms a constitutionally guaranteed right.
Over the years, some of the reasons for owning firearms have changed. As we grew into a strong nation, we expanded westward, exploring the wilderness, and building new towns on the Frontier. Typically, these new towns were far away from the centers of Civilization, and the only law they had was dispensed by townsfolk through the barrel of a gun. Crime existed, but could be minimized when the townspeople fought back against the criminals. Eventually, these organized townspeople developed police forces as their towns grew in size. Fewer people carried their firearms on the street, but the firearms were always there, ready to be used in self-defense.
After the Civil War the first gun-control advocates came into existence. These were southern leaders who were afraid that the newly freed black slaves would assert their newfound political rights, and these leaders wanted to make it easier to oppress the free blacks. This oppression was accomplished by passing laws making it illegal in many places for black people to own firearms. With that effort, they assured themselves that the black population would be subject to their control, and would not have the ability to fight back. At the same time, the people who were most intent on denying black people their basic rights walked around with their firearms, making it impossible to resist their efforts. An unarmed man stands little chance against an armed one, and these armed men saw their plans work completely. It was a full century before the civil rights activists of the 1960s were able to restore the
Constitutional freedoms that blacks in this country were granted in the 1860s.
Today's gun control activists are a slightly different breed. They claim that gun violence in this country has gotten to a point where something must be done to stop it. They would like to see criminals disarmed, and they want the random violence to stop. I agree with their sentiments. However, they are going about it in the wrong way. While claiming that they want to take guns out of the hands of criminals, they work to pass legislation that would take the guns out of the hands of law-abiding citizens instead. For this reason the efforts at gun control do not address the real problem of crime.
The simple definition of a criminal is someone who does not obey the law. The simple definition of a law-abiding citizen is someone who does obey the law. Therefore, if we pass laws restricting ownership of firearms, which category of people does it affect? The answer is that gun control laws affect law-abiding citizens only. By their very nature, the criminals will continue to violate these new laws, they will continue to carry their firearms, and they will find their efforts at crime much easier when they know that their victims will be unarmed. The situation is similar to that of the disarmed blacks a century ago. Innocent people are turned into victims when new laws make it impossible for them to fight back. An unarmed man stands little chance against an armed one.
An interesting recent development has been the backlash against the gun-control advocates. In many states, including Florida and Texas, citizens have stated that they want to preserve their right to carry firearms for self-defense. Since the late 1980s, Florida has been issuing concealed weapons permits to law-abiding citizens, and these citizens have been carrying their firearms to defend themselves from rampant crime. The result is that the incidence of violent crime has actually dropped in contrast to the national average. Previously, Florida had been leading the nation in this category, and the citizens of that state have welcomed the change. Gun control advocates tried to claim that there would be bloodshed in the streets when these citizens were given the right to carry. They tried to claim that the cities of Florida would become like Dodge City with shootouts on every street corner. These gun control advocates were wrong. Over 200,000 concealed carry permits have been issued so far, with only 36 of these permits revoked for improper use of a firearm. This statistic is easy to understand. It is the law-abiding citizens who are going through the process of getting concealed carry permits so that they may legally carry a firearm. The people who go through this legal process do not want to break the law, and they do not intend to break the law. The people who do intend to break the law will carry their guns whether or not the law allows them to do so.
Criminals will always find ways to get guns. We have criminalized the use, possession, sale, and transportation of many kinds of narcotics, but it's still easy for someone to take a ride and purchase the drugs of their choice at street corner vendors.
Firearms and ammunition would be just as easy for these black-market entrepreneurs to deliver to their customers. Today, criminals often carry illegal weapons, including sawed-off shotguns, machine guns, and homemade zip-guns, clearly showing their disregard for the current laws which make these items illegal. And when they are caught, the courts regularly dismiss these lesser weapons charges when prosecuting for the more serious charges that are being committed with the weapons.
Gun control advocates have argued their case by demonizing the gun itself, rather than the people who commit violent crimes. This is the main fallacy in their argument. They slyly attempt to claim that possession of a gun turns average citizens into bloodthirsty lunatics. This theory falls apart under close scrutiny.
If legal possession of a firearm caused this sort of attitude, then why are crime rates highest in areas such as Washington, D.C. and New York City which have strict gun control laws? And why are crime rates dropping in states such as Florida where private ownership of firearms is encouraged? Simply stated, legal ownership of a gun does not cause crime.
The most recent efforts of the gun control lobby have been to claim that certain types of guns and ammunition are inherently evil.
They assign emotional catch phrases such as "assault weapons" and "cop killer bullets" to broad categories of firearms and ammunition in the hopes that people will believe that some guns have an evil nature.
Most people who are unfamiliar with firearms do not fully understand what these phrases mean, and they accept the terms being used without question. What people do not often understand is that the term "assault weapon" has been defined to include all semi-automatic rifles, and "cop killer" has been defined to include any bullet that can penetrate type two body armor. It comes as a surprise to most people that a large number of simple hunting rifles can do both. Does ownership of one of these weapons cause people to become mass murderers? It does not, and we must not fall into the trap of blaming the sword for the hand that wields it.
The act of making it illegal to own firearms does little to prevent criminals from getting guns. These laws only restrict people who respect the law, the people who would only use firearms for legal purposes anyway. And when we give people the right to defend themselves, we find that criminals start looking for other victims out of fear that they will become the victims. We must work to reduce crime in America, but we should look at the problem realistically, and develop plans that would be effective. It is obvious that gun control laws are neither realistic, nor effective in reducing crime. Therefore, we must direct our efforts toward controlling crime, not controlling legal ownership of firearms.
This case really happened. On August 22, 1999, Tony Martin of Norfolk, England, killed one burglar and wounded a second. In April, 2000, he was convicted and is now serving a life term. How did it become a crime to defend one's own life in the once great British Empire? After the Martin shooting, a police spokesman was quoted as saying, "We cannot have people take the law into their own hands."
All of Martin's neighbors had been robbed numerous times, and several elderly people were severely injured in beatings by young thugs who had no fear of the consequences. Martin himself, a collector of antiques, had seen most of his collection trashed or stolen by burglars. It started with the Pistols Act of 1903. This seemingly reasonable law forbade selling pistols to minors or felons and established that handgun sales were to be made only to those who had a license. The Firearms Act of 1920 expanded licensing to include not only handguns but all firearms except shotguns. Later laws passed in 1953 and 1967 outlawed the carrying of any weapon by private citizens and mandated the registration of all shotguns. Momentum for total handgun confiscation began in earnest after the Hungerford mass shooting in 1987. Michael Ryan, a mentally disturbed Man with a Kalashnikov rifle, walked down the streets shooting everyone he saw. When the smoke cleared, 17 people were dead. The British public, de-sensitized by eighty years of "gun control", demanded even tougher restrictions. (The seizure of all privately owned handguns was the objective even though Ryan used a rifle.) Nine years later, at Dubliner, Scotland, Thomas Hamilton used a semi-automatic weapon to murder 16 children and a teacher at a public school. For many years, the media had portrayed all gun owners as mentally unstable or worse, criminals. Now the press had a real kook with which to beat up law-abiding gun owners. Day after day, week after week, the media gave up all pretense of objectivity and demanded a total ban on all handguns. The Dunblane Inquiry sealed the fate of any still owned by private citizens. During the years in which the British government took away most gun rights, the idea that a citizen had the right to armed self-defense came to be seen as vigilantism. Authorities refused to grant gun licenses to people who were threatened, claiming that self-defense was no longer considered a reason to own a gun. Citizens who shot burglars or robbers or rapists were charged while the real criminals were released. When the Dunblane Inquiry ended, citizens who owned handguns were given three months to turn them over to local authorities. Being good British subjects, most people obeyed the law. The few who didn't were visited by police and threatened with ten-year prison sentences if they didn't comply. Police later bragged they'd taken nearly 200,000 handguns from private citizens. How did the authorities know who had handguns? The guns had been registered and licensed. Kind of like cars. Sound familiar?
WAKE UP AMERICA; THIS IS WHY OUR FOUNDING FATHERS PUT THE SECOND AMENDMENT IN OUR CONSTITUTION.
"..It does not require a majority to prevail, but rather an irate, tireless minority keen to set brush fires in people's minds.."--Samuel Adams
Most readers of this are aware that gun control mainly keeps guns out of the hands of people that aren’t a problem. What about the people gun control should disarm?
America is faced with an ever-growing problem of violence.
Our streets have become a battleground where the elderly are beaten for their social security checks, where terrified women are viciously attacked and raped, where teen-age gangsters shoot it out for a patch of turf to sell their illegal drugs, and where innocent children are caught daily in the crossfire of drive-by Shootings. We cannot ignore the damage that these criminals are doing to our society, and we must take action to stop these horrors. However, the effort by some misguided individuals to eliminate the legal ownership of firearms does not address the real problem at hand, and simply disarms the innocent law-abiding
Citizens who are most in need of a form of self-defense.
To fully understand the reasons behind the gun control efforts, we must look at the history of our country, and the role Firearms have played in it. The second amendment to the Constitution of the United States makes firearm ownership legal in this country.
There were good reasons for this freedom, reasons which persist today.
Firearms in the new world were used initially for hunting, and occasionally for self-defense. However, when the colonists felt that the burden of British oppression was too much for them to bear, they picked up their personal firearms and went to war. Standing against the British armies, these rebels found themselves opposed by the greatest military force in the world at that time. The 18th century witnessed the height of the British Empire, but the rough band of colonial freedom fighters discovered the power of the Minuteman, the average American gun owner. These Minutemen, so named because they would pick up their personal guns and jump to the defense of their country on a minute's notice, served a major part in winning the
American Revolution. The founding fathers of this country understood that an armed populace was instrumental in fighting off oppression, and they made the right to keep and bear arms a constitutionally guaranteed right.
Over the years, some of the reasons for owning firearms have changed. As we grew into a strong nation, we expanded westward, exploring the wilderness, and building new towns on the Frontier. Typically, these new towns were far away from the centers of Civilization, and the only law they had was dispensed by townsfolk through the barrel of a gun. Crime existed, but could be minimized when the townspeople fought back against the criminals. Eventually, these organized townspeople developed police forces as their towns grew in size. Fewer people carried their firearms on the street, but the firearms were always there, ready to be used in self-defense.
After the Civil War the first gun-control advocates came into existence. These were southern leaders who were afraid that the newly freed black slaves would assert their newfound political rights, and these leaders wanted to make it easier to oppress the free blacks. This oppression was accomplished by passing laws making it illegal in many places for black people to own firearms. With that effort, they assured themselves that the black population would be subject to their control, and would not have the ability to fight back. At the same time, the people who were most intent on denying black people their basic rights walked around with their firearms, making it impossible to resist their efforts. An unarmed man stands little chance against an armed one, and these armed men saw their plans work completely. It was a full century before the civil rights activists of the 1960s were able to restore the
Constitutional freedoms that blacks in this country were granted in the 1860s.
Today's gun control activists are a slightly different breed. They claim that gun violence in this country has gotten to a point where something must be done to stop it. They would like to see criminals disarmed, and they want the random violence to stop. I agree with their sentiments. However, they are going about it in the wrong way. While claiming that they want to take guns out of the hands of criminals, they work to pass legislation that would take the guns out of the hands of law-abiding citizens instead. For this reason the efforts at gun control do not address the real problem of crime.
The simple definition of a criminal is someone who does not obey the law. The simple definition of a law-abiding citizen is someone who does obey the law. Therefore, if we pass laws restricting ownership of firearms, which category of people does it affect? The answer is that gun control laws affect law-abiding citizens only. By their very nature, the criminals will continue to violate these new laws, they will continue to carry their firearms, and they will find their efforts at crime much easier when they know that their victims will be unarmed. The situation is similar to that of the disarmed blacks a century ago. Innocent people are turned into victims when new laws make it impossible for them to fight back. An unarmed man stands little chance against an armed one.
An interesting recent development has been the backlash against the gun-control advocates. In many states, including Florida and Texas, citizens have stated that they want to preserve their right to carry firearms for self-defense. Since the late 1980s, Florida has been issuing concealed weapons permits to law-abiding citizens, and these citizens have been carrying their firearms to defend themselves from rampant crime. The result is that the incidence of violent crime has actually dropped in contrast to the national average. Previously, Florida had been leading the nation in this category, and the citizens of that state have welcomed the change. Gun control advocates tried to claim that there would be bloodshed in the streets when these citizens were given the right to carry. They tried to claim that the cities of Florida would become like Dodge City with shootouts on every street corner. These gun control advocates were wrong. Over 200,000 concealed carry permits have been issued so far, with only 36 of these permits revoked for improper use of a firearm. This statistic is easy to understand. It is the law-abiding citizens who are going through the process of getting concealed carry permits so that they may legally carry a firearm. The people who go through this legal process do not want to break the law, and they do not intend to break the law. The people who do intend to break the law will carry their guns whether or not the law allows them to do so.
Criminals will always find ways to get guns. We have criminalized the use, possession, sale, and transportation of many kinds of narcotics, but it's still easy for someone to take a ride and purchase the drugs of their choice at street corner vendors.
Firearms and ammunition would be just as easy for these black-market entrepreneurs to deliver to their customers. Today, criminals often carry illegal weapons, including sawed-off shotguns, machine guns, and homemade zip-guns, clearly showing their disregard for the current laws which make these items illegal. And when they are caught, the courts regularly dismiss these lesser weapons charges when prosecuting for the more serious charges that are being committed with the weapons.
Gun control advocates have argued their case by demonizing the gun itself, rather than the people who commit violent crimes. This is the main fallacy in their argument. They slyly attempt to claim that possession of a gun turns average citizens into bloodthirsty lunatics. This theory falls apart under close scrutiny.
If legal possession of a firearm caused this sort of attitude, then why are crime rates highest in areas such as Washington, D.C. and New York City which have strict gun control laws? And why are crime rates dropping in states such as Florida where private ownership of firearms is encouraged? Simply stated, legal ownership of a gun does not cause crime.
The most recent efforts of the gun control lobby have been to claim that certain types of guns and ammunition are inherently evil.
They assign emotional catch phrases such as "assault weapons" and "cop killer bullets" to broad categories of firearms and ammunition in the hopes that people will believe that some guns have an evil nature.
Most people who are unfamiliar with firearms do not fully understand what these phrases mean, and they accept the terms being used without question. What people do not often understand is that the term "assault weapon" has been defined to include all semi-automatic rifles, and "cop killer" has been defined to include any bullet that can penetrate type two body armor. It comes as a surprise to most people that a large number of simple hunting rifles can do both. Does ownership of one of these weapons cause people to become mass murderers? It does not, and we must not fall into the trap of blaming the sword for the hand that wields it.
The act of making it illegal to own firearms does little to prevent criminals from getting guns. These laws only restrict people who respect the law, the people who would only use firearms for legal purposes anyway. And when we give people the right to defend themselves, we find that criminals start looking for other victims out of fear that they will become the victims. We must work to reduce crime in America, but we should look at the problem realistically, and develop plans that would be effective. It is obvious that gun control laws are neither realistic, nor effective in reducing crime. Therefore, we must direct our efforts toward controlling crime, not controlling legal ownership of firearms.
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Protection
An old man once said to me, "Son, there comes a time in every man's life when he stops bustin' knuckles and starts bustin' caps and usually it's when he becomes too old to take an ass whoopin'.
I don't carry a gun to kill people. I carry a gun to keep from being killed..
I don't carry a gun to scare people. I carry a gun because sometimes this world can be a scary place.
I don't carry a gun because I'm paranoid. I carry a gun because there are real threats in the world.
I don't carry a gun because I'm evil. I carry a gun because I have lived long enough to see the evil in the world.
I don't carry a gun because I hate the government. I carry a gun because I understand the limitations of government.
I don't carry a gun because I'm angry. I carry a gun so that I don't have to spend the rest of my life hating myself for failing to be prepared.
I don't carry a gun because I want to shoot someone. I carry a gun because I want to die at a ripe old age in my bed, and not on a sidewalk somewhere tomorrow afternoon.
I don't carry a gun because I'm a cowboy. I carry a gun because, when I die and go to Heaven, I want to be a cowboy.
I don't carry a gun to make me feel like a man. I carry a gun because men know how to take care of themselves and the ones they love.
I don't carry a gun because I feel inadequate. I carry a gun because, unarmed and facing three armed thugs, I am inadequate.
I don't carry a gun because I love it. I carry a gun because I love life and the people who make it meaningful to me.
"Police Protection" is an oxymoron. Free citizens must protect themselves. Police do not protect you from crime; they usually just investigate the crime after it happens and then call someone in to clean up the mess. Personally, I carry a gun because I'm too young to die and too old to take an ass whoopin'."
.....author unknown (but obviously brilliant)
Remember the average response time to a 911 call is over 4 minutes. The average response time of a 357 magnum is 1400 FPS!
I don't carry a gun to kill people. I carry a gun to keep from being killed..
I don't carry a gun to scare people. I carry a gun because sometimes this world can be a scary place.
I don't carry a gun because I'm paranoid. I carry a gun because there are real threats in the world.
I don't carry a gun because I'm evil. I carry a gun because I have lived long enough to see the evil in the world.
I don't carry a gun because I hate the government. I carry a gun because I understand the limitations of government.
I don't carry a gun because I'm angry. I carry a gun so that I don't have to spend the rest of my life hating myself for failing to be prepared.
I don't carry a gun because I want to shoot someone. I carry a gun because I want to die at a ripe old age in my bed, and not on a sidewalk somewhere tomorrow afternoon.
I don't carry a gun because I'm a cowboy. I carry a gun because, when I die and go to Heaven, I want to be a cowboy.
I don't carry a gun to make me feel like a man. I carry a gun because men know how to take care of themselves and the ones they love.
I don't carry a gun because I feel inadequate. I carry a gun because, unarmed and facing three armed thugs, I am inadequate.
I don't carry a gun because I love it. I carry a gun because I love life and the people who make it meaningful to me.
"Police Protection" is an oxymoron. Free citizens must protect themselves. Police do not protect you from crime; they usually just investigate the crime after it happens and then call someone in to clean up the mess. Personally, I carry a gun because I'm too young to die and too old to take an ass whoopin'."
.....author unknown (but obviously brilliant)
Remember the average response time to a 911 call is over 4 minutes. The average response time of a 357 magnum is 1400 FPS!
Sunday, January 25, 2009
New President?
How do you like our new President?
Comments are appreciated.
Who said this?
"You are now witnessing the beginning
of a great epoch in history...a sign from
God to declare all out war on terrorism
and it's ideological sponsors, a people
who traced their origins to the Middle
East and found motivation for their evil
deeds in their religion".
These words belong to a leader
who instituted laws just like the Patriot
Act and Military Commissions Act,
Adolph Hitler.
Comments are appreciated.
Who said this?
"You are now witnessing the beginning
of a great epoch in history...a sign from
God to declare all out war on terrorism
and it's ideological sponsors, a people
who traced their origins to the Middle
East and found motivation for their evil
deeds in their religion".
These words belong to a leader
who instituted laws just like the Patriot
Act and Military Commissions Act,
Adolph Hitler.
Think you might not like this country?
Well, friend, this must be your lucky
day because we happen to have
a new country for you right here
where you live. It's called the
North American Union. (Read:
Council On Foreign Relations -
Building A North American
Community) It's a little known
merger between the US, Canada
and Mexico and was actually
signed into existence by the
"leaders" of these three countries
back in 2005. Planned under the
cover of the Security and
Prosperity Partnership of North
America, right down to the smallest
detail.
day because we happen to have
a new country for you right here
where you live. It's called the
North American Union. (Read:
Council On Foreign Relations -
Building A North American
Community) It's a little known
merger between the US, Canada
and Mexico and was actually
signed into existence by the
"leaders" of these three countries
back in 2005. Planned under the
cover of the Security and
Prosperity Partnership of North
America, right down to the smallest
detail.
You can read it here:
www.ShatteringDenial.com
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
This was the view as we drove south from Bellevue to Twin Falls last Saturday! Everything was covered with frost, and was really beautiful. It was a bit cold as you can tell from this photo, but it was worth it. I hope it is clear weather for tomorrow, because I am on my way to Twin Falls again. This time for training for my job. The weatherman is calling for possible fog tomorrow morning. That will slow us down considerably!
Friday, December 26, 2008
Life in the Mountains
Well, it's another bluebird day in Paradise! We are mostly dug out from yesterdays Snowstorm. Christmas day left us with another 18" of snow here in Bellevue. I finally finished digging out about 7:30 last night.
Today is my wife's birthday. Happy Birthday, Barbara!
The rugged central core of Idaho is a risky place to live. At least, that's the claim from a new report about the chances of being struck down by Mother Nature.
According to the study, Blaine County residents stand a better-than-average chance of being killed by natural hazards like severe winter weather than do inhabitants living in certain other Idaho counties and locations across the country. The study says that residents of Camas County are even worse off, with their chance of kicking the bucket because of natural hazards rising to the highest category included in the dour report.
Published under the innocuous title of "Spatial patterns of natural hazards mortality in the United States" in the International Journal of Health Geographics, the study may make you rethink your outdoor recreation plans, if severe weather threatens. Written by University of South Carolina Geography Professor Dr. Susan Cutter and Ph.D. graduate student Kevin Borden, it assesses which regions of the country experience a higher rate of mortality at the hands of natural hazards like hurricanes, flooding, winter storms, earthquakes and wildfires.
The research was supported by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
The report's findings include a mixture of surprising and not-so-surprising conclusions.
"The regions most prone to deaths from natural hazards are the South and intermountain West," the study authors write.
"Significant clusters of high mortality are in the lower Mississippi Valley, upper Great Plains and mountain West," they state.
The incidence of natural hazards was broken down by 10 regions in the lower 48 states. In region 10, which covers Idaho, Oregon and Washington, severe weather—which the authors tabbed as mortality-causing events with multiple weather factors—made up nearly a third of the deaths. Next up is severe winter weather, the study indicates.
Cutter and Borden do seem to toy with the idea that personal choices may be a factor that controls the safety of those living in more natural-hazard-prone regions of the country like central Idaho.
"An important question is whether people in areas of high mortality know what to do (or what not to do) when a hazard event occurs," they say.
According to the study, Blaine County residents stand a better-than-average chance of being killed by natural hazards like severe winter weather than do inhabitants living in certain other Idaho counties and locations across the country. The study says that residents of Camas County are even worse off, with their chance of kicking the bucket because of natural hazards rising to the highest category included in the dour report.
Published under the innocuous title of "Spatial patterns of natural hazards mortality in the United States" in the International Journal of Health Geographics, the study may make you rethink your outdoor recreation plans, if severe weather threatens. Written by University of South Carolina Geography Professor Dr. Susan Cutter and Ph.D. graduate student Kevin Borden, it assesses which regions of the country experience a higher rate of mortality at the hands of natural hazards like hurricanes, flooding, winter storms, earthquakes and wildfires.
The research was supported by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
The report's findings include a mixture of surprising and not-so-surprising conclusions.
"The regions most prone to deaths from natural hazards are the South and intermountain West," the study authors write.
"Significant clusters of high mortality are in the lower Mississippi Valley, upper Great Plains and mountain West," they state.
The incidence of natural hazards was broken down by 10 regions in the lower 48 states. In region 10, which covers Idaho, Oregon and Washington, severe weather—which the authors tabbed as mortality-causing events with multiple weather factors—made up nearly a third of the deaths. Next up is severe winter weather, the study indicates.
Cutter and Borden do seem to toy with the idea that personal choices may be a factor that controls the safety of those living in more natural-hazard-prone regions of the country like central Idaho.
"An important question is whether people in areas of high mortality know what to do (or what not to do) when a hazard event occurs," they say.
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Winter Beauty
It looks like we will have snow for Christmas! We got about 8" last week, and another 10" yesterday and the day before. Everything is still and quiet out right now, and the snow is beginning to fall again.
Our four dogs like the snow, but the cat doesn't! Imagine that!
I am on vacation this week, so will have plenty of time to shovel. Hope our kids can make it here for the holidays. Sometimes, they close the roads for a while, due to blowing and drifting snow. Friday was the last day of school until New Years, but school was closed because of the snow. Our son Will loved it! The snow we are getting almost, but not quite, makes me wish I was a skiier.
We are getting things ready for the big day tomorrow. Santa shouldn't have any trouble getting to our house this year!
These deer were in Ketchum earlier this year, back when we thought we might have winter in November. All the first snow had melted before we got our last 2 storms. It will most likely be with us for the rest of the winter now, though. I expect it will all be gone in the valleys by the end of April.
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
The Parable of the Monkeys-unknown author
It happened that there were three monkeys in a cage. Suspended at the top if the cage was a bunch of bananas. There was a ladder from the floor of the cage up to the bananas. One of the monkeys, who was both clever and agile and also liked bananas, decided to head up the ladder to grab a banana.
Imagine his surprise (not to mention that of the other two monkeys) when suddenly a fire hose washed down the cage, blasting all three monkeys over to one side. Cold and shivering, the three monkeys regrouped and thought about what had happened.
Monkeys don’t have a real long memory and, after awhile, a second monkey thought again about the bananas and headed up the ladder. Same thing—a fire hose washed all three monkeys over to the side of the cage. They picked themselves up, shook themselves off and hoped the sun would come out to warm them up.
After another couple of hours, the third monkey couldn’t resist and he went for it. Sure enough, same result—fire hose and cold, wet, miserable monkeys.
Finally, all three monkeys became convinced that going for the bananas was a bad idea, and went on with the rest of their lives.
Then the zookeeper drafted one of the monkeys for another exhibit and replaced him with a new monkey. The new monkey arrived, looked up at the bananas, looked over at the ladder and couldn’t figure out why the other monkeys hadn’t gone for the bananas. He headed for the ladder and got about 1 rung up when the remaining "experienced" monkeys tackled him, dragged him to the floor and pummeled him into submission. He quickly concluded that climbing the ladder wasn’t a good idea.
A week later, the zookeeper replaced the second monkey. Monkeys are somewhat single-minded. The new monkey spied the bananas, headed for the ladder, and the remaining two monkeys tackled him and pummeled him into submission.
Finally the third monkey was replaced and, you guessed it, the same thing happened. So life went on among the monkeys and after some time the first of the "new" monkeys was replaced with yet another monkey. Sure enough, the new guy saw the bananas, went for the ladder and his two peers then tackled him and beat him into submission.
Why was that? None of these monkeys knew anything about the fire hose. None of them had ever gotten wet for having climbed the ladder in the quest for bananas. Yet the monkeys had been fully culturalized to know that it was a bad idea. And you could likely go on individually replacing monkeys one at a time forever and expect the same result.
The Parable of the Monkeys can be readily applied to just about every organizational community structure in the human sphere. We can laugh at the silly monkeys, but humans are the only creatures on Earth capable of amassing and arming themselves to fight and die by the tens and hundreds of thousands because another human claims yet another human is building firehoses to keep all the bananas for himself.
Imagine his surprise (not to mention that of the other two monkeys) when suddenly a fire hose washed down the cage, blasting all three monkeys over to one side. Cold and shivering, the three monkeys regrouped and thought about what had happened.
Monkeys don’t have a real long memory and, after awhile, a second monkey thought again about the bananas and headed up the ladder. Same thing—a fire hose washed all three monkeys over to the side of the cage. They picked themselves up, shook themselves off and hoped the sun would come out to warm them up.
After another couple of hours, the third monkey couldn’t resist and he went for it. Sure enough, same result—fire hose and cold, wet, miserable monkeys.
Finally, all three monkeys became convinced that going for the bananas was a bad idea, and went on with the rest of their lives.
Then the zookeeper drafted one of the monkeys for another exhibit and replaced him with a new monkey. The new monkey arrived, looked up at the bananas, looked over at the ladder and couldn’t figure out why the other monkeys hadn’t gone for the bananas. He headed for the ladder and got about 1 rung up when the remaining "experienced" monkeys tackled him, dragged him to the floor and pummeled him into submission. He quickly concluded that climbing the ladder wasn’t a good idea.
A week later, the zookeeper replaced the second monkey. Monkeys are somewhat single-minded. The new monkey spied the bananas, headed for the ladder, and the remaining two monkeys tackled him and pummeled him into submission.
Finally the third monkey was replaced and, you guessed it, the same thing happened. So life went on among the monkeys and after some time the first of the "new" monkeys was replaced with yet another monkey. Sure enough, the new guy saw the bananas, went for the ladder and his two peers then tackled him and beat him into submission.
Why was that? None of these monkeys knew anything about the fire hose. None of them had ever gotten wet for having climbed the ladder in the quest for bananas. Yet the monkeys had been fully culturalized to know that it was a bad idea. And you could likely go on individually replacing monkeys one at a time forever and expect the same result.
The Parable of the Monkeys can be readily applied to just about every organizational community structure in the human sphere. We can laugh at the silly monkeys, but humans are the only creatures on Earth capable of amassing and arming themselves to fight and die by the tens and hundreds of thousands because another human claims yet another human is building firehoses to keep all the bananas for himself.
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Old Age, I decided, is a gift.
I am now, probably for the first time in my life, the person I have always wanted to be. Oh, not my body! I sometime despair over my body, the wrinkles, the baggy eyes, and the sagging butt. And often I am taken aback by that old person that lives in my mirror, but I don't agonize over those things for long.
I would never trade my amazing friends, my wonderful life, my loving family for less gray hair or a flatter belly. As I've aged, I've become more kind to myself, and less critical of myself. I've become my own friend.
I don't chide myself for eating that extra cookie, or for not making my bed, or for buying that silly cement gecko that I didn't need, but looks so avante garde on my patio. I am entitled to a treat, to be messy, to be extravagant.
I have seen too many dear friends leave this world too soon; before they understood the great freedom that comes with aging.
Whose business is it if I choose to read or play on the computer until 4 AM and sleep until noon?
I will dance with myself to those wonderful tunes of the 60 & 70's, and if I, at the same time, wish to weep over a lost love ... I will.
I will walk the beach in a swim suit that is stretched over a bulging body, and will dive into the waves with abandon if I choose to, despite the pitying glances from the jet set .
They, too, will get old.
I know I am sometimes forgetful. But there again, some of life is just as well forgotten. And I eventually remember the important things.
Sure, over the years my heart has been broken. How can your heart not break when you lose a loved one, or when a child suffers, or even when somebody's beloved pet gets hit by a car? But broken hearts are what give us strength and understanding and compassion. A heart never broken is pristine and sterile and will never know the joy of being imperfect.
I am so blessed to have lived long enough to have my hair turning gray, and to have my youthful laughs be forever etched into deep grooves on my face. So many have never laughed, and so many have died before their hair could turn silver.
As you get older, it is easier to be positive. You care less about what other people think. I don't question myself anymore. I've even earned the right to be wrong.
So, to answer your question, I like being old. It has set me free. I like the person I have become. I am not going to live forever, but while I am still here, I will not waste time lamenting what could have been, or worrying about what will be. And I shall eat dessert every single day. (If I feel like it)
MAY OUR FRIENDSHIP NEVER COME APART ESPECIALLY WHEN IT'S STRAIGHT FROM THE HEART! MAY YOU ALWAYS HAVE A RAINBOW OF SMILES ON YOUR FACE AND IN YOUR HEART FOREVER AND EVER!
I would never trade my amazing friends, my wonderful life, my loving family for less gray hair or a flatter belly. As I've aged, I've become more kind to myself, and less critical of myself. I've become my own friend.
I don't chide myself for eating that extra cookie, or for not making my bed, or for buying that silly cement gecko that I didn't need, but looks so avante garde on my patio. I am entitled to a treat, to be messy, to be extravagant.
I have seen too many dear friends leave this world too soon; before they understood the great freedom that comes with aging.
Whose business is it if I choose to read or play on the computer until 4 AM and sleep until noon?
I will dance with myself to those wonderful tunes of the 60 & 70's, and if I, at the same time, wish to weep over a lost love ... I will.
I will walk the beach in a swim suit that is stretched over a bulging body, and will dive into the waves with abandon if I choose to, despite the pitying glances from the jet set .
They, too, will get old.
I know I am sometimes forgetful. But there again, some of life is just as well forgotten. And I eventually remember the important things.
Sure, over the years my heart has been broken. How can your heart not break when you lose a loved one, or when a child suffers, or even when somebody's beloved pet gets hit by a car? But broken hearts are what give us strength and understanding and compassion. A heart never broken is pristine and sterile and will never know the joy of being imperfect.
I am so blessed to have lived long enough to have my hair turning gray, and to have my youthful laughs be forever etched into deep grooves on my face. So many have never laughed, and so many have died before their hair could turn silver.
As you get older, it is easier to be positive. You care less about what other people think. I don't question myself anymore. I've even earned the right to be wrong.
So, to answer your question, I like being old. It has set me free. I like the person I have become. I am not going to live forever, but while I am still here, I will not waste time lamenting what could have been, or worrying about what will be. And I shall eat dessert every single day. (If I feel like it)
MAY OUR FRIENDSHIP NEVER COME APART ESPECIALLY WHEN IT'S STRAIGHT FROM THE HEART! MAY YOU ALWAYS HAVE A RAINBOW OF SMILES ON YOUR FACE AND IN YOUR HEART FOREVER AND EVER!
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
U. S. Immigration law proposal
Everyone in the world deserves to be able to take care of their family.
but............
If they wish to do it in this country, immigrants should have to abide by the following proposed immigration laws:
THE FOLLOWING IMMIGRATION LAWS ARE PROPOSED
1. There will be no special bilingual programs in the schools
.
2. All ballots will be in this nation’s language.
3. All government business will be conducted in our language.
4. Non-residents will NOT have the right to vote no matter how long they are here.
5. Non-citizens will NEVER be able to hold political office.
6 Foreigners will not be a burden to the taxpayers. No welfare, no food stamps, no health care, or other government assistance programs. Any burden will be deported.
7. Foreigners can invest in this country, but it must be an amount at least equal to 40,000 times the daily minimum wage.
8. If foreigners come here and buy land ... options will be restricted. Certain parcels including waterfront property are reserved for citizens naturally born into this country.
9. Foreigners may have no protests; no demonstrations, no waving of a foreign flag, no political organizing, no bad-mouthing our president or his policies. These will lead to deportation.
10. If you do come to this country illegally, you will be actively hunted &, when caught, sent to jail until your deportation can be arranged, all assets will be taken from you.
Harsh, you say?.......
The above laws are the current immigration laws of MEXICO
but............
If they wish to do it in this country, immigrants should have to abide by the following proposed immigration laws:
THE FOLLOWING IMMIGRATION LAWS ARE PROPOSED
1. There will be no special bilingual programs in the schools
.
2. All ballots will be in this nation’s language.
3. All government business will be conducted in our language.
4. Non-residents will NOT have the right to vote no matter how long they are here.
5. Non-citizens will NEVER be able to hold political office.
6 Foreigners will not be a burden to the taxpayers. No welfare, no food stamps, no health care, or other government assistance programs. Any burden will be deported.
7. Foreigners can invest in this country, but it must be an amount at least equal to 40,000 times the daily minimum wage.
8. If foreigners come here and buy land ... options will be restricted. Certain parcels including waterfront property are reserved for citizens naturally born into this country.
9. Foreigners may have no protests; no demonstrations, no waving of a foreign flag, no political organizing, no bad-mouthing our president or his policies. These will lead to deportation.
10. If you do come to this country illegally, you will be actively hunted &, when caught, sent to jail until your deportation can be arranged, all assets will be taken from you.
Harsh, you say?.......
The above laws are the current immigration laws of MEXICO
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Find Ancestors-Free Search
Find Gravesites, Tombstone Pictures, even pictures of your Ancestors in some cases!
Saturday, February 9, 2008
Idaho Winter
Glad this wasn't my house!
Warning!!
Idaho is an absolutely horrid place to live, with all the daily bear & rabid moose and wolf attacks, the endless days of subzero cold, the never ending snow, and not to mention the jackalope raids! I don't know how anybody can survive here! So, if you've recently eaten, and value a good meal, I suggest you leave immediately! The following blog is very misleading, believe me, you would never want to visit, let alone, live here!
We woke up this morning to another Bluebird day! My thermometer says it is 32 degrees F. uotside. (It sits where the sun can hit it, so it may be off a bit). 2 days ago, we were isolated from the world. All roads leading into and out of our valley were closed due to blowing and drifting snow. We have about 4 feet of snow on the level here in Bellevue. The Sun Valley Ski area claims 93 inches on the top of Bald Mountain. I don't ski, so I haven't been up there to verify that, but would not be surprised. There is enough snow on the surrounding hills to cover all the sagebrush, and most of the Chokecherry thickets. We finally had to get the snow off our roof. The snow load wasn't too bad, but we were building up a serious ice dam. I may try to go out later and remove the snow from my old shed. I built it from 2 X 4 scraps and plywood. It has held up for 3 winters so far, but this one may put a strain on it.
This from the www. 12/24/2008
"From the Diary of a new member of the BACK TO THE LANDers (kalifornians)
Aug. 12 - FINALLY Moved into our new home in N Idaho from busy S Calif . It is so beautiful here. The hills and river valleys are so picturesque. I have a beautiful old oak
tree in my front yard. Can hardly wait to see the change in the seasons. This
is truly God's Country.
Oct. 14 - Idaho is such a gorgeous place to live, one of the real special
places on Earth. The leaves are turning a multitude of different colors. I
love all of the shades of reds, oranges and yellows, they are so bright. I
want to walk through all of the beautiful hills and spot some white tail
deer. They are so graceful, certainly they must be the most peaceful
creatures on Earth. This must be paradise.
Nov. 11 - Deer season opens this week. I can't imagine why anyone would
want to shoot these elegant animals. They are the very symbol of peace and
tranquility here in Idaho . I hope it snows soon. I love it here!
Dec. 2 - It snowed last night. I woke to the usual wonderful sight:
everything covered in a beautiful blanket of white. The oak tree is
magnificent. It looks like a postcard. We went out and swept the snow
from the steps and driveway. The air is so crisp, clean and refreshing. We
had a snowball fight. I won, and the snowplow came down the street. He must
have gotten too close to the driveway because we had to go out and shovel
the end of the driveway again. What a beautiful place. Nature in harmony.
I love it here!
Dec. 12 - More snow last night. I love it! The plow did his cute little
trick again. What a rascal. A winter wonderland. I love it here!
Dec. 19 - More snow - couldn't get out of the driveway to get to work in
time. I'm exhausted from all of the shoveling. And that snowplow!
Dec. 21 - More of that white s### coming down. I've got blisters on my
hands and a kink in my back. I think that the snowplow driver waits
around the corner until I'm done shoveling the driveway. A@@@@le.
Dec. 25 - White Christmas? More freakin' snow. If I ever get my hands on
the sonofagun who drives that snowplow, I swear I'll cast$$te him. And
why don't they use more salt on these roads to melt this crap??
Dec. 28 - It hasn't stopped snowing since Christmas. I have been inside
since then, except of course when that SOB "Snowplow Harry" comes by.
Can't go anywhere, cars are buried up to the windows. Weather man says to
expect another 10 inches. Do you have any idea how many shovelfuls 10 inches is???
Jan. 1 - Happy New Year? The way it's coming down it won't melt until the
4th of July! The snowplow got stuck down the road and the sh--head
Actually had the balls to come and ask to borrow a shovel! I told him I'd broken
six already this season.
Jan. 4 - Finally got out of the house. We went to the store to get some
food and a darn deer ran out in front of my car and I hit the b@@ard.
It did $3,000 in damage to the car. Those beasts NEED to be killed. The
hunters should be able to hunt ALL YEAR if you ask me.
Jan. 27 - Warmed up a little and rained today. The rain turned the snow
into ice and the weight of it broke the main limb of the oak tree in the
front yard and it went through the roof. I should have cut that old piece
of sh)t into fireplace wood when I had the chance.
May 23 - Took my car to the local garage. Would you believe the whole
underside of the car is rusted away from all of that darn salt they dump
on the road? Car looks like a bashed up, heap of rusted cow s>>t.
May 10 - Sold the car, the house, and moved to Florida . I can't imagine
why anyone in their freakin' right mind would ever want to live in the God forsaken
State of Idaho …"
Monday, September 17, 2007
Castle Rock Update
Castle Rock Fire, Sawtooth National ForestRehabilitation Update - WildlifeSeptember 9, 2007
“From a wildlife perspective, this fire has created a lot of patches across the landscape that will produce different age classes, which will be good for wildlife habitat.” -Bobbi Filbert, Wildlife Biologist on the Burned Area Emergency Response Team
The Castle Rock Fire burned in a mosaic pattern, leaving islands of green interspersed with black. It is important to note, however, in some of the upper reaches of the fire, there were pockets of forest that burned at a very high intensity.
Several weeks have passed since the fire burned through some areas of the forest and tender succulent shoots are already growing in the burn area along Warm Springs Road. Recovery in other areas will take a lot longer.
During the winter, elk depend upon the bitterbrush, snowberry, and grasses lying beneath the snow on south-facing slopes. These slopes in Warm Springs and Greenhorn Gulch burned and will not have an opportunity to resprout before the snows fly in the next few months. This winter and next may be difficult ones for the elk herds. In future years, the elk will find plenty of food and herds will be stronger and larger than ever.
There are concerns about impacts from the burn to the winter elk range and the possibility of the introduction of non-native and noxious weeds. The U.S. Forest Service does not want to lose winter range to invasive species and scientists and specialists are in the process of assessing and making recommendations for both emergency stabilization and long-term recovery of the elk winter range on the Forest.
“From a wildlife perspective, this fire has created a lot of patches across the landscape that will produce different age classes, which will be good for wildlife habitat.” -Bobbi Filbert, Wildlife Biologist on the Burned Area Emergency Response Team
The Castle Rock Fire burned in a mosaic pattern, leaving islands of green interspersed with black. It is important to note, however, in some of the upper reaches of the fire, there were pockets of forest that burned at a very high intensity.
Several weeks have passed since the fire burned through some areas of the forest and tender succulent shoots are already growing in the burn area along Warm Springs Road. Recovery in other areas will take a lot longer.
During the winter, elk depend upon the bitterbrush, snowberry, and grasses lying beneath the snow on south-facing slopes. These slopes in Warm Springs and Greenhorn Gulch burned and will not have an opportunity to resprout before the snows fly in the next few months. This winter and next may be difficult ones for the elk herds. In future years, the elk will find plenty of food and herds will be stronger and larger than ever.
There are concerns about impacts from the burn to the winter elk range and the possibility of the introduction of non-native and noxious weeds. The U.S. Forest Service does not want to lose winter range to invasive species and scientists and specialists are in the process of assessing and making recommendations for both emergency stabilization and long-term recovery of the elk winter range on the Forest.
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Idaho Wild Fire
The Castle Rock Fire, just 17 miles north of my home, reached status as the #1 priority fire in the USA.
Saturday, August 4, 2007
Coyotes, Wolves, Etc..
In areas where they are hunted or trapped, coyotes, like bears and mountain lions, are extremely wary of humans, but they can be bold in urban areas where they associate people with food and water. In southern California between 1988 and 1997, there were 53 documented coyote attacks on humans, and 21 people were bitten. Most of these resulted in only minor injuries. However, several children have been more seriously bitten, and in 1981, coyotes attacked and killed a three-year-old girl in Glendale California.
Remember what happened when California stopped hunting mountain lions? Same thing!
Wolves are just bigger, more agressive Coyotes!
Today in America, a wolf attack must follow the following criteria in order to be labeled as a proper attack.
1. The wolf has to be killed, examined and found to be healthy.
2. It must be proven that the wolf was never kept in captivity in its entire life.
3. There must be eyewitnesses to the attack.
4. The person must die from their wounds.
KILLER WOLVES
Since historians seem to be having problems digging up this information, here are a few documented cases of wolves killing and/or injuring humans. Although wolves should not be excessively feared, and wolves that kill humans are rare, we do need the truth told by someone.
Research: Scott, Peter A., et al. “Aggressive Behavior by Wolves Toward Humans.” Journal of Mammalogy 66.4 (1985): 807-809; Munthe, Kathleen and J. Howard Hutchinson. “A Wolf-Human Encounter on Ellesmere Island, Canada” Journal of Mammalogy 59.4 (1978): 876-878; McNay, Mark E. “Interactions in Alaska and Canada: A Review of the Case History.” Wildlife Society Bulletin 30.3 (2002): 831-843.
Scientist: Arctic wolf attacks a scientist in Canada (1985—Arctic, Vol. 38, 1985).
Female Researcher: Three penned wolves had to be killed before rescuers could get to the body of a female wildlife reserve employee that the wolves had killed in their pen (1996—The Kingston Wig Standard, Ontario, Canada, April 20).
Trapper and Two Indians: An elderly trapper did not return to the post office as promised, so two Indians were sent to find him. All three were killed by wolves (1922— Port Arthur, Ontario newspaper, Dec. 27).
Negro Man: Two Negro men were attacked in Kentucky by wolves on the way home from visiting girlfriends. One survived by climbing a tree (1851—John James Audubon, “Black American Wolf” in Quadrupeds of North America).
Farmer and Son: A pack of wolves attacked and ate a farmer and his son (1888—The Saint Paul Daily Globe, March 8).
Eskimo Woman: She was strangled by a wolf as her husband rushed to her assistance (1829—John Richardson in “Fauna Boreali-Americana”).
Sick Indians: Not only did wolves come into the Indian camps and eat corpses dead of smallpox, but also attacked, killed, and ate the sick (1770—Peter Kalm in “Travels in North America”).
Injured: Several instances of nonfatal, but serious attacks in Canada and Alaska have appeared recently in the news: Algonquin Provincial Park, 1996; Yakutat, Alaska, 2000; Vargas Island, British Columbia, 2002 (The Wolf Society of Great Britain, www.myinternet.co.uk/wsgb/index.htm).
Rabies: Of course history is also full of accounts of rabid wolves killing humans, but advocates slip around these records by concentrating on “healthy” wolves. Since wild wolves can’t be vaccinated, why does it seem so comforting to think a wolf must be rabid to attack a human? By insisting the accounts be “documented,” scientists and advocates are also able to discredit hunters, Indians, Eskimos, and rural people who just “remember” but don’t write the story down or publish it.
Guns: Wolf attacks on humans seem to occur mostly in places where the general population is unarmed and/or where wolves are protected. The low number of recent historical encounters within the U.S. borders as compared to India, for instance, are probably due to the fact that during the period of America’s written history almost every citizen went about armed and seldom passed up a chance to shoot at a wolf. Protected animals lose their fear of humans.
Now that the wolves are on the ground, breeding like rabbits, depleting wild game and starting to get more serious about livestock, the public winds are about to change again. Plus, the U.S. government sure doesn’t want new trouble. Some history lessons maybe they remember!
Someone said FWS announced just five days earlier that they are turning the Mexican wolf recovery program over to Arizona Fish & Game. What a surprise! The same will soon happen in Montana, Idaho and Wyoming. That way the states can be blamed and will have to deal with the public outcry as soon as the wolves are totally out of control. Next step? Call back the feds, of course, so they can play the cavalry riding in to save the day once again. We need some new movies.
http://www.rangemagazine.com/archives/stories/summer03/ground-hog.htm
Idaho had a few wolves around before the reintroduction of the Canadian wolves. They were hardly ever heard from or noticed. They were a smaller sub species and were relatively few in number. I hope a few of them survive. The "Reintroduced" Wolves will kill any of them they can catch.
Remember what happened when California stopped hunting mountain lions? Same thing!
Wolves are just bigger, more agressive Coyotes!
Today in America, a wolf attack must follow the following criteria in order to be labeled as a proper attack.
1. The wolf has to be killed, examined and found to be healthy.
2. It must be proven that the wolf was never kept in captivity in its entire life.
3. There must be eyewitnesses to the attack.
4. The person must die from their wounds.
KILLER WOLVES
Since historians seem to be having problems digging up this information, here are a few documented cases of wolves killing and/or injuring humans. Although wolves should not be excessively feared, and wolves that kill humans are rare, we do need the truth told by someone.
Research: Scott, Peter A., et al. “Aggressive Behavior by Wolves Toward Humans.” Journal of Mammalogy 66.4 (1985): 807-809; Munthe, Kathleen and J. Howard Hutchinson. “A Wolf-Human Encounter on Ellesmere Island, Canada” Journal of Mammalogy 59.4 (1978): 876-878; McNay, Mark E. “Interactions in Alaska and Canada: A Review of the Case History.” Wildlife Society Bulletin 30.3 (2002): 831-843.
Scientist: Arctic wolf attacks a scientist in Canada (1985—Arctic, Vol. 38, 1985).
Female Researcher: Three penned wolves had to be killed before rescuers could get to the body of a female wildlife reserve employee that the wolves had killed in their pen (1996—The Kingston Wig Standard, Ontario, Canada, April 20).
Trapper and Two Indians: An elderly trapper did not return to the post office as promised, so two Indians were sent to find him. All three were killed by wolves (1922— Port Arthur, Ontario newspaper, Dec. 27).
Negro Man: Two Negro men were attacked in Kentucky by wolves on the way home from visiting girlfriends. One survived by climbing a tree (1851—John James Audubon, “Black American Wolf” in Quadrupeds of North America).
Farmer and Son: A pack of wolves attacked and ate a farmer and his son (1888—The Saint Paul Daily Globe, March 8).
Eskimo Woman: She was strangled by a wolf as her husband rushed to her assistance (1829—John Richardson in “Fauna Boreali-Americana”).
Sick Indians: Not only did wolves come into the Indian camps and eat corpses dead of smallpox, but also attacked, killed, and ate the sick (1770—Peter Kalm in “Travels in North America”).
Injured: Several instances of nonfatal, but serious attacks in Canada and Alaska have appeared recently in the news: Algonquin Provincial Park, 1996; Yakutat, Alaska, 2000; Vargas Island, British Columbia, 2002 (The Wolf Society of Great Britain, www.myinternet.co.uk/wsgb/index.htm).
Rabies: Of course history is also full of accounts of rabid wolves killing humans, but advocates slip around these records by concentrating on “healthy” wolves. Since wild wolves can’t be vaccinated, why does it seem so comforting to think a wolf must be rabid to attack a human? By insisting the accounts be “documented,” scientists and advocates are also able to discredit hunters, Indians, Eskimos, and rural people who just “remember” but don’t write the story down or publish it.
Guns: Wolf attacks on humans seem to occur mostly in places where the general population is unarmed and/or where wolves are protected. The low number of recent historical encounters within the U.S. borders as compared to India, for instance, are probably due to the fact that during the period of America’s written history almost every citizen went about armed and seldom passed up a chance to shoot at a wolf. Protected animals lose their fear of humans.
Now that the wolves are on the ground, breeding like rabbits, depleting wild game and starting to get more serious about livestock, the public winds are about to change again. Plus, the U.S. government sure doesn’t want new trouble. Some history lessons maybe they remember!
Someone said FWS announced just five days earlier that they are turning the Mexican wolf recovery program over to Arizona Fish & Game. What a surprise! The same will soon happen in Montana, Idaho and Wyoming. That way the states can be blamed and will have to deal with the public outcry as soon as the wolves are totally out of control. Next step? Call back the feds, of course, so they can play the cavalry riding in to save the day once again. We need some new movies.
http://www.rangemagazine.com/archives/stories/summer03/ground-hog.htm
Idaho had a few wolves around before the reintroduction of the Canadian wolves. They were hardly ever heard from or noticed. They were a smaller sub species and were relatively few in number. I hope a few of them survive. The "Reintroduced" Wolves will kill any of them they can catch.
Monday, July 23, 2007
Why Idaho?
Name: Joseph Glahn Born: 3/5/1829 Place: Prussia, Germany Citizenship: 6/29/1855 Place: St. Louis, Missouri Died: 5/1/1864 Place: Virginia City, Montana Married: 5/5/1860 Place: S. Kansas City, Missouri To: Susan Louisa Eisele
Joseph came to America sometime prior to 1850. It was his plan to return to the country of his origin, but was told he would have to join the German army if he did so. In a letter to his parents he stated that if this was so, then “the honored King may have my inheritance”. Joseph was given travel money by his parents, which was “enough to get me to St. Louis, but not enough to go completely around the world”.About 1850, he made his way to the gold fields of California where he apparently found enough gold “that now I don’t need to work for anyone else, and have enough to get by comfortably”. Apparently a brother accompanied Joseph to America. There is little information about him. Joseph at one time felt that his brother did not care about him any more; although Joseph had helped him all he could from the time he came to this country. There was also mention of a nephew of Boneparrt’s who returned to “the old country”. Joseph and his brother were apparently preceded to America by other relatives. A letter from Henry F. Glahn dated 1910, to Andrew M. Glahn states: “Several years after my parents came to this country, a Mr. Joseph and Boneparrt Glahn came to America, and they were either my fathers Nephews or Cousins, I cannot positively say. This Joseph Glahn worked with my father a few years at the Wagon trade, then they both went West”. (About 1890) “Boneparrt Glahn came to my house on a visit of about two weeks. He affirmed the report of Joseph’s death, stating that he was killed, and that he, Boneparrt, was anxious to know where Joseph’s children were”.Henry’s parents were Christian Glahn and Mary Antonia (Wand). Henry was born in Prussia, Germany in 1841. He and his parents came to America in 1843. Joseph, his bride, and his young son, Andrew, apparently went to Virginia City, Montana, where Joseph was killed May 1, 1864. How he was killed is not known at this time. It is safe to assume he was probably looking for gold, and his death may have been related. Family lore says he was bushwhacked.His wife, Susan Louisa (Eisele) was remarried to Richard M. Johnson on August 7, 1865.
Richard Johnson’s marriage to Susan Louisa (Eisele) (Glahn)Richard Martin Johnson was born in August of 1832 in Pennsylvania. He married Susan on August 7, 1865, just 15 months after the death of Susan’s first husband, Joseph Glahn.To this union were born six additional children, four girls and two boys. The first, Rosa, was born May 20, 1867, in Kelso Valley, Kern County, California. May 20, 1884, she was married to Charles Carothers, at Bellevue, Idaho. She died at Richland, Oregon on February 6, 1906.Richard Johnson was born December 9, 1870 at Havilah, Kern County, California. Ten months later, he died (10/27/1871), at Havilah, California.Daisy Johnson was born February 22, 1872 in Los Angeles, California. She was married to Wade Lane on August 17, 1891, in Boistfort, Washington. She died February 3, 1945, in Detroit, Michigan.Next was another son, Edgar Johnson, born February 4, 1877 on Bishop Creek, Inyo County, California. Edgar married Nettie Capron in Lewis County, Washington, in November of 1900. He died at Prineville, Oregon, August 7, 1940.Elma May Johnson was the next daughter. She was born May 6, 1878 on Bishop Creek, Inyo, California. She died on January 6, 1883 and was buried at Bellevue, Idaho.The youngest daughter, Maud Grace Johnson was born November 10, 1878, also at Bishop Creek, California. Maud married Ory Capron in Lewis County, Washington, on December 20, 1903, at the age of twenty-five years. She died November 26, 1973, and was buried at Boistfort, Washington.
Andrew Martin Glahn was the only son of Joseph Glahn and Susan Louisa Eisele. He was born at Westport, Missouri on October 24, 1861. When he was but two and a half years old, his father, Joseph was bushwhacked at Virginia City, Montana. After Joseph’s death, Andrew’s mother, Susan, remarried, and Andrew was raised with his half brothers and sisters. There seems to be no information regarding what age he was when he struck out on his own, but it appears he was in California with his new family until he came with them to Idaho, as evidenced by the death of his half sister, Elma May, in 1883. At some point in his travels, he was to meet his future bride, Mamie Hauk, who was born in Westport, Missouri. His trail is dimmed by time, until we find him September 12, 1898, in Quartzburg, Idaho, where he wrote to his future bride. “9 years is a long time to stay in one place. I could not sit down and figer up the diferant jobs and diferant places I have bin.” The letter stated that he was boarding at Six dollars per week, and that he had a single room, for which he was paying a dollar fifty per month. He was working in a mine, and was paid three dollars per day. “That is miners wages” He said he was working in the “Ioway” mine. “There is a tunnel on this mine that is 1,000 feet long. Then there is a station or room cut out in solid rock, and in that room, there is an engine for hoisting purposes. There is a shaft which goes down 112 feet, then there is a ‘drift’ run off 200 feet. From where I work to the surface is 650 feet.” Everything is pretty high here. Meals single or other than by the week are fifty cents. Beds are also fifty cents. Provisions can be gotten here cheap by ordering from Boise City. About the country, he ad the following to say: It is a beautiful country in summer. There is no healthier place in the world. It is a timbered country consisting of Fir, Spruce, and Pine. It is in a basin hemmed in by mountains. The snowfall is about four feet on the level in the winter. The mail is brought in by Stage in the summer time, and by Sleighs in the winter. It leaves Boise City in the morning and gets here in the evening. It is 55 miles to Boise City. Quartzburg is about 100 inhabitants. It is about one and a half miles to Garnet Town, about the size of this place. It is about three miles over to Placerville, which has about 400 inhabitants. Eight miles to Centerville, about the size of Placerville. 18 miles to Idaho City, the County seat of Boise County. It is about 18 miles to Garden Valley, a farming community, lying on the Payette River. Other places adjacent are Hogam, Sweet Jerusalem, and Horseshoe Bend. At Placerville they have put in a big dredge boat to work Placer ground. “I suppose it has cost over $100,000. At Centerville there is a large dredge boat being built. This machinery is to be run by electricity. There has been an electric plant built up on Moore’s creek this summer. This is an old country, but still in its infancy. This country has been mined since the 1860’s and many of the old log cabins that were put up in ’63 to ’65 are still standing. The country looks old and ancient, and the people are old and ancient, too. I never saw so many old Ivory-haired people in my life, from 65 to 95 years of age, and hale and hearty looking old people. The old gentleman that owns this mine where I am working is over 80 years old, and still he will get out and do a whole lot of work. I like this place, and it agrees with me. I weigh 170 pounds, and never felt better in my life. How would you like to give up city life for frontier life in Idaho?
Joseph came to America sometime prior to 1850. It was his plan to return to the country of his origin, but was told he would have to join the German army if he did so. In a letter to his parents he stated that if this was so, then “the honored King may have my inheritance”. Joseph was given travel money by his parents, which was “enough to get me to St. Louis, but not enough to go completely around the world”.About 1850, he made his way to the gold fields of California where he apparently found enough gold “that now I don’t need to work for anyone else, and have enough to get by comfortably”. Apparently a brother accompanied Joseph to America. There is little information about him. Joseph at one time felt that his brother did not care about him any more; although Joseph had helped him all he could from the time he came to this country. There was also mention of a nephew of Boneparrt’s who returned to “the old country”. Joseph and his brother were apparently preceded to America by other relatives. A letter from Henry F. Glahn dated 1910, to Andrew M. Glahn states: “Several years after my parents came to this country, a Mr. Joseph and Boneparrt Glahn came to America, and they were either my fathers Nephews or Cousins, I cannot positively say. This Joseph Glahn worked with my father a few years at the Wagon trade, then they both went West”. (About 1890) “Boneparrt Glahn came to my house on a visit of about two weeks. He affirmed the report of Joseph’s death, stating that he was killed, and that he, Boneparrt, was anxious to know where Joseph’s children were”.Henry’s parents were Christian Glahn and Mary Antonia (Wand). Henry was born in Prussia, Germany in 1841. He and his parents came to America in 1843. Joseph, his bride, and his young son, Andrew, apparently went to Virginia City, Montana, where Joseph was killed May 1, 1864. How he was killed is not known at this time. It is safe to assume he was probably looking for gold, and his death may have been related. Family lore says he was bushwhacked.His wife, Susan Louisa (Eisele) was remarried to Richard M. Johnson on August 7, 1865.
Richard Johnson’s marriage to Susan Louisa (Eisele) (Glahn)Richard Martin Johnson was born in August of 1832 in Pennsylvania. He married Susan on August 7, 1865, just 15 months after the death of Susan’s first husband, Joseph Glahn.To this union were born six additional children, four girls and two boys. The first, Rosa, was born May 20, 1867, in Kelso Valley, Kern County, California. May 20, 1884, she was married to Charles Carothers, at Bellevue, Idaho. She died at Richland, Oregon on February 6, 1906.Richard Johnson was born December 9, 1870 at Havilah, Kern County, California. Ten months later, he died (10/27/1871), at Havilah, California.Daisy Johnson was born February 22, 1872 in Los Angeles, California. She was married to Wade Lane on August 17, 1891, in Boistfort, Washington. She died February 3, 1945, in Detroit, Michigan.Next was another son, Edgar Johnson, born February 4, 1877 on Bishop Creek, Inyo County, California. Edgar married Nettie Capron in Lewis County, Washington, in November of 1900. He died at Prineville, Oregon, August 7, 1940.Elma May Johnson was the next daughter. She was born May 6, 1878 on Bishop Creek, Inyo, California. She died on January 6, 1883 and was buried at Bellevue, Idaho.The youngest daughter, Maud Grace Johnson was born November 10, 1878, also at Bishop Creek, California. Maud married Ory Capron in Lewis County, Washington, on December 20, 1903, at the age of twenty-five years. She died November 26, 1973, and was buried at Boistfort, Washington.
Andrew Martin Glahn was the only son of Joseph Glahn and Susan Louisa Eisele. He was born at Westport, Missouri on October 24, 1861. When he was but two and a half years old, his father, Joseph was bushwhacked at Virginia City, Montana. After Joseph’s death, Andrew’s mother, Susan, remarried, and Andrew was raised with his half brothers and sisters. There seems to be no information regarding what age he was when he struck out on his own, but it appears he was in California with his new family until he came with them to Idaho, as evidenced by the death of his half sister, Elma May, in 1883. At some point in his travels, he was to meet his future bride, Mamie Hauk, who was born in Westport, Missouri. His trail is dimmed by time, until we find him September 12, 1898, in Quartzburg, Idaho, where he wrote to his future bride. “9 years is a long time to stay in one place. I could not sit down and figer up the diferant jobs and diferant places I have bin.” The letter stated that he was boarding at Six dollars per week, and that he had a single room, for which he was paying a dollar fifty per month. He was working in a mine, and was paid three dollars per day. “That is miners wages” He said he was working in the “Ioway” mine. “There is a tunnel on this mine that is 1,000 feet long. Then there is a station or room cut out in solid rock, and in that room, there is an engine for hoisting purposes. There is a shaft which goes down 112 feet, then there is a ‘drift’ run off 200 feet. From where I work to the surface is 650 feet.” Everything is pretty high here. Meals single or other than by the week are fifty cents. Beds are also fifty cents. Provisions can be gotten here cheap by ordering from Boise City. About the country, he ad the following to say: It is a beautiful country in summer. There is no healthier place in the world. It is a timbered country consisting of Fir, Spruce, and Pine. It is in a basin hemmed in by mountains. The snowfall is about four feet on the level in the winter. The mail is brought in by Stage in the summer time, and by Sleighs in the winter. It leaves Boise City in the morning and gets here in the evening. It is 55 miles to Boise City. Quartzburg is about 100 inhabitants. It is about one and a half miles to Garnet Town, about the size of this place. It is about three miles over to Placerville, which has about 400 inhabitants. Eight miles to Centerville, about the size of Placerville. 18 miles to Idaho City, the County seat of Boise County. It is about 18 miles to Garden Valley, a farming community, lying on the Payette River. Other places adjacent are Hogam, Sweet Jerusalem, and Horseshoe Bend. At Placerville they have put in a big dredge boat to work Placer ground. “I suppose it has cost over $100,000. At Centerville there is a large dredge boat being built. This machinery is to be run by electricity. There has been an electric plant built up on Moore’s creek this summer. This is an old country, but still in its infancy. This country has been mined since the 1860’s and many of the old log cabins that were put up in ’63 to ’65 are still standing. The country looks old and ancient, and the people are old and ancient, too. I never saw so many old Ivory-haired people in my life, from 65 to 95 years of age, and hale and hearty looking old people. The old gentleman that owns this mine where I am working is over 80 years old, and still he will get out and do a whole lot of work. I like this place, and it agrees with me. I weigh 170 pounds, and never felt better in my life. How would you like to give up city life for frontier life in Idaho?
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