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Not yet a VCDL member? Join VCDL at: http://www.vcdl.org/join
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Abbreviations used in VA-ALERT: http://www.vcdl.org/help/abbr.html
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1. Newspaper chain first claims they want a list of all CHP holders in U.S. and then recants under pressure
2. Members needed to help end a gun-range closure in Augusta County
3. VCDL solves problem with Brunswick County CHP issuance
4. Help needed for Richmond gun show next weekend, Feb 1 and 2
5. I know, I know - I shouldnt have baited the poor, but vicious, gun-hater
6. Media coverage of Lobby Day and a thank you
7. Delegate Futrell refused to meet with VCDL team and refused to take VCDLs Legislative Analysis document!
8. Senator Stuart responds to VCDLs claim that he led the charge to kill a pro-gun bill
9. Reminder: VCDL president to speak at Lynchburg Libertarian meeting on Feb. 17
10. Beretta won't move to Virginia due to Terry McAuliffe's gun-control agenda
11. Cole's Bill Would Allow Guns at Private Schools
12. Hunters assist in arrest after Cumberland bank robbery
13. Robbers killed Portsmouth man, police say
14. Man dies after being found shot inside Spotsylvania auto parts store
15. ATF agent sends shockwaves with explosive allegations about 'Fast and Furious'
16. [OR] Citizens take law into own hands after county guts sheriff's office
17. Bloomberg joins Moms Demand Action to pressure businesses for gun control
18. More disabled people oppose assault weapon restrictions
19. 'Universal background checks' extension for gun shows are not needed
20. The final word on storing rimfire cartridges
21. Wall Street adviser recommends guns, ammo for protection in collapse
22. Power to the people? Remembering the year in recalls.
23. [CO] Arapahoe High School Student's Father Calls for Guns In Schools
24. [PA] Packing Heat: PA's Open Carry Gun Law [VIDEO]
25. [MO] Another state to vote to exempt itself from national gun laws
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1. Newspaper chain first claims they want a list of all CHP holders in U.S. and then recants under pressure
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I was inundated with emails from VCDL members both concerned and outraged over a large newspaper conglomerate, Civitas Media, claiming they want to get the names and information on all the CHP holders in various states.
CHP holder private information has been protected in Virginia since last year, so such an attempt here would be fruitless.
However, the publisher is now backing down.
From foxnews.com: http://tinyurl.com/ksufgfg
Member Matt Jordan sent me the following information:
There is one Civitas Media outlet in Virginia: Carroll News in Hillsville.
From the Civitas Media web site, front and center:
Statement from the CEO
Civitas Media never had any plans or intentions of publishing in print or online lists of holders of conceal and carry permits. Nor will Civitas Media develop databases of permit holders. A poorly crafted internal memo meant to highlight editorial discussions and planning incorrectly indicated that such a database was being planned; it has been considered and rejected.
Michael C. Bush, CEO
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2. Members needed to help end a gun-range closure in Augusta County
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Member Richard Armstrong contacted me about the new scheduled closing of the Hite Hollow range in Augusta County from January 1 through May 1 of each year, starting with this year. The closure for THIS YEAR cannot be undone, unfortunately.
The reasons for the closure where lack of funding and lack of available personnel to maintain the location on a weekly basis.
The U.S. Forest Service believes an upswing in vandalism will result from remaining open with diminished staffing..
Richard said that he knows of at least five people interested in taking care of the range on a permanent basis.
The NRA has already contacted Mr. Burge, the US forest supervisor, on setting up a program to assist.
The Shenandoah Valley tea party patriots are contacting membership to see how many more people may be interested in maintenance of the site and organizing activities at the location.
With VCDL members in the Augusta County area also pitching in, they should be able to put a viable program together for the maintenance and organized activities at the location.
Hite Hollow is located just north of Craigsville, in Augusta County off of route 42 going south from Churchville. If you or anyone living in Augusta County, Staunton, Waynesboro, or adjacent areas wish to get involved to end these range closures, send me an email (president@vcdl.org) and I will forward your information on to Richard.
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3. VCDL solves problem with Brunswick County CHP issuance
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The employees of the Circuit Court Clerk of Brunswick County had not been telling CHP applicants that they can mail in their applications if renewing. In fact they were telling people they had to drop the application off at the Sheriffs Office, then pick the paperwork up when the background check was done, take the paperwork over to the Commonwealth Attorney, and then take the paperwork to the Clerk. Member John Zubrod brought this mess to my attention. I contacted the Clerk, Earl Stanley, and he assured me that he would remind his staff that mailing in renewals is fine.
I also talked to the Brunswick County Sheriff, Brian Roberts. He wanted to make sure that HE was following protocol. He ran over his procedures with me and the only one I saw a problem with was a release form that he required the CHP applicant to sign, giving the Sheriff permission to do a background check. He said the State Police had told him he needed to do so.
I told him that I had not heard of this being done anywhere else. I contacted the State Police and they said that the Sheriff did NOT have to have such a release to do the background check. I gave Sheriff Roberts the contact at the State Police and I think that issue has now been resolved.
Sheriff Roberts noted that if a person does shuttle around the paperwork, they will get their permit quicker. I said that as long as a person could mail in their renewal, it didnt matter to us if they chose to use the *voluntary* option of shuttling the paperwork around to speed up the process.
If you have any problems with issues like this in Brunswick County, be sure to let me know.
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4. Help needed for Richmond gun show next weekend, Feb 1 and 2!
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Short notice - help needed!
RICHMOND - http://www.gunshowstoday.com/gun-show/s ... mond-va-5/, Feb. 1 2
ShowMasters Gun and Knife Show
Richmond International Raceway & Fairground Complex
Richmond, VA
Saturday, Feb. 1 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Sunday, Feb. 2 9:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. 12:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Please contact David Crosby at CentralVAgunshows@vcdl.org to help at the Richmond Raceway Complex.
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5. I know, I know - I shouldnt have baited the poor, but vicious, gun-hater
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It started with this post by an anti-liberty type on the VCDL Facebook page. As you can see, Chris Zumbrunnen fits the stereotype of the all too common angry gun-hater. He apparently isnt aware that women have been known to slap men and other women. Sometimes a man gets a punch in the arm for some possibly deserved faux pas. Should such a woman lose her right to self-defense forever for a misdemeanor domestic violence or assault and battery conviction? VCDL says no. Same for a man slapping another man or a woman. Keep in mind, if the person hit is seriously hurt, it wont be a misdemeanor, but a felony - case over. The antis would love to divide gun owners over this issue so that we would turn on each other and take away someones rights over misdemeanors.
Here is the unsolicited post:
You people are cowards through and through. You think it is ok for a man to hit a woman? Any man that lays hands on a woman in anger, Slaps Hits strangles etc should NEVER Be Able to own any weapon ever again and all their weapons should be confiscated immediately. Only WIFE BEATERS, little cowardly men that couldnt face a real man are like you people.
The problem is I know Chriss type all too well. They are hypocrites, who project their own character flaws of being violent and short tempered on everyone else. They assume that you and I have the same short fuse that they have, but we dont.
I simply could not stop myself from calmly throwing gasoline on the fire - smiling to myself as I wrote back to him:
Sounds like you are the one with anger management problems, Chris."
And that simple, but probably true, statement of fact, quite predictably, pushed him off the edge. Any bets that he is describing himself in this tirade?:
Chris wrote: "I say again COWARDS ! Pathetic Cowards to scared to confront someone man on man you have to be afraid of a women that might slap you? You fit the profile of a Wife Beating Drunk who thinks they need a Gun to protect themselves . Anger Management has nothing to do with it. The rest of us Americans are sick and tired of you Redneck Gun Loving Morons promoting More guns and now you Morons in this group even want WIFE Beaters to able to have a weapon. I hope you all have Daughters I know you had to have a mother somewhere and when One of them gets shot by one of your members or some other Idiot that thinks they need a Gun to protect them against their WIFE REMEMBER that you brought this on your own house !
About that time EM Ed Levine, who is a moderator on the VCDL Facebook page, decided I was having too much fun and that someone had to be the adult in the room, so he deleted the thread and blocked Chris.
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6. Media coverage of Lobby Day and a thank you
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First, EM Chip Marce, who was a Team Leader on Lobby Day, wanted me to convey the following message to all of you:
"I wanted to take a moment to give a huge THANKS to the folks who joined me today for an awesome lobby day! The best part for me is getting to meet and talk with some of the best pro-gun activists in the country....our VCDL members. As always, lobby day was a lot of fun. I'm sorry that my whole team didn't get to see it, but it was just too precious to see the shocked look on a new Legislative Assistant's face when I calmly told him how many people wanted to meet with his delegate. VCDL is successful because we DO provide those moments of shock and awe! Again to my team and all of you who attended lobby day my heartfelt thanks. You're the best! Let's fill the square in 2015!
From the timesdispatch.com: http://tinyurl.com/qbqrw8a
Gun-rights supporters, anti-violence advocates lobby lawmakers
From ncbwashington.com: http://tinyurl.com/ltd3axx [VIDEO]
Gun Laws Debated in Virginia
From nbc12.com: http://tinyurl.com/k548jwk [VIDEO]
Both sides of gun debate lobby lawmakers
From wric.com: http://tinyurl.com/m4pc3ph [VIDEO]
Gun Debate Continues at Rally at Capitol
Bloggers are also covering Lobby Day:
http://www.neverevererin.com/lobbied-fo ... s-in-2014/
The antis name-du-jour, the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence (CSGV), whining that they have to follow the rules at the General Assembly, just like everyone else has to. Caution, duct tape should be placed securely around your head to keep it from exploding before going to this anti-gun Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/CoalitiontoSto ... 2875841613
Another one of their Facebook pages showing how they twist and edit items to conform to their agenda, the truth be damned. Notice how they edited out key parts of the VCDL Update, which you saw in its entirety a few days ago, to make it look like we were greatly out numbered and demoralized. Good luck with either of those things, CSGV:
https://www.facebook.com/CoalitiontoSto ... 0045778896
Member Troy Hayes offered this analysis of Lobby Day news coverage:
Analysis of News Coverage of VCDL Lobby Day 2014
Time analysis: I analyzed the TV news coverage of VCDL Lobby Day by News 4 at 5 (NBC4 Washington), Julie Carey reporting. The story took 2 minutes 17 seconds, of which the gun control advocates were covered 46% of the time, the gun rights advocates 34%, and the remaining 20% was the overview of the story.
Image analysis: Images of the gun control group were the paper hearts and human faces, including the very photogenic governor's wife. Images of the gun rights group included the "Guns Save Lives" stickers, some human faces, and lots of guns. Many of the gun images were close ups, making them look particularly scary to many.
Language analysis: "Nothing seems to have changed." As a culture we are conditioned to believe that change is good. So if nothing has changes--as in more restrictive gun laws--then that is a bad thing. "It's a new day in Virginia" said by the new state safety officer, suggesting that the new democratic administration will push for new gun laws, and new is good, isn't it?. And VCDL just wants to block any gun control measure. Julie ignored the VCDL speakers that explained how gun rights derives from and help preserve the Constitution's Bill of Rights.
I offer these comments to make the point that the bias against guns can be subtle: more time given to one side, more appealing (to many) images given to one side, and language that suggests one side is for change toward a new day, whereas the other side just wants to block progress.
For those who haven't read it, I recommend John Lott's book The Bias Against Guns. He shows in some detail how the bias against guns is generated and sustained in a large part of our society. This book resonated with me as I made my journey from pro gun-control to pro Bill of Rights, becoming an NRA Benefactor Member along the way--but that's another story.
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7. Delegate Futrell refused to meet with VCDL team and refused to take VCDLs Legislative Analysis document!
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One of our Team Leaders on Lobby Day reported to me that Delegate Futrell and his aide both refused to see the team and Futrell and his aide also refused to even be given VCDLs Firearms Bill Analysis document! Thats a new one on both counts.
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8. Senator Stuart responds to VCDLs claim that he led the charge to kill a pro-gun bill
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As mentioned in last weeks legislative alert, Senator Richard Stuart unexpectedly led the charge to kill Senator Garretts SB 368, which would have allowed CHP holders to have a loaded long gun in their vehicles anywhere in the Commonwealth (currently localities can ban such behavior). As reported, Senator Stuart said, I struggled to teach my children the responsible handling of firearms and that [Garrett's bill] flies in the face of everything I try to teach them, so I move to PBI [kill the bill]
Senator Stuart says that the freedom to have a loaded long gun in a vehicle is not a Second Amendment issue, but I strongly disagree with that. What good is an unloaded gun? The Second Amendment is NOT about the right to keep and bear unloaded guns.
Senator Stuarts concern about firearm safety is really misplaced because in parts of the Commonwealth it is legal to have a loaded long gun in a vehicle already. Where is the problem?
Also, Senator Stuart implied that this bill just affected shotguns, but it also affects rifles!
Here is the email that Senator Stuart has sent out to his constituents:
Dear [redacted],
I understand why you would be concerned about my vote on Senator Garretts Senate Bill 368, based upon the press release sent out by the VCDL. However, unfortunately, the VCDL has not explained the bill accurately. What Senator Garretts bill actually did was encourage having or leaving loaded shotguns in a vehicle. While I am a staunch defender of 2nd Amendment rights, this has nothing to do with the 2nd Amendment and it has everything to do with the safe handling of firearms. We already have every right to carry a loaded firearm besides a shotgun. This is why I opposed the bill. Encouraging people to leave or carry loaded shotguns in a vehicle is not what we should be doing as responsible gun owners and champions of the 2nd Amendment.
Sincerely,
Richard
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9. Reminder: VCDL president to speak at Lynchburg Libertarian meeting on Feb. 17
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I will be speaking at the Lynchburg Libertarians Monthly Monday Happy Hour on February 17. The meeting starts at 7 pm and open or concealed carry is welcome at the restaurant - the owner said he was fine with us expressing our constitutional right to carry.
The meeting is open to the public and will be held at:
The White Hart & Backwater Coffee Co.
1208 Main St.
Lynchburg, VA 24504
www.thewhitehartcoffee.com
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10. Beretta won't move to Virginia due to Terry McAuliffe's gun-control agenda
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Terry McAuliffe wasnt even sworn in as Governor yet and he already lost Virginia a large number of jobs and tax revenue. Not only does gun control cost lives, it also scares away commerce.
EM Ed Levine emailed me this:
--
From WashingtonTimes.com: http://tinyurl.com/kzlt8yj
Beretta won't move to Virginia due to Terry McAuliffe's gun-control agenda
By Emily Miller
December 23, 2013
Beretta has eliminated Virginia from its short list of states to move its company because anti-gun Democrat Terry McAuliffe was elected governor.
The firearms manufacturer made the decision to scratch Virginia off the list after the McAuliffe campaign fixated on restricting gun owners' rights after receiving over $1 million in campaign donations from billionaire New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg.
"The anti-gun ads that McAuliffe ran in northern Virginia were particularly offensive," Jeff Reh, general counsel of Beretta USA, told me in an interview. "And the fact that he could gain a voting advantage by doing so caused us additional concern."
The family owned, 500-year old Italian company has been scouting locations for its Accokeek factory in reaction to Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley ramming radical gun-control into law last spring.
The Virginia site of the possible plant was one of six finalists locations that Beretta executives are now considering, after visiting 80 location in seven states.
Mr. Reh said that, "All this was a real disappointment because of the great pro-gun and pro-business response we received from the Commonwealth and local political and business leaders throughout our search process in Virginia."
A spokesman for outgoing Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell would not comment on "unannounced projects." Calls to Commerce and Trade Secretary Jim Cheng were not returned.
Beretta has a distribution center in Spotsylvania County, Va., which it opened after former Maryland Gov. Parris Glendening passed an absurd law that would have made shipping pistols a bureaucratic mess.
The firearms industry is one of the few that has grown and prospered during the Obama administration. Gun manufacturers bring much needed jobs and revenue to states feeling pinched in the weak economy.
But the sweep of new gun-control laws passed in seven states this year due to pressure from President Obama and New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg has changed the business plans of several companies.
Lawrence Keane is general counsel for the National Shooting Sports Foundation, which is the trade association for firearms and ammunition manufacturers.
"It is clear that firearms manufacturers will not invest in states where the legislature and governor do not respect the Second Amendment, or if they have already have a presence in such a state that they will not invest further in that state," Mr. Keane said.
"More than one CEO has told me that they receive offers on an almost daily basis to move their factories to pro-gun, pro-business state -- practically for free."
Gun control laws are enacted on emotions, not facts. They do nothing to make the public safer. At the same time, these result in job loss and a worse economy. Any governor or state legislature that continues to pursue more gun-control laws does so for the sake of their own agenda, not the citizens.
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11. Cole's Bill Would Allow Guns at Private Schools
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Delegate Cole introduced this bill at VCDLs request. There's no reason why the government should be prohibiting otherwise lawful conduct on PRIVATE property
Member Walter Jackson emailed me this:
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From Fredericksburg.Patch.com: http://tinyurl.com/mlo7k4z
Cole's Bill Would Allow Guns at Private Schools
By Susan Larson
December 20, 2013
HB 114 will be considered during the 2014 Virginia General Assembly.
Virginia Delegate Mark Cole (R-VA-88) has introduced a bill that would allow possession of a stun weapon, knife or other weapon, or a firearm on private or religious school property.
HB 114 would amend and reenact Section 18.2-308.1 of the Code of Virginia, relating to possession of firearm, etc., on school property; private or religious schools. The summary of the bill reads:
"Eliminates the crimes of possession on the property of a
private or religious elementary, middle, or high school; a
school bus owned or operated by such school; or any property
being used for functions or extracurricular activities sponsored
by such school of a stun weapon, knife, or other weapon (currently
a Class 1 misdemeanor) or a firearm (currently a Class 6 felony).
The bill does not affect the criminal penalties for the possession
of such weapons on public school property."
Cole has received contributions from the NRA.
The Virginia General Assembly convenes on Jan. 8, 2014.
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12. Hunters assist in arrest after Cumberland bank robbery
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Two hunters put their lives in jeopardy to help the police get an alleged escaping bank robber. Hats off to them.
Member Walter Jackson emailed me this:
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From TimesDispatch.com: http://tinyurl.com/npxtrnl
Hunters assist in arrest after Cumberland bank robbery
By Laura Kebede
December 22, 2013
Two hunters assisted in the arrest of a Richmond man following a bank robbery in Cumberland County on Friday.
Jamieyian J. Liggon, 28, and Jaquan L. Robinson, 31, both of Richmond, are being held without bond at Piedmont Regional Jail in Farmville.
Virginia State Police were called to Central Virginia/C&F Bank in Cartersville at 9:17 a.m. Friday after two men had entered the bank and, at gunpoint, demanded money and keys to a bank employee's car.
When the employee's car didn't start, one man ran through a nearby field and the other fled into nearby woods, police said.
Two hunters spotted Liggon, detained him without incident and turned him over to police back at the bank. Police recovered the handgun and stolen money.
Police said they found Robinson hiding under a recreational vehicle later Friday after a search that involved dogs and a helicopter.
The Cumberland County Sheriff's Office, Powhatan County Sheriff's Office and Richmond Field Office of the FBI assisted with the search and investigation.
Liggon and Robinson were each charged with a felony count of robbery, a felony count of conspiracy to commit robbery, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony and attempted grand larceny of a vehicle.
State police Special Agent K.R. George is investigating the possibility of a third male suspect involved in assisting Liggon and Robinson with their alleged escape.
Anyone with information about this individual or the bank robbery is asked to call the Virginia State Police at (434) 352-7128
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13. Robbers killed Portsmouth man, police say
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Who needs a gun when simply walking home?
Member Rollin Reisinger emailed me this:
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From HamptonRoads.com: http://tinyurl.com/lghano5
Robbers killed Portsmouth man, police say
By Patrick Wilson
December 29, 2013
A Cradock man was shot and killed in a robbery attempt Tuesday night as he walked home.
Detwan Sims, 25, of Harris Road was shot about 11:37 p.m. Police said he was walking to his house when two men tried to rob him, and he was shot.
Sims then crawled to the rear door to alert his family, who called 911. He died about 4:10 a.m. Wednesday at a hospital.
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14. Man dies after being found shot inside Spotsylvania auto parts store
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Who needs a gun in a auto parts store?
Board Member Dale Welch emailed me this:
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From NBC12.com: http://tinyurl.com/p6udvqh
Man dies after being found shot inside Spotsylvania auto parts store
By Terry Alexander
December 27, 2013
SPOTSYLVANIA, VA (WWBT) - An employee at an auto parts store was found shot to death inside the business.
The Spotsylvania Sheriff's office says 61-year-old Mickey Jones was found Friday morning inside the Attkisson Truck and Parts Company on Mallard Road.
Investigators say he was shot, but it is unknown what led to the shooting and no arrests have been made.
Authorities say they are treating this as a homicide.
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15. ATF agent sends shockwaves with explosive allegations about 'Fast and Furious'
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Member Scott Baker emailed me this:
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From TheBlaze.com: http://tinyurl.com/l2gj94d
ATF agent sends shockwaves across internet with explosive allegations about 'Fast and Furious' and Brian Terry's death
By Jason Howerton
December 27, 2013
John Dodson, the federal agent who blew the lid off the Justice Department's "Fast and Furious" gun-walking scandal, claims the FBI had ties to the men who killed U.S. Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry in 2010 near Nogales, Ariz. In fact, Dodson says the Mexican bandits who gunned down Terry were working for FBI operatives and had been sent to the border to do a "drug rip-off" using intelligence gathered by the DEA.
Dodson, a special agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, said he doesn't think the FBI was part of the rip-off crew, but the agency was "directing the rip crew." The explosive claims were made in an interview with The Arizona Republic this week and are already creating some waves across the Internet.
The allegations are also found in Dodson's recently released book, "The Unarmed Truth," which chronicles his role as a whistleblower during Operation Fast and Furious. The Obama administration unsuccessfully tried to block the publication of his book.
AZCentral.com http://tinyurl.com/mxozsk4 has more background on Fast and Furious:
Terry belonged to an elite Border Patrol tactical team sent to a remote area known as Peck Canyon, roughly a dozen miles northwest of Nogales, where violence had escalated because criminal gangs were stealing narcotics from drug runners known as mules. He was slain in a shootout with several bandits. Two assault-type rifles found at the scene were subsequently traced to Fast and Furious.
The operation, based in Phoenix, was launched in 2009 to identify and prosecute drug lords, but instead allowed guns to be "walked" into the hands of Mexican criminals. ATF agents encouraged licensed firearms dealers in Arizona to sell more than 2,000 weapons to known "straw buyers" who were working for cartels. Instead of arresting suspects immediately, surveillance agents took notes and let them disappear with the guns.
After the Terry slaying and an attempted cover-up within the Justice Department, Dodson provided evidence and testimony to Congress. His revelations, later verified by an Office of the Inspector General's report, ignited a national scandal over Fast and Furious that resulted in a congressional contempt citation against Attorney General Eric Holder and the replacement of top ATF and Justice Department officials.
In his book, Dodson uses cautious language to characterize his account of circumstances surrounding Terry's death, saying the information is based on firsthand knowledge, personal opinion and press reports. He asserts that the DEA had information about, and may have orchestrated, a large drug shipment through Peck Canyon that December night. He alleges that DEA agents shared that intelligence with FBI counterparts, who advised criminal informants from another cartel that the load would be "theirs for the taking."
Dodson laid out a strategy in which federal law enforcement agencies, like the FBI, allow criminal activity in order to increase the clout of FBI informants embedded within cartel organizations.
"If they can get these guys (informants) in a position so they're closer to the Tier 1 or Tier 2 guy (in the cartel), they'll do it. They want to make these guys (operatives) rock stars," he said.
The alleged border "rip-off" that ended in Terry's death is one of these situations, Dodson claims.
The FBI operates as if the ends justify the means because they believe "these crimes are going to be happening anyway," Dodson explained. The ultimate goal is to gain as much intelligence on cartels as possible.
"Essentially, the United States government is involved in cartel-building," Dodson said.
The claims sound eerily familiar to allegations brought forward by high-ranking Sinaloa Cartel operative Jesus Vicente Zambada-Niebla, who is currently facing trial in Chicago on federal drug charges.
As previously reported by TheBlaze, Zambada-Niebla claims he was granted immunity during a 2011 meeting with DEA agents in Mexico in exchange for intel. The federal government uses a "divide and conquer" strategy to dismantle other cartels in Mexico, entering into agreements with ruthless drug cartels.
"(They) were given carte blanche to continue to smuggle tons of illicit drugs into Chicago and the rest of the United States and were also protected by the United States government from arrest and prosecution in return for providing information against rival cartels which helped Mexican and United States authorities capture or kill thousands of rival cartel members," the defense motion in the case reads.
Because he continues to be outspoken about Fast and Furious, Dodson says he is treated like a pariah.
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16. [OR] Citizens take law into own hands after county guts sheriff's office
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Citizens banding together to protect a community where police services are minimal? Shocking! Or not.
Member Fred Bram emailed me this:
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From FoxNews.com: http://tinyurl.com/kzlrbor
Citizens take law into own hands after cash-strapped Ore. county guts sheriff's office
By Stephanie McNeal
December 28, 2013
When budget woes reduced the sheriff's department in one rural Oregon county to a bare-bones force, residents decided to take matters into their own hands -- creating armed patrol groups in defiance of local officials.
Their decision has raised safety concerns with the county government, which would prefer residents instead hike their own taxes to fund the hiring of trained deputies. But despite the risks, the move stands as a unique, some would say innovative, response to one of the country's most severe local budget crunches.
The government in Josephine County, where nearly 70 percent of the land is owned by the U.S. government, had long relied on federal timber subsidies to pay the bills. When the feds terminated the funds, county officials scrambled to pass a May 2012 tax levy to make up a nearly $7.5 million budget shortfall.
However, the county's residents voted against the levy, and as a result the Josephine County Sheriff's Office was gutted. The major crimes unit closed, dozens of prisoners were released from the county jail and the department reduced operations to Monday-Friday, eight hours a day.
The Sheriff's Office then issued a press release announcing their deputies would only be responding to what they deemed "life-threatening situations."
Ken Selig -- who was the longest-serving law enforcement officer in all three local agencies when he was forced to retire from the department due to cuts -- told FoxNews.com he found the sheriff's declaration unacceptable. And he felt compelled to guard his community's vulnerable members.
"Who else is going to protect you when your government can't?" Selig said.
Selig and his friend Pete Scaglione formed the North Valley Community Watch, a county-wide organization dedicated to helping citizens in non-life-threatening situations, primarily property crimes. It is one of a handful of community groups that have formed since the cuts. Without a robust Sheriff's Office, their mission is broader than the typical neighborhood watch group.
Not only did the Sheriff's Office narrow its scope to "life-threatening" situations, but it even encouraged people who felt unsafe to relocate. "... the Sheriff's Office regretfully advises that, if you know you are in a potentially volatile situation (for example, you are a protected person in a restraining order that you believe the respondent may violate), you may want to consider relocating to an area with adequate law enforcement services," the original release stated.
Selig's community watch group, looking to fill in the law enforcement cracks, now meets once a month to discuss crime and teach its approximately 100 members about personal safety. The group also has a trained "response team," which consists of 12 people who will respond to the scene of a reported non-life-threatening situation if called.
Though the "response team" members do carry legal firearms, Selig said the team's main goal is to provide a deterrent presence, and that none of them have ever fired a shot. He said those involved in his group believe there is no substitute for well-trained law enforcement, but they feel they have no other choice but to protect their community.
"We believe responsible citizens doing responsible things make it hard for criminals to do irresponsible things," he said.
Selig believes politics are behind the county government's decision to not funnel what funds they do have toward law enforcement. He says the county government seems to be pressuring the citizens to pass an additional tax hike they cannot afford.
"The key is to get the funding somewhere where the local people can get the services they need," Selig said.
However, Josephine County Commissioner Keith Heck said residents of the county that opposed the tax levy need to realize there is no fat to cut.
Heck said the county has tried to live within the bounds of its fiscal realities, but citizens need to realize the options for paying for law enforcement are limited. "The county coffers are at the bottom of the barrel," he said.
Heck said though he supports neighborhood watch groups and citizens being vigilant in their community, the rise of increasingly "aggressive" community watch groups make him worried the situation could escalate to violence. Watch groups have been under increasing scrutiny nationally ever since the George Zimmerman case in Florida.
"These things seem good on the PR side but fail a little in the reality side," Heck said.
Heck said the only real solution is for the county citizens to approve more funds.
"There is this little shimmer out there of some giant Santa that is going to come and drop all this money on us because we are well-meaning folks," he said. "The sleigh is broken, the deer are dead, it's not going to happen. We have to figure out how we are going to solve this problem.
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17. Bloomberg joins Moms Demand Action to pressure businesses for gun control
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Member Bill Albritton emailed me this:
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From Breitbart.com: http://tinyurl.com/kf7war5
Bloomberg joins Moms Demand Action to pressure businesses for gun control
By Awr Hawkins
December 22, 2013
On December 26th Michael Bloomberg's Mayors Against Illegal Guns (MAIG) will announce it is joining forces with Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America (MDA) in a continuing push for more gun control.
This will benefit MAIG inasmuch as their numbers have been dwindling and it will benefit MDA by giving them the funding that comes from "Bloomberg's deep pockets."
According to USA Today, MAIG chairman John Feinblatt says the joining of the two groups marks "a turning point for the [gun control] movement."
It should be noted that neither group has been very successful operating on their own to date. MAIG ruthlessly campaigned for the passage of Senator Joe Manchin's (D-WV) gun bill in April, only to see it defeated.
The failure of MAIG is best understood by juxtaposing November 2012 with November 2013. In 2012 Bloomberg suggested the NRA was dying--that it no longer possessed the ability to "move the needle" in political elections. In November 2013 Virginia delegate races NRA-backed candidates beat Bloomberg/MAIG candidates 65-2.
As for MDA, to date they have pressured Starbucks' CEO Howard Schultz to ban guns in all Starbucks stores: he did not. They are currently pressuring Staples CEO Ronald Sargent to ban guns in all Staples stores: he has not.
Their next campaign is to be against McDonald's: pressuring the iconic fast food giant to ban the possession of firearms on all McDonald's property--even firearms possessed by law abiding citizens with concealed carry licenses.
Losing track record aside, they will have plenty of money for the campaign against McDonald's thanks to Bloomberg.
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18. More disabled people oppose assault weapon restrictions
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[Fortunately, my own disabilities do not dictate the type of firearm which I am able to use and/or carry. They do, however, remind me daily that if suburbia were the savanna, I would be the preferred prey of the ever-present predators. If you know or work with a disabled person, use this item as an opportunity to reach out and discuss their opinions about safety and need for personal protection. "Disabled" should never mean "defenseless." - Dan Brooks, Editor, VA-ALERT]
Member Charles Johnson emailed me this:
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From LATimes.com: http://tinyurl.com/pk4rdp2
More disabled people oppose assault weapon restrictions
By Molly Hennessy-Fiske
December 21, 2013
CHADDS FORD, Pa. -- Slowly and with a hitch in his step, Sal Foti made his way to the handicapped shooting lane at Targetmaster Indoor Firearm Range & Gun Shop.
The lane is closest to the door, wide enough for a wheelchair or other equipment and marked with a handicapped sign.
Foti, 57, a retired public relations executive, has suffered since childhood from rheumatoid arthritis, which stiffens his joints, making it difficult for him to walk or stand for long.
"To put up even the target is hard for me," he said, "It's nice to see that ranges are starting to understand and accommodate handicapped shooters. Given the aging population and the fact that we've got more of these military folks coming back disabled, I think there's going to be more of a need for it."
The group Disabled Americans for Firearms Rights, formed before the December 2012 school shooting in Newtown, Conn., saw its membership quadruple to 19,000 after the event, energizing its lobbying on behalf of gun owners. Many disabled citizens have difficulty wielding traditional pistols and rifles, which has prompted some to become vociferous allies in the campaign to block new restrictions on assault-style weapons.
"They're banning these weapons for arbitrary reasons -- because it has a certain grip or stock -- when in reality those are the features that someone with a disability like me needs to operate a firearm," said Scott Ennis, a hemophiliac who started the Connecticut-based disabled firearm-owners group and serves as its president. Like Foti, Ennis suffered joint damage that makes it difficult for him to grip and shoot.
Reports earlier this year that Iowa was licensing blind gun owners to carry concealed firearms stirred controversy, with some critics saying it wasn't safe, including the disabled executive director of Iowans for Gun Safety. By law, blind gun owners could already hunt with restrictions in Iowa and several other states, including Michigan, Wisconsin and Texas.
Ennis and others insist that all citizens have the right to bear arms, and disabled citizens often have an even greater need for weapons for self-defense. "If an individual who has a disability, any disability, can pass the firearms safety class and they don't have any felonies or anything that keeps them from owning a firearm due to background check issues, I think that person should be able to exercise their 2nd Amendment rights," he said.
Foti agrees. He wrote an article for Guns.com earlier this year advising disabled shooters on how to modify their firearms to accommodate special needs. He received dozens of encouraging responses.
Disabled people "have to stick together," wrote Randy Miller of Helena, Mont., who suffers from muscular dystrophy and lupus. "It's even more important for those with disabilities to own a gun for self and family defense as far as I'm concerned."
Foti was raised to fear guns. His mother worked at Timex, the watchmaker, while his father ran the family's Italian grocery in Waterbury, Conn. They taught him that guns belonged in the hands of the police. He had two uncles who were police officers, and when they visited, his mother made them leave their guns locked in their cars or in the basement.
He grew up to become a liberal Democrat who supported gun control. But six years ago, reports of a horrific family murder dominated the local news where he lives with his wife and children in Pennsylvania: A Connecticut mother and two daughters were murdered during a home invasion. Only the father escaped. Foti noticed that the man was about a foot taller and 50 pounds heavier than he was.
"I'm watching television and seeing this man, 6 foot 2 and probably 250 pounds, and thinking if that ever happened to my family, what would I do?" he said.
Foti, by then retired, decided to take a firearms safety class. "I was feeling very vulnerable," he recalled.
He thought he was prepared for the class. Before he arrived, he rented a 9-millimeter handgun. But when the instructor told him to assume a military stance -- feet apart, arms lifted -- Foti had trouble holding the gun and the pose.
"He said to me, 'Sal, stand like this,' and I said, 'I can't,'" Foti recalled. "I felt very out of place."
He returned the next day, taking the instructor aside to explain his problems. "The arthritis didn't just affect my hips and knees -- it's my hands and neck and shoulders. When I'm shooting at the range, I can't hold up my gun to sight and aim at the target," he said. The instructor had Foti sit on a stool as he fired. He advised using laser sights and a lighter-weight gun.
Foti bought five pistols -- four semiautomatics and a .357 revolver. He bought a range membership, taught his two children -- Laura, 23, and Parker, 20 -- to shoot, and he researched devices to modify guns, such as laser sights, improved grips and trigger-finger braces.
He rented an AR-15-style rifle and marveled at how lightweight it was, how easy to modify.
"For someone who's handicapped, an AR-15 is probably the easiest type of weapon to shoot at the range," Foti said.
That's why Foti, a supporter of President Obama, opposes gun control measures that limit access to automatic-style rifles and modifications. He's licensed to carry his handguns concealed, which he often does when he and his wife go out to dinner.
Federal statistics show that people with disabilities are more likely to be victims of crime. Women with disabilities are targeted three times as often as others, while the rate for disabled men was nearly double that of others as of 2011, the most recent year available from the Bureau of Justice Statistics. Hate crimes against the disabled increased last year by 67%, with 102 reported, according to the FBI.
"When I was growing up, there seemed to be an unwritten rule that even thugs would leave handicapped people alone," Foti said, "Today, I'm sorry to say, that's gone, and people who are disabled are considered easy prey.... I don't want to be a victim."
Shooting is a matter of personal safety to Foti, but target practice has also become a sport for him, one of the few in which he's still fit to compete.
"You can see I'm sweating," he said, exhausted after 45 minutes of shooting. "It's tough. It was only 50 rounds of ammunition and I had a seat. But still, because of my disability, it tires me out pretty quickly.... But that's the price you pay.
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19. 'Universal background checks' extension for gun shows are not needed
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So, 90% of Americans want universal background checks for gun purchasers? So chirps the anti-iiberty crowd. Ah, not so fast there Mr. and Mrs. Who Needs a Gun.
Member Walter Jackson emailed me this:
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From NSSFBlog.com: http://tinyurl.com/lbw9aan
Americans don't think 'universal background checks' extension for gun shows are needed, national poll finds
By nssfnews
December 23, 2013
Only four out of ten Americans support so-called "universal background checks" at gun shows after being informed that the vast majority of firearms sales at these shows are transacted by licensed retailers that already conduct such checks through the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) as required by federal law. The poll results stand in contrast to the vague claim often reported in the media and attributed to gun control proponents without important contextual detail that 90 percent of Americans surveyed support "universal background checks."
These findings were the among the results of a national scientific poll of more than 1,200 Americans conducted in November by McKeon & Associates and released today by the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), the trade association for the firearms and ammunition industry. The McKeon poll found that only 40 percent of respondents said that extension of "universal background checks" to private transactions at gun shows are necessary, while 53 percent said they are not necessary and 7% said they did not know.
The Americans polled also said by a combined 74 percent margin that conducting background checks against an incomplete database was not effective at all or not very effective while 54 percent said that requiring background checks for transferring guns between friends and family members was not at effective at all or not very effective in reducing violent crime.
The poll also discovered that 92 percent of Americans agree that the states should submit all records of persons federally prohibited from owning a firearm to the FBI's National Instant Criminal Background Check Systems (NICS), passing legislation if needed.
"We commissioned this poll to help determine where Americans stood on the various aspects of how the NICS system actually works today," said Larry G. Keane, NSSF senior vice president and general counsel. "When properly informed of relevant details, it turns out that only four out of ten, not nine out of ten Americans support so-called 'universal background checks' at gun shows or for firearms transfers. The poll also found that Americans want a National Instant Criminal Background Check System with a dependable and accurate database, which supports the goal of the FixNICS initiative we launched in 2013 and will continue in 2014."
The poll conducted Nov. 6-7 has a margin of error of +/- 4.1 percent. Respondents self-identified as 33 percent Democrat, 26 percent Republican and 41 percent independent. As to ethnicity, 62 percent of respondents said they were Caucasian, 18 percent African-American, 11 percent Hispanic; and 9 percent, other. As to age, 20 percent of respondents said they were 18-30; 36 percent, 31-45; 23 percent 46-60; and 21 percent, 60 or older.
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20. The final word on storing rimfire cartridges
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Member Fred Liewehr forwarded his email exchange with Justin M. of CCI/Speer's Ask The Expert program. CCI/Speer's Expert says rimfire ammunition should be stored in it's original packaging in a cool and dry environment. In short, store rimfire ammunition the way it was packaged/stored when you bought it.
December 24, 2013
Fred's question:
"I recently read that rimfire cartridges should not be stored
on their sides as the primer powder could shift with gravity
and cause a misfire. I thought the primer was sprayed on and
adhered to the case. Does it actually make any difference?"
Justin M. of CCI/Speer replied:
"Fred, the storage is the same, cool and dry in original
packaging. The priming mix is put in wet and spun into the
rim, once it dries it is really hard to get out."
Fred's follow-up:
"So, may I assume that .22 rimfire cartridges may be stored
on their sides with no shifting of the priming powder inside?"
Justin M. of CCI/Speer
"Fredrick, proper primer storage is in cool and dry, stored
in their original packaging. I've attached the SAAMI primer
handling and storage pamphlet.
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21. Wall Street adviser recommends guns, ammo for protection in collapse
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Member Walter Jackson emailed me this:
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From WashingtonExaminer.com: http://tinyurl.com/q5rsrq9
Be prepared: Wall Street adviser recommends guns, ammo for protection in collapse
By Paul Bedard
December 26, 2013
A top financial advisor, worried that Obamacare, the NSA spying scandal and spiraling national debt is increasing the chances for a fiscal and social disaster, is recommending that Americans prepare a "bug-out bag" that includes food, a gun and ammo to help them stay alive.
David John Marotta, a Wall Street expert and financial advisor and Forbes contributor, said in a note to investors, "Firearms are the last item on the list, but they are on the list. There are some terrible people in this world. And you are safer when your trusted neighbors have firearms."
His memo is part of a series addressing the potential for a "financial apocalypse." His view, however, is that the problems plaguing the country won't result in armageddon. "There is the possibility of a precipitous decline, although a long and drawn out malaise is much more likely," said the Charlottesville, Va.-based president of Marotta Wealth Management.
Marotta said that many clients fear an end-of-the-world scenario. He doesn't agree with that outcome, but does with much of what has people worried.
"I, along with many other economists, agree with many of the concerns expressed in these dire warnings. The growing debt and deficit spending is a tax on those holding dollars. The devaluation in the U.S. dollar risks the dollar's status as the reserve currency of the world. Obamacare was the worst legislation in the past 75 years. Socialism is on the rise and the NSA really is abrogating vast portions of the Constitution. I don't disagree with their concerns," he wrote.
In his latest note, he said that Americans should have a survival kit to take in case of a financial or natural disaster. It should be filled with items that will help them stay alive for the first 72-hours of a crisis, including firearms.
"A bug-out bag is a good idea depending on where you live even if the emergency is just power outages, earthquakes and hurricanes. And with your preparedness you will be equipped to help others who might be in need," he wrote. "Be prepared. Especially because it keeps you from being scared."
He provided a list of items and even a link to bug-out bags on Amazon.
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22. Power to the people? Remembering the year in recalls.
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Member Walter Jackson emailed me this:
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From TheWeek.com: http://tinyurl.com/pga3ba9
Power to the people? Remembering the year in recalls.
By Joshua Spivak
December 26, 2013
Recalls were once again one of the biggest stories of the year.
After recalls suddenly grabbed hold of the nation's attention in 2012, anyone could have been excused for thinking they might have gone back to being little used, frequently ignored weapons this year. But 2013 proved such expectations wrong. Despite a sharp drop in their total number, recall elections once again managed to place themselves on centerstage in American politics.
Unlike in Wisconsin in 2012, the most prominent recalls of 2013 did not appear to be stark Democrat versus Republican fights. Instead, it was a hot button political issue -- the fight over gun control -- that allowed recalls to push their way into the spotlight.
Colorado, for instance, saw some of its most expensive state legislative elections in history: Two Democratic state senators -- including the State Senate president -- were kicked out and a third resigned, over the state's new gun control laws.
From a political standpoint, the fights in Colorado were about sending a message. Removing the officials would not have resulted in a change in the gun laws, nor would have removing two officials given Republicans control over the chamber. The practical value was so questionable that the recall was originally opposed by the state party leaders and, in the early going, appeared to be ignored by the NRA, too. While these groups eventually got involved to the tune of hundreds of thousands of dollars, it was local people who pushed the recalls forward. On the other side of the issue, millions of dollars were given to support the pro-gun-control senators, including big contributions by a group heavily financed by New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg.
Colorado may have helped inspire other attempted recalls on both sides of the gun control issue, including attempts against a sheriff in Oregon, an Idaho school board member who promoted arming teachers, and various instances in California. Only one of the other gun-control-centered recalls actually got to the ballot, though -- Exeter, a small rural town in Maine, tried to remove four City Council members after they tried to ask the Attorney General to handle concealed gun permits. The town of 6,000 people received heavy press coverage for the attempt, but all four council members easily survived the recall election.
But gun control wasn't the only issue sparking recalls. Officials were thrown out for San Bernardino's bankruptcy, firing city managers and police chiefs, school board votes, and, for three officials in Onaway, Michigan, a decision on where to locate a public stove.
For angry citizens, actually getting a recall on the ballot proved to be a tougher hill to climb this year. While there were close to the same number of attempts this year as last (478 in 2013 versus 509 in 2012), the actual number of recall elections or resignations in the face of a recall dropped to at least 107. In 2012, there were at least 168, and, in 2011, 151.
There are a number of reasons for the drop -- by far the most unlikely of which would be that voters actually liked their politicians a little more in 2013. The causes include: A change in a Michigan law that resulted in the state's recalls dropping from 25 to 13; laws in some jurisdictions that prevent recalls from being held against officials until the official has served in their job from two months to one year; administrative and judicial officials throwing up more roadblocks to get recalls on the ballot; and, possibly, a natural drop off in voter attention after a dramatic and exhausting presidential election year.
But once a recall was on the ballot, it more often than not worked. Of those 109 recalls, 73 succeeded (51 removed in a vote and another 22 resigned) -- a 68 percent success rate. That kind of success won't go unnoticed, and so in 2014, we can expect the recall will continue to make a mark on the political world. Already, there are at least 25 recalls scheduled for next year, starting on January 2.
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23. [CO] Arapahoe High School Student's Father Calls for Guns In Schools
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Member Rick Evans emailed me this:
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I was praying that Claire Davis would make it, but knew it would be tough with a point-blank discharge of a shotgun at her head. As expected, even though the weapon used was legally purchased with a background check, the "non-partisan grassroots movement" of screaming banshees, aka MDA, contort the issue.
In the face of this insult, check out what James Viser, the father of a student at Arapahoe High School in Centennial Colorado, posted at TTAG's article "Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America: WE ARE ALL CLAIRE'S MOTHER":
Arapahoe High School Student's Father Calls for Guns In Schools [http://tinyurl.com/kjbxgc6]
Note that Mr. Viser quotes the Davis' family statement in which they say "We'd like to take this opportunity to thank the first responders, the school resource officer, security guard and vice principal at Arapahoe High School, the Arapahoe County Sheriff's office, and the physicians, nurses and staff at Littleton Adventist Hospital. Each played a significant role in giving Claire a chance to live, and demonstrated extreme amounts of professionalism, courage and love. Please know that we will never forget the extraordinary work you did on Claire's behalf."
I hope that, once the Davis family has had time to grieve and reflect (and before the anti-freedom crowd descends upon them with victim-hood cash, as they did with Giffords & Kelly), they too call for 'good guys with guns' in schools to save as many lives as possible ... wouldn't that be a great rebuttal to the asinine concept of creating defenseless zones of mass killing opportunity?
From TheTruthAboutGuns.com: http://tinyurl.com/kjbxgc6
Arapahoe High School Student's Father Calls for Guns In Schools
By Robert Farago
December 22, 2013
James Viser, the father of a student at Arapahoe High School in Centennial Colorado, posted the following comment underneath our article Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America: WE ARE ALL CLAIRE'S MOTHER:
My son is an Arapahoe HS student, and no parent should experience what we did. The parents of Claire Davis have it much worse than all of us. I was astounded by MDA's response. They clearly have no idea of how Coloradans view gun rights and who is responsible for the tragedy. Our experience: http://jamesviser.com/?p=949. The ONLY thing that stood between the gunman last Friday and my son (and others) was good guy Deputy Sheriff James Englert. I owe him a personal debt of gratitude. One that Claire's parents acknowledged in their actual statement here . . .
"It is with unspeakable sadness that we write and say that Claire
has passed away from the gunshot wound she received at Arapahoe
High School on December 13, 2013. Although we have lost our precious
daughter, we will always be grateful for the indelible journey she
took us on over the last 17 years--we were truly blessed to be
Claire's parents. The grace, laughter and light she brought to this
world will not be extinguished by her death; to the contrary, it
will only get stronger.
"Last week was truly a paradox in that we lost our daughter, yet
we witnessed the wonderful love that exists in the world through
the tremendous outpouring of support we received. We'd like to
take this opportunity to thank the first responders, the school
resource officer, security guard and vice principal at Arapahoe
High School, the Arapahoe County Sheriff's office, and the
physicians, nurses and staff at Littleton Adventist Hospital.
Each played a significant role in giving Claire a chance to live,
and demonstrated extreme amounts of professionalism, courage and
love. Please know that we will never forget the extraordinary work
you did on Claire's behalf.
"We ask that you give us time to grieve the death of our daughter
by respecting our wishes for privacy.
"With much loving-kindness,
"The Davis Family"
The shooter passed a background check, paid the fee and purchased a pump-action shotgun (not AR). He broke no law until the last two minutes of his life, when he committed murder and then suicide.
We can pass laws covering 100 different scenarios, but the experience at Arapahoe HS proves there will always be a 101st. When the law fails, there must be a good guy with a gun to confront an active shooter in school and public places. The same can be said for Navy Yard and just about every other mass shooting we have witnessed.
We can do this people, if we unite. We can put armed law enforcement in schools and permit qualified conceal carry. Do it now.
Best regards,
James Viser
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24. [PA] Packing Heat: PA's Open Carry Gun Law [VIDEO]
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A wide-eyed television news story on open carry in Pennsylvania. People were supposed to be shocked and frightened at the sight of someone openly carrying a handgun. Instead, big surprise, no one really noticed. A police officer at the end does sort of a only cops should openly carry guns response, implying that open carriers somehow endanger law enforcement.
Poppycock.
Member Dean Jacobson emailed me this:
--
From YouTube.com: http://tinyurl.com/oehz7em
Packing Heat: PA's Open Carry Gun Law
Posted by WTAE-TV Pittsburgh
July 2, 2013
Two men enter a crowded family restaurant, firearms in full view. What would you do? Action News' Wendy Bell puts Pittsburgh to the test. The act that's perfectly legal, but how do people react?
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25. [MO] Another state to vote to exempt itself from national gun laws
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States are pushing back against an overreaching federal government.
Member Walter Jackson emailed me this:
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From Examiner.com: http://tinyurl.com/ltzwa33
Another state to vote to exempt itself from national gun laws
By Anthony Martin
December 20, 2013
Several of the 50 states have either considered or voted to exempt themselves from federal regulations on firearms. Most often the move comes in response to new restrictions placed on guns by the federal government.
The tactic is to pass laws that prohibit the federal government from exercising any legal jurisdiction over firearms manufactured and sold only within the state that passes this law.
Kansas, for example, could approve a law that would prevent the federal government from imposing so-called "assault weapons bans" as long as such weapons are manufactured and sold within the state of Kansas. And this is precisely what Kansas has sought to do.
Other states that have introduced legislation include Alaska, Missouri, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Montana.
With regard to Missouri, State Representative Chrissy Sommer, R-District 106, introduced a bill (HB 1164) in the House that would prevent the federal government from having any authority over guns manufactured and sold within the state boundaries of Missouri.
The bill further prohibits an emergency medical technician or a paramedic to be charged with firearms violations if they carry on the job, use the gun as part of the fulfillment of their duties, and possess a valid concealed carry license.
HB 1164 is part of the agenda for the new legislative session in Missouri in 2014.
The official summary of the bill, which is found on the Missouri General Assembly website, is as follows:
HB 1164 -- Missouri Firearms Freedom ActSeveral of the 50 states have either considered or voted to exempt themselves from federal regulations on firearms. Most often the move comes in response to new restrictions placed on guns by the federal government.
The tactic is to pass laws that prohibit the federal government from exercising any legal jurisdiction over firearms manufactured and sold only within the state that passes this law.
Kansas, for example, could approve a law that would prevent the federal government from imposing so-called "assault weapons bans" as long as such weapons are manufactured and sold within the state of Kansas. And this is precisely what Kansas has sought to do.
Other states that have introduced legislation include Alaska, Missouri, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Montana.
With regard to Missouri, State Representative Chrissy Sommer, R-District 106, introduced a bill (HB 1164) in the House that would prevent the federal government from having any authority over guns manufactured and sold within the state boundaries of Missouri.
The bill further prohibits an emergency medical technician or a paramedic to be charged with firearms violations if they carry on the job, use the gun as part of the fulfillment of their duties, and possess a valid concealed carry license.
MB 1164 is part of the agenda for the new legislative session in Missouri in 2014.
The official summary of the bill, which is found on the Missouri General Assembly website, is as follows:
HB 1164 -- MISSOURI FIREARMS FREEDOM ACT
SPONSOR: Sommer
This bill establishes the Missouri Firearms Freedom Act. In its
main provisions, the bill specifies that a personal firearm,
firearm accessory, or ammunition that is manufactured commercially
or privately in the State of Missouri and that remains within the
borders of the state is not subject to federal law or regulation,
including registration, under the authority of Congress to regulate
interstate commerce. These provisions apply to any firearm,
firearm accessory, or ammunition that can be manufactured without
the inclusion of any significant parts imported into the state.
Any generic or insignificant parts imported into this state that
have other manufacturing or consumer product applications and are
used to manufacture a firearm, firearm accessory, or ammunition in
this state are not subject to federal regulation. Certain
specified firearms are excluded from the provisions of the bill.
The bill requires any firearm manufactured or sold in the state
under these provisions to have the words "Made in Missouri" clearly
stamped on a central metallic part of the firearm.
The bill exempts a member of an ambulance service who is employed
on a full-time basis as an emergency medical technician or
paramedic and has met the training requirements for a concealed
carry endorsement from the crime of unlawful use of a weapon when
the use is reasonably associated with or is necessary to the
fulfillment of his or her official duties.
These types of laws have run into difficulty, however, when challenged in the courts. Both the Montana and the Kansas laws have been legally challenged and are now tied up in court. The 10th Amendment Center, however, helps states in the process by providing model wording for the drafting of these laws that would give such states a greater probability of passing the legal muster.
Earlier this year the Missouri Senate failed to approve the House bill that would have exempted guns manufactured and sold in Missouri from federal laws. But proponents of the measure are adamant that they have no intention of giving up or going away.
These types of laws have run into difficulty, however, when challenged in the courts. Both the Montana and the Kansas laws have been legally challenged and are now tied up in court. The 10th Amendment Center, however, helps states in the process by providing model wording for the drafting of these laws that would give such states a greater probability of passing the legal muster.
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VA-ALERT is a project of the Virginia Citizens Defense League, Inc.
(VCDL). VCDL is an all-volunteer, non-partisan grassroots organization
dedicated to defending the human rights of all Virginians. The Right to
Keep and Bear Arms is a fundamental human right.
VCDL web page: http://www.vcdl.org [http://www.vcdl.org/]
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