No magic bullet for solving this emergency, but we must try
To the editor,
"I finally bought a gun the other day! Yesterday bought a lot of ammo! Beware liberals and zombies!"
So went a recent Facebook post by a friend I'd known some years ago in South Korea where both he and I taught English. Not once during the time that I knew him did he ever talk about politics or guns. Now that I've returned to America, this is the guy I used to know as Big Chris from Oklahoma who liked to lift weights, teach and enjoy traditional Korean liquor.
"What's happened?" I thought as I added his pro-gun stance to all the other rhetoric I've come across since the gun debate took central stage following the Newtown, Conn. shooting. He'd bought a gun and ammo like the many other Americans who are flocking to gun shows and shops these days, buying up all they can before the guns supposedly get taken away by new legislation (or whatever nefarious measures the "government" implements to deprive people of firearms).
It's so insane that a guy I know who's getting ready to open a local gun shop can't even get the necessary supplies because the industry can't make them fast enough. One gun industry trade group, the National Shooting Sports Foundation, reported that there were more than 2.2 million background checks in December, an increase of more than 58 percent from 2011.
As someone who grew up in New Hampshire then moved abroad after college, I'm confounded by the gun culture here. The arguments for all-out gun proliferation and ownership come across as nonsensical and sophomoric much of the time. Just in this paper over the last few weeks I've read numerous fear mongers warning of the downfall of the country or referencing the Constitution or some historical figure who demanded we all have guns (more than 200 years ago). And, as always, there are the slippery slope fallacies that claim any regulation will lead to a complete disintegration of the Second Amendment.
I sit and wonder what the Founding Fathers or Patrick Henry or Abe Lincoln would think of an AR-15, of high-capacity magazines, of armor-piercing bullets, of these gun circus-shows where people need dollies to get all their ammo to the car. What would they think of an ad that says, "This awesome round houses enough power to penetrate the thickest car doors, commercial steel doors and most objects up to 1/4'' steel plate"? Would they reject and ridicule attempts to limit the extent of weapons and ammunition available? Would they condemn the current administration's moves to reign in what, at least in my opinion, has gone beyond any rational or Constitutional "right" to keep and bear arms?
How far can it go? According to the National Institute of Justice, as of 2009, Americans owned 310 million guns. That's roughly one per-person. Furthermore, a 2011 Gallup poll showed that 47 percent had at least one gun in their home. Not surprisingly, U.S. has the world's highest per capita gun ownership rate — Yemen is second, at less than half America's. And after this current frenzy of purchases those dizzying numbers are sure to grow (if we even know who has all the guns).
But many gun control opponents have a knee-jerk reaction to anything —anything— that would impose any more regulations on guns. This obstinate attitude baffles me and flies in the face of mindfulness and prudence. No citizen needs a Bushmaster assault rifle with a 30-bullet clip. Nobody. No one should be able to buy a gun without a background check — these gun shows need to face serious universal background check regulations.
And, in my opinion, there should be a national gun buyback, similar to what Australia implemented in 1996 after a series of shooting sprees, which called for the return of specific assault rifles. Seems to me that the gun companies who are currently raking in money should help support such a buyback, along with the NRA lobby which could reallocate congressional money to the buyback.
Moreover, the research, rumination and discussions must continue. There is no magic bullet to solve this national emergency yet that is no excuse for not trying. As President Obama said on Jan. 16, "Because while there is no law or set of laws that can prevent every senseless act of violence completely, no piece of legislation that will prevent every tragedy, every act of evil, if there is even one thing we can do to reduce this violence, if there is even one life that can be saved, then we've got an obligation to try." All of us have that obligation (even Big Chris).
John M. Rogers
Moultonborough
"I finally bought a gun the other day! Yesterday bought a lot of ammo! Beware liberals and zombies!"
So went a recent Facebook post by a friend I'd known some years ago in South Korea where both he and I taught English. Not once during the time that I knew him did he ever talk about politics or guns. Now that I've returned to America, this is the guy I used to know as Big Chris from Oklahoma who liked to lift weights, teach and enjoy traditional Korean liquor.
"What's happened?" I thought as I added his pro-gun stance to all the other rhetoric I've come across since the gun debate took central stage following the Newtown, Conn. shooting. He'd bought a gun and ammo like the many other Americans who are flocking to gun shows and shops these days, buying up all they can before the guns supposedly get taken away by new legislation (or whatever nefarious measures the "government" implements to deprive people of firearms).
It's so insane that a guy I know who's getting ready to open a local gun shop can't even get the necessary supplies because the industry can't make them fast enough. One gun industry trade group, the National Shooting Sports Foundation, reported that there were more than 2.2 million background checks in December, an increase of more than 58 percent from 2011.
As someone who grew up in New Hampshire then moved abroad after college, I'm confounded by the gun culture here. The arguments for all-out gun proliferation and ownership come across as nonsensical and sophomoric much of the time. Just in this paper over the last few weeks I've read numerous fear mongers warning of the downfall of the country or referencing the Constitution or some historical figure who demanded we all have guns (more than 200 years ago). And, as always, there are the slippery slope fallacies that claim any regulation will lead to a complete disintegration of the Second Amendment.
I sit and wonder what the Founding Fathers or Patrick Henry or Abe Lincoln would think of an AR-15, of high-capacity magazines, of armor-piercing bullets, of these gun circus-shows where people need dollies to get all their ammo to the car. What would they think of an ad that says, "This awesome round houses enough power to penetrate the thickest car doors, commercial steel doors and most objects up to 1/4'' steel plate"? Would they reject and ridicule attempts to limit the extent of weapons and ammunition available? Would they condemn the current administration's moves to reign in what, at least in my opinion, has gone beyond any rational or Constitutional "right" to keep and bear arms?
How far can it go? According to the National Institute of Justice, as of 2009, Americans owned 310 million guns. That's roughly one per-person. Furthermore, a 2011 Gallup poll showed that 47 percent had at least one gun in their home. Not surprisingly, U.S. has the world's highest per capita gun ownership rate — Yemen is second, at less than half America's. And after this current frenzy of purchases those dizzying numbers are sure to grow (if we even know who has all the guns).
But many gun control opponents have a knee-jerk reaction to anything —anything— that would impose any more regulations on guns. This obstinate attitude baffles me and flies in the face of mindfulness and prudence. No citizen needs a Bushmaster assault rifle with a 30-bullet clip. Nobody. No one should be able to buy a gun without a background check — these gun shows need to face serious universal background check regulations.
And, in my opinion, there should be a national gun buyback, similar to what Australia implemented in 1996 after a series of shooting sprees, which called for the return of specific assault rifles. Seems to me that the gun companies who are currently raking in money should help support such a buyback, along with the NRA lobby which could reallocate congressional money to the buyback.
Moreover, the research, rumination and discussions must continue. There is no magic bullet to solve this national emergency yet that is no excuse for not trying. As President Obama said on Jan. 16, "Because while there is no law or set of laws that can prevent every senseless act of violence completely, no piece of legislation that will prevent every tragedy, every act of evil, if there is even one thing we can do to reduce this violence, if there is even one life that can be saved, then we've got an obligation to try." All of us have that obligation (even Big Chris).
John M. Rogers
Moultonborough
Last Updated on Saturday, 02 February 2013 01:08
Hits: 278
Obama see government dependency as his great accomplishment
To the editor,
Face the truth! We have indeed become a nation of takers, not makers. A nation of loafers, not workers.
Obama, in his inaugural address, paints his sows ear of economic failure into a silk purse portrait. If being artificially propped up by GOVERNMENT for your next free meal, free health care visit, free college Pell Grant, or your government subsidized free rent/heat then yes you are surely living the "silk purse" life paid for by others. We are a nation now determined to live off the work, success and tax payments of our neighbors across town. Obama sees GOVERNMENT DEPENDENCY as the greatest accomplishment of his presidency. Half of this nation is now getting some type of transfer payment from government monthly, from welfare to disability. This is an ORGASMIC FANTASY OF DEMOCRATS to have the nation DEPENDENT on government to eat and breathe.
Government does not EARN a NICKEL. ALL IT DOES IS TAX ,TAX, TAX STOPPING investment, jobs and growth in the bargain. Need proof? Today's Daily Sun headline " Economy shifts in REVERSE in 4th Quarter of 2012". We are into OBAMA'S FIFTH year with the economy still stuck in REVERSE. OBAMA transfer payment to DEPENDENTS (150 million of them) who just voted him a 2nd term to assure the DOLE from you to them never stops.
When I say the welfare society, the DEPENDENT society and the loafing society, believe it. There are now FEWER people WORKING in America today than there were20 YEARS AGO. More people dependent on Obama to eat than ever. He LOVES IT. His best product is FAILURE. Democratic failure assures SUCCESS in POLITICS. Every human failure gets outfitted with a donkey NOSE RING , becomes subservient, submissive, SURRENDERS their FREEDOM TO THINK and their vote in the deal with the DEVIL.
Why doesn't anyone want to work? A fine question for you to ask. Some answers:
1. FOOD STAMPS. The old line of the 1930s and 40s was " I work to eat". Not true today. Obama assures you can eat just fine without ever getting out of bed. In 2000 we had 17 million people eating free off others. Today we have 47.5 million eating FOR FREE every single day. If you think food stamp lines follow unemployment stats, forget it. There is often little correlation. Unemployment can be down and food stamp demand up. Obama ADVERTISES on radio to find people because food stamp eaters are voting for him near 100 percent. So put FREE FOOD, NEON billboards every place to get donkey votes.
2. SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY. The general health of Americans has improved over recent years and the number of dangerous jobs done by people has been reduced dramatically with robots and technology. Still, disability claims since Obama took office (like food stamps) have gone into hyper overdrive. Unbelievable numbers of Americans have SUDDENLY caught BAD BACKS and become NUT cases in the past five years, unlike any time in history. By the way both conditions are impossible to prove anyone is feeling one tinge of pain. Almost EVERY person (no matter what ailment) seeking disability gets approved. Literally, NO ONE who says "my back hurts" gets turned down for disability. The entire program is riddled top to bottom with fraud and deception to get a LIFETIME check from OBAMA paid for by YOU. Millions have figured out disability is the gravy train of all gravy trains because it NEVER ENDS, Three million people were on disability in 1990. A number that hardly changed year after year for decades. It has suddenly TRIPLED in the past few years to 8.6 MILLION PEOPLE. The DISABILITY TRUST Fund will now GO BANKRUPT during Obama's current term because so many sore backs affixed with new Obama nose rings have been added to the rolls. Now add the disability BANKRUPTCY to the Social Security and MEDICARE bankruptcies, all BANKRUPTCY GIFTS to YOU from Democrats.
3. PELL GRANTS. This program began in the 1960s with about 10 percent of the country qualifying. Now 60 percent of America qualify because the rules have been so loosened. Pell grants are being given to THOUSANDS of FAMILIES that are MILLIONAIRES. How? They make their children INDEPENDENTS with few assets and little money and voila a check for thousands of dollars from GOVERNMENT arrives. Every government hand out is SKINNED ALIVE with one DECEPTION or another, including Pell Grants. Pell Grants are sending countless millions of kids to college who will NEVER financially benefit from that education. In fact many of them will become VICTIMS of the liberal lunacy. These people will be the first candidates to file for bankruptcy from crunching student debt that can not repay at low level jobs. Delinquent college debt is becoming epidemic nation wide. It WILL BE the next emerging crisis Democrats will try to VOTE BUY with a GOVERNMENT BAILOUT on your DIME. We have more than a MILLION retail clerks today with COLLEGE DEGREES working at stores like Wal-Mart and Kohl's. In fact half the people working today have degrees performing jobs that the government says are NOT NECESSARY to perform them. A college degree today is now WORTH LESS than it has ever been. Why? Because the cost has gone SO HIGH relative to the added wages a degree can demand PLUS the LOSS of four years of work time that often extends to SIX. The return on investment of a degree keeps shirking and shirking. Liberal idiots scream we need more state aid for colleges. All state aid does is throw red meat to a pack of union, professor wolves that HISTORY proves OVER and OVER only results in ever higher tuitions. Look at the graphs going back 20 years. There is no debating that fact.
4. EXTENDED UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS. Since the 1930s, unemployment benefits were intended to be a short storm stop gap between jobs, It now has become a way to milk the system and STAY UNEMPLOYED longer, intentionally. There are countless studies that prove longer unemployment benefits only delay the honest hunt for real work.
We have a national debt and deficit that is crippling us. We desperately need more people in the work force paying taxes on their incomes, paying their own way. What are we doing as a nation? Making NOT WORKING a lot more incentivized than working. Is it any wonder we have tens of millions deciding to stay unemployed as long as possible. The new American way of life is qualifying for as many government nipples as they possibly can using what ever "my back hurts chicanery" to do it. Staying unemployed beats working at Wal-Mart or MacDonald's and many other places for eight bucks an hour. I guarantee you free food, free health care, subsidized rent, subsidized heat, an unemployment check or a lifetime disability check (obtained by simply declaring you're nuts) from never earned a nickel GOVERNMENT surely looks like a much better option than working 8 to 5.
Tony Boutin
Gilford
Face the truth! We have indeed become a nation of takers, not makers. A nation of loafers, not workers.
Obama, in his inaugural address, paints his sows ear of economic failure into a silk purse portrait. If being artificially propped up by GOVERNMENT for your next free meal, free health care visit, free college Pell Grant, or your government subsidized free rent/heat then yes you are surely living the "silk purse" life paid for by others. We are a nation now determined to live off the work, success and tax payments of our neighbors across town. Obama sees GOVERNMENT DEPENDENCY as the greatest accomplishment of his presidency. Half of this nation is now getting some type of transfer payment from government monthly, from welfare to disability. This is an ORGASMIC FANTASY OF DEMOCRATS to have the nation DEPENDENT on government to eat and breathe.
Government does not EARN a NICKEL. ALL IT DOES IS TAX ,TAX, TAX STOPPING investment, jobs and growth in the bargain. Need proof? Today's Daily Sun headline " Economy shifts in REVERSE in 4th Quarter of 2012". We are into OBAMA'S FIFTH year with the economy still stuck in REVERSE. OBAMA transfer payment to DEPENDENTS (150 million of them) who just voted him a 2nd term to assure the DOLE from you to them never stops.
When I say the welfare society, the DEPENDENT society and the loafing society, believe it. There are now FEWER people WORKING in America today than there were20 YEARS AGO. More people dependent on Obama to eat than ever. He LOVES IT. His best product is FAILURE. Democratic failure assures SUCCESS in POLITICS. Every human failure gets outfitted with a donkey NOSE RING , becomes subservient, submissive, SURRENDERS their FREEDOM TO THINK and their vote in the deal with the DEVIL.
Why doesn't anyone want to work? A fine question for you to ask. Some answers:
1. FOOD STAMPS. The old line of the 1930s and 40s was " I work to eat". Not true today. Obama assures you can eat just fine without ever getting out of bed. In 2000 we had 17 million people eating free off others. Today we have 47.5 million eating FOR FREE every single day. If you think food stamp lines follow unemployment stats, forget it. There is often little correlation. Unemployment can be down and food stamp demand up. Obama ADVERTISES on radio to find people because food stamp eaters are voting for him near 100 percent. So put FREE FOOD, NEON billboards every place to get donkey votes.
2. SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY. The general health of Americans has improved over recent years and the number of dangerous jobs done by people has been reduced dramatically with robots and technology. Still, disability claims since Obama took office (like food stamps) have gone into hyper overdrive. Unbelievable numbers of Americans have SUDDENLY caught BAD BACKS and become NUT cases in the past five years, unlike any time in history. By the way both conditions are impossible to prove anyone is feeling one tinge of pain. Almost EVERY person (no matter what ailment) seeking disability gets approved. Literally, NO ONE who says "my back hurts" gets turned down for disability. The entire program is riddled top to bottom with fraud and deception to get a LIFETIME check from OBAMA paid for by YOU. Millions have figured out disability is the gravy train of all gravy trains because it NEVER ENDS, Three million people were on disability in 1990. A number that hardly changed year after year for decades. It has suddenly TRIPLED in the past few years to 8.6 MILLION PEOPLE. The DISABILITY TRUST Fund will now GO BANKRUPT during Obama's current term because so many sore backs affixed with new Obama nose rings have been added to the rolls. Now add the disability BANKRUPTCY to the Social Security and MEDICARE bankruptcies, all BANKRUPTCY GIFTS to YOU from Democrats.
3. PELL GRANTS. This program began in the 1960s with about 10 percent of the country qualifying. Now 60 percent of America qualify because the rules have been so loosened. Pell grants are being given to THOUSANDS of FAMILIES that are MILLIONAIRES. How? They make their children INDEPENDENTS with few assets and little money and voila a check for thousands of dollars from GOVERNMENT arrives. Every government hand out is SKINNED ALIVE with one DECEPTION or another, including Pell Grants. Pell Grants are sending countless millions of kids to college who will NEVER financially benefit from that education. In fact many of them will become VICTIMS of the liberal lunacy. These people will be the first candidates to file for bankruptcy from crunching student debt that can not repay at low level jobs. Delinquent college debt is becoming epidemic nation wide. It WILL BE the next emerging crisis Democrats will try to VOTE BUY with a GOVERNMENT BAILOUT on your DIME. We have more than a MILLION retail clerks today with COLLEGE DEGREES working at stores like Wal-Mart and Kohl's. In fact half the people working today have degrees performing jobs that the government says are NOT NECESSARY to perform them. A college degree today is now WORTH LESS than it has ever been. Why? Because the cost has gone SO HIGH relative to the added wages a degree can demand PLUS the LOSS of four years of work time that often extends to SIX. The return on investment of a degree keeps shirking and shirking. Liberal idiots scream we need more state aid for colleges. All state aid does is throw red meat to a pack of union, professor wolves that HISTORY proves OVER and OVER only results in ever higher tuitions. Look at the graphs going back 20 years. There is no debating that fact.
4. EXTENDED UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS. Since the 1930s, unemployment benefits were intended to be a short storm stop gap between jobs, It now has become a way to milk the system and STAY UNEMPLOYED longer, intentionally. There are countless studies that prove longer unemployment benefits only delay the honest hunt for real work.
We have a national debt and deficit that is crippling us. We desperately need more people in the work force paying taxes on their incomes, paying their own way. What are we doing as a nation? Making NOT WORKING a lot more incentivized than working. Is it any wonder we have tens of millions deciding to stay unemployed as long as possible. The new American way of life is qualifying for as many government nipples as they possibly can using what ever "my back hurts chicanery" to do it. Staying unemployed beats working at Wal-Mart or MacDonald's and many other places for eight bucks an hour. I guarantee you free food, free health care, subsidized rent, subsidized heat, an unemployment check or a lifetime disability check (obtained by simply declaring you're nuts) from never earned a nickel GOVERNMENT surely looks like a much better option than working 8 to 5.
Tony Boutin
Gilford
Last Updated on Friday, 01 February 2013 00:11
Hits: 215
Sun owed us information on results of Saturday's Chili Cook-off
To the editor,
As a chili aficionado I have been watching The Laconia Daily Sun for a report on the winners of the Chili Cook-off held this past Sunday at the Weirs Beach Lobster Pound. It is understandable that the Sun, with no Monday edition, would not dispatch a reporter on a Sunday afternoon to prepare a story that would be "old news" by the time the Sun hit the streets on Tuesday. Nevertheless, I submit that the Sun owes it to their readership to inform the chili-lovers among them who-is-who among the local restaurants that feature chili on their menus.
So let it be known that 300(+) chili-fans tasted 15 different recipes on Sunday and were empowered to vote on their favorites for "The People's Choice" award. Personally I took great satisfaction that potential restaurant-goers agreed with me that the Lyons' Den concoction was the favorite. But then too, the Mug's and Looney Bin's formulas were worthy runner-ups.
An "official" panel of three judges (Laconia's Mayor Michael Seymour, Police Chief Chris Adams, and Deputy Fire Chief Deb Pendergast) awarded winning status to three other chilies: The Looney Bin, the Lobster Pound, and Christmas Island Resort.
To my taste all 15 chilies were winners of one sort or another. But if I only have one taste left to live, I'm heading to the Lyons' Den for the ultimate spicy experience.
Bob Longabaugh
Alton Bay
As a chili aficionado I have been watching The Laconia Daily Sun for a report on the winners of the Chili Cook-off held this past Sunday at the Weirs Beach Lobster Pound. It is understandable that the Sun, with no Monday edition, would not dispatch a reporter on a Sunday afternoon to prepare a story that would be "old news" by the time the Sun hit the streets on Tuesday. Nevertheless, I submit that the Sun owes it to their readership to inform the chili-lovers among them who-is-who among the local restaurants that feature chili on their menus.
So let it be known that 300(+) chili-fans tasted 15 different recipes on Sunday and were empowered to vote on their favorites for "The People's Choice" award. Personally I took great satisfaction that potential restaurant-goers agreed with me that the Lyons' Den concoction was the favorite. But then too, the Mug's and Looney Bin's formulas were worthy runner-ups.
An "official" panel of three judges (Laconia's Mayor Michael Seymour, Police Chief Chris Adams, and Deputy Fire Chief Deb Pendergast) awarded winning status to three other chilies: The Looney Bin, the Lobster Pound, and Christmas Island Resort.
To my taste all 15 chilies were winners of one sort or another. But if I only have one taste left to live, I'm heading to the Lyons' Den for the ultimate spicy experience.
Bob Longabaugh
Alton Bay
Last Updated on Friday, 01 February 2013 00:02
Hits: 67
There's no Utopia; equality & liberty do not go hand in hand
To the editor,
After reading Rosemary Landry's letter that was published in The Laconia Daily Sun on the 30th day of January I can say I commend her, not once but twice.
First, for standing up to the socialist bullies at the Moultonboro Library. And second, for writing of her experience. From her letter it becomes evident that she is well read and understands the dilemma this country faces. She has a grasp on the liberal agenda and her courage to stand up for American principles shows she Loves America.
May I share this with the readers:
While Ezra Taft Benson was Secretary of Agriculture during the Eisenhower administration, he was assigned to host the Soviet butcher Khrushchev on his visit to the United States.
Khrushchev had expressed a desire to learn something of American agriculture, and "after seeing Russian agriculture I can see why". Said Secretary Benson. Russia was once an exporter of wheat. After the Revolution of 1917 they were starving.
During the conversation Khrushchev stated to Benson that his grandchildren would live under communism. Secretary Benson assured him otherwise.
"You Americans are so gullible. No you won't accept Communism outright. But we'll keep feeding you small doses of socialism until you'll finally wake up and find you already have communism. We won't have to fight you. We'll so weaken your economy until you fall like over-ripe fruit into our hands".
Are we there yet?
Facilitators and change agents have been subverting our ways for a long time. FDR surrounded himself with them. The Department of Agriculture was a safe haven for a Soviet cell during the 1930s. It was their first cell.
John Abt operated there. In 1963 Lee Harvey Oswald asked Abt to represent him. Harry Dexter White, Lee Pressman and Alger Hiss had FDR's listening ear. All were Soviet agents (facilitators, change agents).
Communism is a wretched philosophy that thrives on the envy of the masses. Its goal is to degrade all in equal misery. Its stench is felt in towns, cities, and state governments. Washington D.C. is the hive of such activity where they subvert our Founding Document and invent new powers that oppress the people. Our founding charter gave the federal government only so many definable powers (authority). Any thing more or less is usurpation of our rights. We have only to compare our Declaration of Independence to see where we stand today. We have gone from red coats to the red thread of communism.
They have planned their craft well. The atheistic ideology have left one major consideration out. We were founded upon Christian principles. Divine miracles assisted our founding generation in forming this Constitutional Republic (democracy is a fraud) and divine miracles will save it. Those who still hold our charter dear to our hearts do not stand alone.
Liberals who strive for their Utopian society will be the first to quake when they get what they asked for.
"Legislatures and revolutionaries who promise equality and liberty at the same time are either psychopaths or mountebanks " — Goethe
Gene F. Danforth
Danbury
After reading Rosemary Landry's letter that was published in The Laconia Daily Sun on the 30th day of January I can say I commend her, not once but twice.
First, for standing up to the socialist bullies at the Moultonboro Library. And second, for writing of her experience. From her letter it becomes evident that she is well read and understands the dilemma this country faces. She has a grasp on the liberal agenda and her courage to stand up for American principles shows she Loves America.
May I share this with the readers:
While Ezra Taft Benson was Secretary of Agriculture during the Eisenhower administration, he was assigned to host the Soviet butcher Khrushchev on his visit to the United States.
Khrushchev had expressed a desire to learn something of American agriculture, and "after seeing Russian agriculture I can see why". Said Secretary Benson. Russia was once an exporter of wheat. After the Revolution of 1917 they were starving.
During the conversation Khrushchev stated to Benson that his grandchildren would live under communism. Secretary Benson assured him otherwise.
"You Americans are so gullible. No you won't accept Communism outright. But we'll keep feeding you small doses of socialism until you'll finally wake up and find you already have communism. We won't have to fight you. We'll so weaken your economy until you fall like over-ripe fruit into our hands".
Are we there yet?
Facilitators and change agents have been subverting our ways for a long time. FDR surrounded himself with them. The Department of Agriculture was a safe haven for a Soviet cell during the 1930s. It was their first cell.
John Abt operated there. In 1963 Lee Harvey Oswald asked Abt to represent him. Harry Dexter White, Lee Pressman and Alger Hiss had FDR's listening ear. All were Soviet agents (facilitators, change agents).
Communism is a wretched philosophy that thrives on the envy of the masses. Its goal is to degrade all in equal misery. Its stench is felt in towns, cities, and state governments. Washington D.C. is the hive of such activity where they subvert our Founding Document and invent new powers that oppress the people. Our founding charter gave the federal government only so many definable powers (authority). Any thing more or less is usurpation of our rights. We have only to compare our Declaration of Independence to see where we stand today. We have gone from red coats to the red thread of communism.
They have planned their craft well. The atheistic ideology have left one major consideration out. We were founded upon Christian principles. Divine miracles assisted our founding generation in forming this Constitutional Republic (democracy is a fraud) and divine miracles will save it. Those who still hold our charter dear to our hearts do not stand alone.
Liberals who strive for their Utopian society will be the first to quake when they get what they asked for.
"Legislatures and revolutionaries who promise equality and liberty at the same time are either psychopaths or mountebanks " — Goethe
Gene F. Danforth
Danbury
Last Updated on Thursday, 31 January 2013 23:58
Hits: 141
John Q. Citizen needs to calm down & quit buying his wife a gun
To the editor,
There comes a time when cooler heads must analyze what some of the more passionate members of our society have to say. Being in possession of a cooler head, I will attempt to shine some light on the great Second Amendment debate. Both the Constitution and the amendments thereto were an attempt to create a document that put all the newly independent states on the same page as related to governance. It was, admittedly, not a perfect document. Hence the amendments were created to get the whole thing passed in each of the state legislatures. Some liked the main document others liked the amendments but all felt the need to get it done because the Articles of Confederation were making them vulnerable to takeover by perceived enemies.
I understand that there are a lot of people who use the Second Amendment as a security blanket. It allows them to have some physical protection from real or imagined treats to their safety. However, extreme individual members of our society, both legal and illegal, are bending the meaning of the aforementioned amendment. For the time being, we will set aside the illegal aspect of our society as relates to gun possession because that is a police problem covered by laws already on the books and deemed enforceable and constitutionally sound.
Let me now digress and use my own history with firearms. I prefer to call them that because that is what the manufacturers call them. I grew up in the state of Kansas. As a boy of the plains, I had a daisy air rifle when I was eight. By the time I was twelve I was allowed to use a 22-caliber rifle for hunting small game for food. I became quite accurate because my teacher and father did not like me to do body shots. I was allowed to use his 12 gage as well. I never really liked it much because I couldn't get anywhere near the accuracy of my dear old dad. He was a master of the shotgun. He used to let me get the first shot and the bring the bird down after I had missed. I more or less failed the test and contented myself with carrying the birds when I went out with him for pheasant, quail or prairie chicken.
When I joined the Coast Guard I quite easily qualified on both the side arm and the M-One carbine. The sergeant always liked the country boys; made his job easy he said. He took us aside and showed us the basics of field stripping and put us in charge of teaching the "city boys" how to do the same. Although I never got into any active combat, I was trained on some seriously lethal guns and other firepower aboard ship.
After service, I gave up guns completely except when I visited the old homestead. For old time's sake I would go hunting and fishing with dad. College, marriage and family and a career in teaching took me away from home for good. Fast forward 40 years or so and I once again owned a gun. In order to spend some quality time with my new son-in-law, I bought a Winchester 30/30 bolt action with iron sights. Deer hunting was the objective. I got off a few shots but never hit anything. Probably needed a scope but too cheap to buy one. The son-in-law usually got his deer and I helped drag it out of the woods. Sound familiar? After a few years of that, I quit going out and sold the gun to one of his friends. He was in need of some fishing instruction so I endeavored to make him an expert in that area of sporting.
Now, to the purpose of my letter without further trips down memory lane. Number one, I do not feel threatened in either my home or my community. I know lots of people who own guns now and I trust that will not ever invade my home in anger or sell their guns to someone who would use them illegally. Most of the people who own the guns that I am aware of, possess them for hunting or for protection in their business requiring them to carry cash or other valuables. They own pistols, rifles or shotguns. Not a semi or full automatic in the bunch. Maybe a few own small caliber automatics but only because they learned and feel comfortable carrying with a concealed permit. I have had a few lively conversations with these friends and most agree that the ban on assault rifles and pistols with expanded clips was and would be a good and proper restriction, second amendment considerations not withstanding. The permitting issue is ripe for revision and concentrated enforcement. This is especially true in our urban areas. Local police and the federal agencies need to review their options. Laser focus is needed on their training procedures and, once trained, their officers need support when it becomes evident assault weapons are being use unlawfully in their precincts
Further, John Q. Citizen needs to calm down and quit going out and buying their wife a gun. Instead, go out and by a few trigger locks or a gun safe so the kids don't come into possession of a gun. In most cases, the average high school freshman has no firearms training and is a danger to him or herself and others. The others usually includes their parents, friends, siblings and teachers.
Bill Dawson
Northfield
There comes a time when cooler heads must analyze what some of the more passionate members of our society have to say. Being in possession of a cooler head, I will attempt to shine some light on the great Second Amendment debate. Both the Constitution and the amendments thereto were an attempt to create a document that put all the newly independent states on the same page as related to governance. It was, admittedly, not a perfect document. Hence the amendments were created to get the whole thing passed in each of the state legislatures. Some liked the main document others liked the amendments but all felt the need to get it done because the Articles of Confederation were making them vulnerable to takeover by perceived enemies.
I understand that there are a lot of people who use the Second Amendment as a security blanket. It allows them to have some physical protection from real or imagined treats to their safety. However, extreme individual members of our society, both legal and illegal, are bending the meaning of the aforementioned amendment. For the time being, we will set aside the illegal aspect of our society as relates to gun possession because that is a police problem covered by laws already on the books and deemed enforceable and constitutionally sound.
Let me now digress and use my own history with firearms. I prefer to call them that because that is what the manufacturers call them. I grew up in the state of Kansas. As a boy of the plains, I had a daisy air rifle when I was eight. By the time I was twelve I was allowed to use a 22-caliber rifle for hunting small game for food. I became quite accurate because my teacher and father did not like me to do body shots. I was allowed to use his 12 gage as well. I never really liked it much because I couldn't get anywhere near the accuracy of my dear old dad. He was a master of the shotgun. He used to let me get the first shot and the bring the bird down after I had missed. I more or less failed the test and contented myself with carrying the birds when I went out with him for pheasant, quail or prairie chicken.
When I joined the Coast Guard I quite easily qualified on both the side arm and the M-One carbine. The sergeant always liked the country boys; made his job easy he said. He took us aside and showed us the basics of field stripping and put us in charge of teaching the "city boys" how to do the same. Although I never got into any active combat, I was trained on some seriously lethal guns and other firepower aboard ship.
After service, I gave up guns completely except when I visited the old homestead. For old time's sake I would go hunting and fishing with dad. College, marriage and family and a career in teaching took me away from home for good. Fast forward 40 years or so and I once again owned a gun. In order to spend some quality time with my new son-in-law, I bought a Winchester 30/30 bolt action with iron sights. Deer hunting was the objective. I got off a few shots but never hit anything. Probably needed a scope but too cheap to buy one. The son-in-law usually got his deer and I helped drag it out of the woods. Sound familiar? After a few years of that, I quit going out and sold the gun to one of his friends. He was in need of some fishing instruction so I endeavored to make him an expert in that area of sporting.
Now, to the purpose of my letter without further trips down memory lane. Number one, I do not feel threatened in either my home or my community. I know lots of people who own guns now and I trust that will not ever invade my home in anger or sell their guns to someone who would use them illegally. Most of the people who own the guns that I am aware of, possess them for hunting or for protection in their business requiring them to carry cash or other valuables. They own pistols, rifles or shotguns. Not a semi or full automatic in the bunch. Maybe a few own small caliber automatics but only because they learned and feel comfortable carrying with a concealed permit. I have had a few lively conversations with these friends and most agree that the ban on assault rifles and pistols with expanded clips was and would be a good and proper restriction, second amendment considerations not withstanding. The permitting issue is ripe for revision and concentrated enforcement. This is especially true in our urban areas. Local police and the federal agencies need to review their options. Laser focus is needed on their training procedures and, once trained, their officers need support when it becomes evident assault weapons are being use unlawfully in their precincts
Further, John Q. Citizen needs to calm down and quit going out and buying their wife a gun. Instead, go out and by a few trigger locks or a gun safe so the kids don't come into possession of a gun. In most cases, the average high school freshman has no firearms training and is a danger to him or herself and others. The others usually includes their parents, friends, siblings and teachers.
Bill Dawson
Northfield
Last Updated on Thursday, 31 January 2013 23:54
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