World Examiner

Murdock: Romney all over map on guns

Link: Matthews Machine-Guns 2nd Amendment: 'I Want People Disarmed' | NewsBusters.org.

MURDOCK: Yah, I think that would probably be helpful. There are people who do conceal guns here, and to the extent that people think that criminals might be retaliated on, I think that helps keep the place safe. I would point out that Romney, who claims to be Mr. Second Amendment now, actually increased the cost for gun permits, and he claimed when he ran for governor that he wasn't a man of the NRA, and now that he's running for president he claims to be a lifetime member of the NRA -- lifetime being defined as joining in August of 2006. So even on the gun issue he's sort of all over the map.

WorldNetDaily: Mitt or Huck: Who's more conservative?

Link: WorldNetDaily: Mitt or Huck: Who's more conservative?.

And by the way, you knew that Romney's Bain Capital owns Clear Channel, right? And that Clear Channel broadcasts Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity? Any appearance of a conflict of interest in turning a Massachusetts liberal into the Reagan-like robot is purely coincidental; opinions of the talent do not necessarily reflect those of ... the owners.

Shall-Issue Right to Carry Proposed in Iowa

Link: NRA-ILA :: Legislation.

...introduced by State Representative Clel Baudler (R-58), would change the Iowa Right-to-Carry law to make Iowa a “shall-issue” state. According to HF120, any law-abiding persons 21 years of age or older would be eligible for a permit to carry a concealed handgun if they pass a training and marksmanship course. Training would not be required for a renewal of the permit to carry a firearm. HF120 also has a reciprocity provision that allows a person possessing a valid out-of-state permit to carry a weapon to be entitled to the privileges and subject to the restrictions of Iowa law provided the state that issued the license recognizes weapons permits issued in Iowa.

Virginia House of Delegates Overwhelmingly Rejects Making Its Own Chamber and Meeting Rooms a Gun-Free Zone

Link: Capitol Briefs - News - inRich.com.

An effort to keep guns out of the House of Delegates chamber, its meeting rooms and similar areas was shot down in the House yesterday 77-18.

All in Fun...Homeboy Night Sights

(And so no one feels picked on, don't forget the Redneck Page.)

WorldNetDaily: 94% of evangelicals rank abortion No. 1

Link: WorldNetDaily: 94% of evangelicals rank abortion No. 1.

A new report from the Barna Group warns political campaigns that assuming the evangelical vote is "splintering" over abortion would be a mistake, with 19 of every 20 members of that group citing that issue as their top concern.

Video: 21st Century Confession

GOA Calls for Bush Admin to Withdraw Heller Brief

Voice your opposition now to the DOJ's brief by calling DOJ at (202) 514-2007.  Make it clear you want strict scrutiny of any gun regulation.

Disappointing that the NRA is not taking GOA's harder line on this, actually calling for withdrawal of the brief (although NRA does make clear its position that strict scrutiny should be the applicable standard).  We have so much scholarly authority on our side, now is the time to press for total victory.  There is no reason to fear that truly compelling subjects of regulation such as criminals or true "mental defectives" would avoid regulation under strict scrutiny.

Link: WorldNetDaily: National firearms ban 'reasonable'?.

A Second Amendment advocacy organization is asking the Bush administration to withdraw a legal brief that leaders fear could be used to support "any gun ban – no matter how sweeping," as long as some court somewhere determines it is "reasonable."

Leader of "No Guns" anti-gang group gets 8 years for selling guns

Link: Leader of anti-gang group was selling guns - Los Angeles Times.

The director of the antigang organization No Guns, which the city of Los Angeles once paid $1.5 million to steer Latino youths away from a life of crime, pleaded guilty Thursday to illegally selling assault weapons to federal undercover officers.

Anti-Defamation League Equates Right to Keep and Bear Arms with Bigotry

Link: NRA-ILA :: Legislation.

According to a recent ADL release (http://www.adl.org/PresRele/SupremeCourt_33/5207_33.htm), “The League urged the Court to ensure that states retain the ability to keep guns out of the hands of ‘violent bigots.’” Glen S. Lewy, ADL National Chair, and Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director, noted, “If states lose the right to regulate firearm ownership, it would help violent bigots in their efforts to create an America based on hate and intolerance. We urge the Supreme Court to ensure that states have the tools to counter these agents of hate.”

Border Watch Group Gets Practical With New Name and Equipment

This group sounds a lot like the one I was with in July 2005.

Link: Sierra Vista Herald | The Bisbee Daily Review.

BISBEE — A local border watch group recently changed its operational name and some of its tactics due to the types of illegal immigrants its members are encountering. Cochise Borders Civil Defense Corps is now officially known as Cochise County Militia. Advertisement Bill Davis, the director and founder of the group, said he is authorizing the carrying of rifles and shotguns, in addition to handguns. Members also can wear military-type battle dress uniforms, camouflage gear and face paint. “The people we are running into are armed and are wearing camo clothes. Sometimes they are military. Sometimes they are the police dressed as military. They are escorting the gun smugglers over,” he said. “We’ve got to fight fire with fire.”

Limbaugh Endorses Fred Thompson

Link: WorldNetDaily: Answering Fred's call.

Supporters have asked Fred to step up, and he has – he has shone brilliantly in the last month, setting himself head and shoulders above the pack in many cases. Now it's time for conservative voters to step up and quit placing artificial limitations on Fred, and on themselves.

LifeSite: Organ Donation Report Suspends Presumed Consent Scheme but Pro-Life Advocates Warn of Danger

Link: Organ Donation Report Suspends Presumed Consent Scheme but Pro-Life Advocates Warn of Danger.

LONDON, January 17, 2008 (LifeSiteNews.com) - The British government's plans to consider a presumed consent scheme for organ donations was put on the back burner this week as a government appointed taskforce recommended alternative methods to increase organ donations by 50 per cent. But the wording of the recommendations has alarmed pro-life advocates who warn they may increase threats to the lives of vulnerable patients.

Romney Flip-Flops on Guns, Abortion, Boy Scouts etc.

Dr. Lott documents Romney Flip-Flops on Guns, Abortion, Boy Scouts, Farm Subsidies, etc.  Link: John Lott's Website: Why Romney's changing positions will be so harmful.

It is not just issues like guns and abortion (this piece also hits him for his changing position on immigration). I have no problem with him learning on issues, but it is getting pretty obvious that Romney is an extremely poll driven candidate. Here is a decade ago arguing against cutting farm subsidies and here he is more recently saying how essential farm subsidies. Here he is saying that strict gun control helps protect Americans' safety, but now he is a defender of gun rights. (Personally, I am not sure that he knows what the current gun control laws are.) Here used to oppose Boy Scout policy on homosexuals.

Fred Thompson is only candidate to speak out against anti-2A Bush Administration brief

Fred Thompson is only candidate to speak out against anti-2A Bush Administration brief.  Link: Thompson: Bush Admin overlawyered DC 2A case [NRO Update] | Redstate.

Asked his opinion of the Second Amendment and the Solicitor General's request that the DC Circuit Court remand the appeal back to the trial court for "fact-finding", the lawyer turned Senator from Tennessee said the Bush Administration was "overlawyering" and stated that he opposed remand and that the case should move forward to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Number of abortions drops

Link: Number of abortions lowest in decades in US, survey finds - The Boston Globe.

The number of abortions being performed in the United States has dropped to 1.2 million a year - the lowest level since 1976, according to a new report.

Sacramento Sheriff cracking down on gun permits

Link: News - Sheriff cracking down on gun permits - sacbee.com.

Sacramento County Sheriff John McGinness has revoked concealed weapon permits of a gubernatorial appointee and a state parole official while also vowing to overhaul permit record keeping, both in the wake of a Bee investigation. The Bee reported that at least 30 of the 550 people issued local carry permits from 1996 to 2007 had records of criminal convictions – and at least seven had failed to disclose them in their concealed weapon applications. Most of those permits were granted by McGinness' predecessor, former Sheriff Lou Blanas.

Meanwhile, OC gets a new acting sheriff. 

Medford teacher with carry permit appeals court decision banning carry based on school district policy

Link: Medford teacher appeals gun ban - OregonLive.com.

A Medford English teacher has appealed a court decision blocking her from carrying a gun at school. Shirley Katz, who teaches at South Medford High School, is seeking to overturn last year's Circuit Court ruling upholding a school district policy that forbids employees from carrying guns on campus.

LifeSite: Michigan, Louisiana and Pennsylvania "Most Pro-life States"

Link: Michigan, Louisiana and Pennsylvania "Most Pro-life States".

January 15, 2007 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Americans United for Life (AUL) today released its fifth annual ranking of the most and least pro-life states, based on laws in the states. For the third year in a row, Michigan topped the list, followed by Louisiana, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Kansas.

WorldNetDaily: Financial advisers' No. 1 worry: 'Democrat in White House'

Link: WorldNetDaily: Financial advisers' No. 1 worry: 'Democrat in White House'.

The biggest worry of financial advisers – more than any other economic or geopolitical concern – is to have a Democrat in the White House, according to a new survey. The quarterly poll by Brinker Capital Inc. talked to 236 financial advisers in December and found 22 percent indicated having a Democrat president worried them more than concerns such as global unrest, a terrorist attack or a recession, reported Investment News, an industry publication. The survey, published in the fourth-quarter edition of the Brinker Barometer, found 15 percent of advisers listed "global unrest" as the top concern, 15 percent said "U.S. economic growth," 13 percent chose "a terrorist attack" and 13 percent said "a recession."

The Canadian Press: Edmonton woman violently raped played dead to stay alive: court

Don't fight back?

Link: The Canadian Press: Edmonton woman violently raped played dead to stay alive: court.

Lying bloodied and nearly naked on the floor of her downtown condo, the 29-year-old woman had one option left. She'd just been raped in her bedroom, hacked and slashed in the face, head, hands and neck with a butcher blade until her mattress and pillows were slick with blood and the white bones of her pinky finger were exposed, in her words, like a split "chicken wing." A violently angry, mixed-up teen loomed over her and was going to kill her, because he had a $10,000 bet that he would, she told Court of Queen's Bench on Friday.

WorldNetDaily: Drill instructor convicted after rifle jams

Link: WorldNetDaily: Drill instructor convicted after rifle jams.

A drill instructor in the National Guard has been convicted in a Wisconsin federal court of illegally transferring a machine gun after a rifle he loaned to a student malfunctioned, setting off three shots before jamming.

WorldNetDaily: Bush Admin Says Public 'threatened' by private-firearms ownership

Excuse me for pointing out a mental defect, Solicitor General, but there is no federal ban on machine guns and many are owned by Americans in Class III states.  As for "criminals" "drug users" "mental defectives" etc., if there is a compelling state interest (under standard fundamental rights analysis), go for it.

Link: WorldNetDaily: Public 'threatened' by private-firearms ownership.

Clement suggested that gun rights are limited and subject to "reasonable regulation" and said all federal limits on guns should be upheld. "Given the unquestionable threat to public safety that unrestricted private firearm possession would entail, various categories of firearm-related regulation are permitted by the 2nd Amendment," he wrote in the brief, the Times reported. He noted especially the federal ban on machine guns and those many other "particularly dangerous types of firearms," and endorsed restrictions on gun ownership by felons, those subject to restraining orders, drug users and "mental defectives."

Statement of the National Rifle Association By Wayne LaPierre And Chris Cox On The Pending U.S. Supreme Court Case

Link: NRA-ILA :: In The News.

In the coming months, the U.S. Supreme Court will consider the constitutionality of Washington, D.C.’s ban on handgun ownership and self-defense in law-abiding residents’ homes. The Court will first address the question of whether the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, as embodied in the Bill of Rights, protects the rights of individuals or a right of the government. If the Court agrees that this is an individual right, they will then determine if D.C.’s self-defense and handgun bans are constitutional. The position of the National Rifle Association is clear. The Second Amendment protects the fundamental, individual right of law-abiding citizens to own firearms for any lawful purpose. Further, any law infringing this freedom, including a ban on self-defense and handgun ownership, is unconstitutional and provides no benefit to curbing crime. Rather, these types of restrictions only leave the law-abiding more susceptible to criminal attack.

Ukraine Offering Subsidies to New Mothers and other Statist Solutions to Stave Off Population Decline

Link: Orange Ukraine - Words and Deeds.

Protect Family Values, Respect for Parents, and Children's Rights (+) I'm giving this promise a tentative positive after reading about the new budget. It looks like both the promises to new mothers and disabled children have been covered. This positive is conditional on the budgeted payments actually coming into effect, of course, as well as dealing with the majority of other sub-pledges. sub-pledges include: a) Reverse population decline (-) b) Increase support for new mothers tenfold (+) c) guarantee good healthcare for pregnant women. d) provide assistance to those raising children or caring for the elderly e) revive state kindergartens and nurseries, ban the sale of preschools (-) f) provide credit to homebuyers (-) g) eliminate child homelessness (-) h) provide free medical care to disabled children (+) i) establish a family doctor system (-) I'm going to give this more minor issue a weak negative rating. As with everything else, the benefits for families are on the budget, but the economy is so weak it is questionable whether or not they are affordable.

Per W.Ex's correspondents in Ukraine, annual payments are now 12,000, 25,000, and 50,000 hryvnas, respectively, for one, two, or three children (about $2400, $5000, and $10,000, respectively, in US dollars).  These are very large payments by Ukraine standards.  More evidence that the sin of abortion leads to more sin and unaffordable statist largesse.  (Witness the invasion of illegals in the US.)

WorldNetDaily: Tyranny of the American Bar Association

Link: WorldNetDaily: Tyranny of the American Bar Association.

Politically-speaking, the ABA is an extreme leftist, special-interest group with a strong liberal bias regarding it's philosophy, interpreting the Constitution and against giving excellent conservative appellate and Supreme Court nominees a "highly qualified" rating. For example, the ABA gave Ronald Reagan's judicial nominees, Richard Posner and Frank H. Easterbrook, low "qualified/not qualified" ratings; later, the ABA gave Bill Clinton judicial nominees with similar resumes "well-qualified" ratings. Meanwhile, Judge Posner (a beloved mentor of mine), and Easterbrook, who took over as chief judge from Posner of the 7th Circuit in Chicago, have gone on to become the two most highly cited judges in the federal appellate judiciary.

Abortion-Fighting Businessman Carl Karcher dies at 90

Link: News: Businessman Carl Karcher dies at 90 | karcher, carl, day, children, anaheim - OCRegister.com.

He was a vocal opponent of gay rights and abortion, backing his words with money to support controversial initiatives. But he and his wife were also generous donors to less polarizing causes such as homelessness and education, awarding hundreds of thousands of dollars in college scholarships. Karcher traveled in elite circles, counting former President Ronald Reagan and entertainer Bob Hope as friends. A Catholic, Karcher had several audiences with Pope John Paul II, including one where he jokingly offered the pontiff a Carl’s Jr. coupon. The pope nonetheless knighted him into the Order of Malta, one of the highest honors a layperson can attain.

NRA-ILA Investigating Citigroup Issues

Link: NRA-ILA :: Legislation.

In late December, 2007, a large and well-known firearms dealer was informed by a company called First Data -- which operates as Citi Merchant Services under license from Citigroup, Inc. -- that it would no longer handle the dealer's credit card processing business. The company, CDNN Investments, is well known to gun owners and has been operating in Texas for decades.

Gun Forums Explode as Bush Admin Sides With DC, Advocating Intermediate Standard of Review in lieu of Strict Scrutiny

Link: Of Arms and the Law: Government files amicus -- on DC's side!.  Scroll down for the comments, for example:

There is a word for Presidents Bush #41 & 43. Quislings. Warning to the Republican Party. The gun forums are burning up with this guys. This was the last straw. A lot are saying if anyone but FDT gets the nod, Gun owners will either stay home or vote for Ron Paul if he goes third party candidate. No joke. No more voting for RINOs. Ever.

John Lott's Website: More People think that Women's Suffrage Helps Explain the Growth of Government

More proof of what we all intuitively know: women's suffrage has increased women's suffering.

Link: John Lott's Website: More People think that Women's Suffrage Helps Explain the Growth of Government.

At least one other person beside Ann Coulter thinks that my research that the growth in government is attributable to women's suffrage is plausible. Ann Coulter was very nice bringing up the issue many times this past year.

WorldNetDaily: Black pro-life leader rips Obama

Link: WorldNetDaily: Black pro-life leader rips Obama.

"Senator Obama doesn't care that abortion has obliterated the rights of more than 15 million black children since 1973," Gardner said in a statement. "He doesn't care that abortion is the No. 1 killer of African-Americans surpassing deaths caused by accidents, heart disease, stroke, crimes, HIV-AIDS and all other deaths – combined! "He won't make one of his powerful speeches decrying the injustice of abortion providers as they plant killing centers firmly in black communities – making it easier to kill black children. Instead, he actually applauds their efforts! These children are denied their most basic human right, which is the right to life, a right which our ancestors so proudly worked for, marched for and many of them died for."

WorldNetDaily: Mexican soldiers found invading United States

If Washington is not for us, are they against us? Link: WorldNetDaily: Mexican soldiers found invading United States.

A federal document obtained and released by Judicial Watch reveals that there were dozens of armed incursions by Mexican soldiers and police into the United States during Fiscal Year 2007.

Fed Up with Soundbites? Fred-Up with Specific Solutions!...Thompson's Plan for Reducing Federal Government Spending

Link: Reducing Federal Government Spending.

Citigroup, Merrill Seek More Foreign Capital - WSJ.com

Link: Citigroup, Merrill Seek More Foreign Capital - WSJ.com.

Merrill is expected to get $3 billion to $4 billion, much of it from a Middle Eastern government investment fund. Citi could get as much as $10 billion, likely all from foreign governments. Such large investments would be the latest sign big banks are undergoing a rapid recapitalization to stabilize their shaky financial foundations. Already, foreign governments have invested about $27 billion in Merrill, Citi, UBS AG and Morgan Stanley.

SF Gun Ban Overturned 3-0 by California Court of Appeals

Link: NRA-ILA :: In The News.

The California State Court of Appeals announced today their decision to overturn one of the most restrictive gun bans in the country, following a legal battle by attorneys for the National Rifle Association (NRA) and a previous court order against the San Francisco Board of Supervisors.

UK: Rules of engagement against burglars considered

Link: Rules of engagement for have-a-go householders - Times Online.

Householders will get the right to use force to defend their homes against burglars. MPs will debate an amendment tomorrow that seeks to clarify the law so that people can use “reasonable” force without fear of being prosecuted.

Boy Scout 'hero' in saving Maldives prez

Link: Boy Scout 'hero' in saving Maldives prez.

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka -- Residents of the Maldives showered praise Wednesday on a 15-year-old Boy Scout who foiled an attempt to assassinate the president of this island nation by grabbing the attacker's knife.

Video captures home invasion attempt (WFAA)

Link: Video On Demand | WFAA.com.

An attempted break-in early Sunday morning led to a terrifying and unexpected wake up call for a woman in Glenn Heights. While four men failed to break into Carrie Shannon's home on Brentwood Street, their attempt was captured on surveillance video.

Lott: "CREDIT CARD PROCESSING COMPANY REJECTS FIREARMS INDUSTRY"

Dr. Lott posts this NSSF warning: Link: John Lott's Website: "CREDIT CARD PROCESSING COMPANY REJECTS FIREARMS INDUSTRY".

Citi Merchant Services and First Data Corp. are refusing to process any credit card transactions between federally licensed firearms retailers, distributors and manufacturers -- a move which will severely limit available inventory of firearms and ammunition to military, law enforcement and law-abiding Americans.

This isn't all that surprising given the larger culture war, the constant norm changing efforts of the UN (including international gun control), globalization of commerce (especially banks).  Note how the banking industry has recently caved in lockstep, with only a few exceptions, to the homosexual lobby, worrying Scouting supporters.

WorldNetDaily: SWAT officers invade home, take 11-year-old at gunpoint

Link: WorldNetDaily: SWAT officers invade home, take 11-year-old at gunpoint.

Nearly a dozen members of a police SWAT team in western Colorado punched a hole in the front door and invaded a family's home with guns drawn, demanding that an 11-year-old boy who had had an accidental fall accompany them to the hospital, .... The boy's parents and siblings were thrown to the floor at gunpoint and the parents were handcuffed in the weekend assault, and the boy's father told WND it was all because a paramedic was upset the family preferred to care for their son themselves.

LifeSite: Pro-life Women Jailed for Having Begged an Abortionist to Quit a Decade Ago

Link: Pro-life Women Jailed for Having Begged an Abortionist to Quit a Decade Ago.

LINCOLN, Nebraska, January 4, 2008 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Pro-life activists Shari McKee and Melissa Abbink were jailed on December 28th, 2007, for speaking to Lincoln abortionist Winston Crabb on two occasions in front of his home 10 years ago. Abbink faces five months in jail while McKee has been sentenced to serve eight months behind bars.

Detroit Free Press: Michigan sees fewer gun deaths — with more permits

Link: Michigan sees fewer gun deaths — with more permits.

The incidence of violent crime in Michigan in the six years since the law went into effect has been, on average, below the rate of the previous six years. The overall incidence of death from firearms, including suicide and accidents, also has declined.

"Jericho" TV Series is Extremely Pro-Gun

We have not had television since 1995, and there is some good TV out there that we've missed.  Fortunately, we caught up with "24" on DVD and now there is something even better: JERICHO.
You can watch the first season episodes online, or get them on DVD.  Second season starts February 2008, thanks to fan support .  The series is extremely pro-gun.  Spread the news.

Largest Scout Camp in Nation to be completed this year in Orange County; Naming Opportunities for Donors

Would you like a hiking trail named after you, or perhaps a whole mountain?  The largest Scout Camp in the nation is due to be completed this year right here in Orange County and naming oppotunities still exist for large donors. Link: Outdoor Education Center.

Remember writing in your journal or diary? Maybe Mom made you take it to summer camp to practice writing so you didn't forget. You would write in you bunk or under a tree jotting down the new songs you learned, the new knot you tied or the new friend you made. Fast forward 20, 30, 40 or 50 years. Camp memories don't fade. They stay with us forever. Now is the time to provide memories for memories for future generations of campers. Donations from you will make a tremendous impact on the lives of local boys and girls now to 100 years from now.

Domino's Would Have Disciplined Hero for Being Armed

Link: STLtoday - News - St. Louis City / County.

The pizza delivery driver who fatally shot a robber last week could have faced discipline over the incident had he not resigned, a Domino's spokesman said Wednesday. Although the driver was being praised by bloggers with comments such as "Score one for the good guys," many corporations, like Domino's, prohibit armed employees.

Man Bites Dog? How about Chaplain Shoots Practical Joker Brother-in-Law-(Enforcement)?

DGU's are so numerous, it's mainly the strange ones that get reported. Link: STLtoday - News - Jefferson County:

FESTUS — Police believe that a practical joke led to the shooting of a 23-year-old Ste. Genevieve police officer Tuesday. The rookie officer allegedly faked a break-in around 9:45 p.m. at his brother-in-law's home in Festus, said Festus Police Chief Tim Lewis. "He didn't tell the family he was coming and decided to sneak in the back door," Lewis said. "The resident asked him to call out who he was, and he didn't, and he shot him."

WorldNetDaily: The most ignored stories of 2007

Link: WorldNetDaily: The most ignored stories of 2007.

At the end of each year, news organizations typically present their retrospective replays of what they consider to have been the top news stories in the previous 12 months. WND's editors, however, have long considered it far more newsworthy to publicize the most important unreported or underreported news events of the year – to highlight perhaps for one last time major news stories that were undeservedly "spiked" by the establishment press. WND Editor and CEO Joseph Farah has sponsored "Operation Spike" every year since 1988, and since founding WorldNetDaily in May 1997, he has continued the annual tradition.

Around Skateboards: Newlyweds Attacked by Girls and Boys with Skateboards

Link: Police: SJ Newlyweds Bashed By Dozen Teenagers - News Story - KNTV | San Francisco.

Police said for no apparent reason a group of about 12 teenagers began hitting the vehicle with their skateboards.

Killings In D.C. Up After Long Dip - washingtonpost.com

Link: Killings In D.C. Up After Long Dip - washingtonpost.com.

Gun violence rose sharply in the District in 2007, with the number of homicides jumping 7 percent after several years of decline.

A GERMAN'S POINT OF VIEW ON ISLAM

A GERMAN'S POINT OF VIEW ON ISLAM

A man whose family was German aristocracy prior to World War II owned a number of large industries and estates. When asked how many German people were true Nazis, the answer he gave can guide our attitude toward fanaticism.