Right to speak
Only in the fevered mind of the abortion opponent does a citizen’s right to speak find its full and righteous expression in not speaking at all.
The writer of the Dec. 18 letter “Right to life” believes that she should have the right to purchase a “Choose Life” license plate, even though “Respect Choice” plates or such are not available for opponents. She writes: “Abortion advocates have the constitutional right to not buy the license plates for their cars while respecting the constitutional right of pro-life advocates to purchase them.” In other words, pro-choice proponents get to practice their free speech by having no say at all.
If that’s true, then so is this: The government can sponsor “I’m a proud Democrat” license plates. But, no, we don’t need “I’m a proud Republican” plates. Anyone who doesn’t share the sentiment has the constitutional right to not buy them while respecting the constitutional right of Democrats to purchase them.
Likewise, the government can sponsor “Choose Allah” plates. Anyone who disagrees has the constitutional right to not buy them. But, no, they don’t need “Choose Jesus” plates.
Judge James Fox made the right call. If one side of the abortion debate is to be allowed government endorsement, then the other should, also.
The writer refers to “erroneous interpretations and decisions and others who attempt to advance an agenda …” but that’s just blather. Her side lost and she doesn’t like it. But the judge’s ruling is simply fair.
C.L. JOHNSON
Winston-Salem
It’s opinion
From reading the editorial pages in the Journal every day it seems that most of the letters are from mean-spirited liberals who spew venom and lies about their conservative and Republican counterparts. Come on, people, your man won the election, so back off, please.
I am a lifelong conservative Republican and I don't watch Fox News. In fact, I don't watch any news because whether it’s Fox or their beloved MSNBC or CNN, it’s not news, it’s opinion, and I, like the majority of my friends, can think for myself. I don't need cable news to think for me.
ERVIN WALLER
Advance
Assault weapons
I am so tired of hearing that law-abiding citizens will be “punished” for the actions of criminals if assault weapons are banned. Assault weapons.
First of all, the name itself implies just that: Assault! Secondly, “punishment” implies dreadful and horrendously painful suffering and loss. Is the assault-weapon collector really going to feel that much pain and loss? (Read it: collector, as in “collection,” as in “not for use” in defense of self or country.) The owner of the assault weapon used in the assault of the children in Newtown, Conn., was the first to be assaulted with her own assault weapon. The assault weapon wasn't used to defend anyone, nor anyone's property. It was used to assault the defenseless.
Yes, we do have the right to “bear” arms; we should not, however, have the right to “bare” assault weapons.
ANGIE MENDEZ
Winston-Salem
No safe harbor
I, like many others, find myself deeply saddened and troubled by the events that occurred recently in Connecticut. I am distressed that I live in a society that pays so little attention and support to some of its most vulnerable members, those suffering with severe, chronic mental illnesses. TV and newspaper headlines question what could be the possible motive for such behavior. This seems to miss the point that psychotic behavior does not have a neat, rational motive. Psychosis reflects a state of human suffering that is entirely uncertain and unpredictable.
The sensory, perceptual and cognitive distortions that the psychotic brain tries to deal with lead people to protect themselves in the most primitive ways and represent the chaos and fear of those who are afflicted. Why do we have such trouble understanding this?
When the state hospitals closed their doors to those with severe, chronic illness, many were left with no safe harbor, no community to be a part of in which they can feel both accepted and safe. Of course, the combination of easy access to assault weapons and the underserving of those suffering with severe mental illness create a perfect opportunity for the proliferation of psychotic chaos. It is time to change our priorities; it is time to care.
AARON POLLER
Winston-Salem
Weapons of mass destruction
Assault weapons are personal weapons of mass destruction. They should be categorized with nuclear, chemical and biological weapons. Governments are usually in charge of such weapons, not to promote tyranny, but to have enough checks and balances to avoid the use(s) of them.
There are no such checks and balances in the civilian world for assault weapons. They go way beyond personal protection and/or hunting and should not be issued to individuals any more than should a nuclear bomb be issued to individuals.
BOBBY LOCKE AND DEBBIE ANDERSON LOCKE
Winston-Salem
Senseless killings
These senseless killings continue. When will our leaders do something? When will they put politics aside and stand tall against the NRA? How does one comprehend killing in such a vicious way their mother and young, innocent children? Perhaps one of these kids would have developed a cure for cancer. We will never know.
I challenge Rep. Virginia Foxx to let us know her position and what she plans to do regarding this matter. Be a leader.
I support our Second Amendment right to bear arms but feel there should be limitations and a national gun-control policy. We also have freedom of speech, but that does not mean someone can yell “fire” in a crowded theater.
Military assault weapons should be banned immediately. I own guns and have a concealed carry permit but feel strongly that assault weapons should not be accessible. Will someone eventually purchase a rocket launcher and bring down a commercial aircraft?
Our government should immediately initiate a study of commonalities between these mass murderers. What prescription “mood-altering” drugs were they taking? Listen to the television advertisements these days, with brief description of what drugs do for you and then lengthy dissertation on the side effects. How do prescription drugs known to “alter moods” and cause even death on rare occasions get approved for use?
Neither President Obama nor Mitt Romney was willing to stand tall on gun control during the campaign. The election is now over. Time now to do something!
CLARENCE PEOPLES
Clemmons
Welcome to America torn right down the middle. Government should DO something! Nothing will feed this division any faster than this current government Doing something.
ReplyDeleteLiberal New York newspaper faces outrage after publishing the names and addresses of gun owners.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.cnn.com/2012/12/25/us/new-york-gun-permit-map/index.html?hpt=hp_c1
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Liberal hate and intimidation contines for people that don't conform to liberals' perspective of what is 'right' in the their world.
"Publishing gun owners' names makes them targets for theft or public ridicule. It is journalistic arrogance to abuse public record privilege, just as it is to air 911 calls for no reason or to publish the home addresses of police or judges without cause," Al Tompkins, a Poynter senior faculty member, said in a statement Wednesday. "Unwarranted publishing of the names of permitted owners just encourages gun owners to skip the permitting."
DeleteLiberal reporter who wants high capacity magazines for guns banned, breaks Washington D.C.'s law on high capacity magazines.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.businessinsider.com/nra-wayne-lapierre-meet-the-press-david-gregory-2012-12
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That's what I love about liberals, they're always proving my point(s) for me.
Here's a guy, David Gregory of Meet the Press, that obviously wants a law banning high capacity magazines for guns. Yet, he breaks a similar law that already exists in D.C.
Gun laws are worthless in stopping criminals from possessing certain kinds of guns, and devices. And in this case, a law was not even effective in stopping a supposed law abiding citizen from possessing a prohibited device.
Hee Hee....liberals...they're always up to something stupid.
Sounds like something Rush would do.
DeleteNBC's David Gregory of 'Meet the Press' under investigation for being a liberal dope.
Deletehttp://www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162-57560861/d.c-police-investigating-meet-the-press-over-gun-prop/
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I heard he wants Rush to represent him in all proceedings. Hee Hee...that oughta be fun to watch!
Your Honor, I call Wayne LaPierre of the NRA to the stand. Hee Hee!
The network had contacted the police department prior to Sunday's broadcast "inquiring if they could use a high capacity magazine for the segment," police spokesman Araz Alali said on Wednesday.
Delete"NBC was informed that possession of a high-capacity magazine was not permissible and their request was denied."
Alali, the police spokesman, declined to elaborate on the investigation into NBC.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/12/26/usa-people-gregory-idUSL1E8NQ3M020121226
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Now let me get this straight? NBC knew it was against the law, but they went ahead with using the magazine anyway? Whaooooooooh!
Sounds like Mr. Gregory might have to take a plea.
Gun law doesn't stop killer from possessing 'assault weapon'.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.cnn.com/2012/12/25/us/new-york-firefighter-shooting/index.html?hpt=hp_c2
Wandered into yesterday's forum "room" by accident this morning and smelled something awful…then noticed two little piles of poop on the floor.
ReplyDeleteI see that the forum fool is still struggling mightily with our American language. Maybe he ought to revert to his native tongue, Gondawandan, which they speak fluently over at Scrooge McDuck Mountain.
This time, he referred to a company called Brownell's as "the world's largest firearms supplier".
In the American language, and even in its now nearly obsolete predecessor, English, the phrase "firearms supplier" would refer to "one who supplies firearms", thus one who sells or otherwise "supplies" guns. Brownell's does sell some guns, but their principal business is selling parts and accessories for guns, which is not the same as supplying guns, so once again we have a failure of communication.
We're always pulling for the fool to get something right, and he came pretty close this time, just a couple of words away. If he had just said "the world's largest firearms parts and accessory supplier" he would have nailed it and we could have all given him a big "huzzah!". At least, this time he has a good bit of company, as any number of headline writers screwed it up as well.
In fact, a couple did even worse than the fool. FoxLies®, of course, was one of them. They called Brownell's the "world's largest supplier of firearms"…hard to beat the fool but they did it. And the Daily Mail, over across the pond where they still speak actual English, really blew it by referring to Brownell's as the "world's largest arms dealer". Next to that, the fool looks pretty good for once.
Who is the world's largest arms dealer? Just a few years ago, that was an easy answer. The United States government, which had held that title for decades. Lesser contenders were the other permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, China, France, Russia and the United Kingdom. Their motives were simple…projection of power and profits for the powerful arms industries in each country.
But over the years, it became standard procedure for the UN to issue an arms embargo in any country in which one of the thousands of small to medium wars were breaking out. It would have been embarrassing for the Big Five to be caught violating their own embargoes, so they developed proxies to do their dirty work. Those proxies, ruthless thugs uncontrolled by any government, became known as international arms dealers.
The first that we know much about was Sam Cummings, ex-CIA, in the 1950s and 60s, whose bloody fingerprints can be found from the Philippines to the Middle East to Central and South America. There have been many others.
Some embargoed countries, principally Israel, Taiwan and South Africa, developed their own weapons industries and became a part of the problem.
But Viktor Anatoliyevich Bout, "The Merchant of Death", a Russian national, became the best known. He had a fleet of cargo planes that transported food and medical supplies to cover his illegal arms deals in Africa, Asia, the Middle East and South America. He had apparently retired until he was lured by US agents into a sting operation involving the FARC in Colombia. In April, 2012 he was convicted and sentenced to 25 years in prison.
At his sentencing, the US judge lectured the prosecutors, pointing out that Bout would not have committed the crimes involving Colombia if they had not lured him in, and gave him the minimum sentence available.
Since World War II, tens of millions of people have died in the thousands of small to medium wars worldwide, far more than killed in WW II. Despite the juvenile fascination with aerial "shock and awe" exhibited by the CheneyBush folks, the vast majority of those people have been killed by small arms, bought, moved and sold by the Merchants of Death.
And what pray-tell does that have to do with the price of eggs in North Carolina?
DeleteWhat an utter dope!
Again you're wrong Rush. The United States government does not in and of itself make and distribute firearms. It contracts out to companies and they make them. The U.S.
DeleteGovernment serves primarily as a distributor.
You never can resist an opportunity to make an utter fool out of yourself, can you Rush?
Here is a perfect example of how the gun nut mind works. The amazing thing is that school authorities let him stay there as long as they did. Think they ever thought about the liability? At least the law prevented him from taking his guns onto school property. If someone had decided to shoot up the school, he would simply have added one more to the casualty numbers.
ReplyDeleteFrom Military.com:
'Former Marine Guarding School Embellished Service
Dec 21, 2012
The Modesto Bee, Calif.
The Marine Corps veteran who achieved national fame this week for guarding Hughson Elementary School had a far less distinguished service career than he has claimed in public, records obtained Thursday show.
Hughson Unified Superintendent Brian Beck said he asked Craig D. Pusley to leave the school grounds about 10 a.m. Thursday after checking with regional Marine authorities on Pusley's service. He said Pusley did not argue and simply left.
…
Records provided by the Marine Corps show that Pusley served only nine months before being discharged as a private first class in April 2008. The personnel records further indicate that he never served in Iraq or Afghanistan, or anywhere else overseas.
The records contradict Pusley's claims Wednesday to The Bee and other media that he is a 28-year-old sergeant who served two tours in Iraq, in Baghdad and Ramadi, and one tour in the Helmand province of Afghanistan.
Pusley told the Army Times on Thursday that he feels "horrible about this. I cannot emphasize how sorry I am that all of this has happened," he told the newspaper. "These were not my intentions. This was never supposed to happen."
He also told the Times he is 25 and that he dreamed of being a Marine as a youngster. He lives in Hughson with his wife and 3-year-old son; she is expecting their second child in two weeks.'
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I note that in one of the pictures Pusley is wearing camis and standing in a very unMarinelike position. Maybe he only lasted 9 months because he is one of the 10% who simply cannot learn.
Know anybody else who is a wannabe? I do.
More loony news:
ReplyDelete'News outlets are picking up on a Mother Jones report that a manufacturer of lightweight body armor for children and backpacks lined with material designed to protect against bullets says sales "have gone through the roof" since the Newtown shootings.'
___AP
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"Now honey, it's raining, so don't forget your galoshes…oh, and your body armor."
Reminds me of the old days when you would hear on the radio about three guys breaking out of jail in Phoenix and everybody in Ardmore would start locking their doors. "Land of the free and the home of the brave"? You've got to be kidding me.
As George Carlin liked to say "Consider how stupid the average person is…then consider that half of them are even stupider."
Since you've lived most of your worthless life in your little grungy downtown 'loft', I wouldn't expect to realize that the world has gotten considerably more dangerous. In some countries, it is not unusual for private security to 'mirror' customers' cars at supermarkets for bombs before they can enter the premises.
DeleteBecause of our government's inability to control its borders, violent confrontations will continue to increase as the years go forward. So, having a child take a bullet proof backpack to school will be a common occurence in the days and years ahead.
You'll probably be recruited to play a part in 'Dumb and Dumber 2'. You'll be a perfect fit.
Seems to me that Bucky stepped on the piles and slipped and hurt is Buckbottom.
DeleteLet's hear it for the gun!
Yayyy, guns...kill'em all!!!
DeleteA lot of them claim to be with the CIA too. My folks knew a guy who did that. Grandiosity must be one of the diagnostic criteria.
DeleteOr a Navy SEAL...that is hot these days.
DeleteMarine training is far more demanding than Army training. That's why their slogan is "The Few, the Proud, the Marines". Best conventional fighting force in the world.
SEAL training makes Marine training look pretty soft...and they have to be really smart, as well. They don't need a slogan...they are simply the best.
I know a Marine recon soldier. Nicest guy in the world, and can also kill you with his bare hands. It's an interesting combination.
DeleteYes, I had the same course he had, at Pendleton. The instructor was a tiny Marine sergeant, all creases and spit shine.
DeleteHis intro to the class: "You sailors have probably been talking about learning kung fu or tae kwon do or something like that. Well, forget that sissy stuff. This here is a course in how to kill a man with your bare hands...won't need no feet."
One of the best teachers I ever had at any level of education. My friend Fam had the same course with the same instructor...we still practice about once a week...and we have taught many of our friends.
Quivering cowards huddled in their mammas' basements tend to see the world differently from those of us who are out and about at all hours.
DeleteAdd disabling ignorance to the equation and it is no wonder they're always on the verge of wetting their little panties.
The crime rate in the US has been falling steadily for some time now. Property crime is down 46% since its peak in 1980. Violent crime is down 43% from its peak in 1991. The murder rate has fallen 54% since its peak in 1980. The robbery rate has seen the steepest decline of all, falling 57% since its peak in 1992.
Fortunately, real life is not a movie, TV show or a video game.
Of course, the forum fool loves to cite high crime rates in foreign countries, as if that has anything to do with us. And his info about nearly everything is always way out of date, especially if outdated info will back up his crazy claims.
His BS about mirrors refers to South Africa, which ten years ago was undergoing a vast epidemic of violent crime. But the government and its citizens have learned how to deal with such problems. Since 2003, the murder rate is down 28%, attempted murder is down 55% and assault/battery are down 32%. All will continue to fall, not that that makes any difference to someone living in the W-S suburbs.
Have no fear, Chicken Little is alive and well on this forum.
Poor Rush........reality never seems to sink in, and he thinks he's perfectly normal.
DeleteLTE #1 - I have always been amused that people will pay extra for a vanity license plate, but the state makes money on them, so I have no problem with them. I actually saw a clever one once on a 280Z in California: "POORSH"
ReplyDeleteBut that is offset by the infamous fool whose NC plate read "Waffen SS". Once reported, it was recalled. The driver was lucky he did not encounter a WW II vet like my father, who would have done a Dale Earnhardt on him and sent him into the trees.
If people want to advertise their politics or religious beliefs, there's always bumper stickers. Since the average bumper sticker is not clever, most users are simply telling us things about themselves that they probably shouldn't.
One clever one comes to mind: A car being driven by a very attractive young lady. The bumper sticker: "My other ride is a United States Marine"
My favorite of course, is the Christian fish symbol permanently attached to the car…nothing like driving down the resale value. I especially like the ones that add a little cross for an eye. I guess they're afraid people will not understand the ancient Christian symbol without being hit over the head.
LTE #2 - Well, the LTEs are actually pretty balanced between the sides of the political spectrum, and they mostly reflect the ignorance of the worst on each side.
Mr. Waller is right to avoid Fox, CNN and MSNBC. Broadcast news is mostly sound bites. If you want news, you're going to have to actually do some reading, taking care to consider the source. Most Americans are too lazy for that.
LTE #3, 4, 5, 6 - Since our nation is awash in a flood of firearms, over a third of all existing in the world, it is far too late to really do much about guns. Mass shootings are the price we have to pay for living in a nation of gun nuts which also has the highest rate of mental illness and prescription drug abuse in the world.
As pointed out repeatedly, every study ever done has shown that keeping a gun in your house dramatically increases your chances of being targeted in a break-in and of bringing harm to yourself and your family and friends. Case in point: the mother of the Newtown shooter. If people want to ignore facts and live dangerously, so be it.
More gun nut news:
ReplyDeleteThe loony who killed two firemen in Webster, NY had a pistol, a shotgun and a rifle, one from each gun nut food group.
And he left a note pledging to burn down his neighborhood (he lit up 7 buildings to lure the firefighters) and "do what I like doing best, killing people."
His Bushmaster .223 had a flash suppressor, a must have for hunting and target shooting. God forbid the deer start shooting back.
Let's hope that the police checked his wallet to make sure that his Bushmaster "man card" was up to date.
He also was a convicted felon. It was against the law for him to possess ANY gun.
DeleteSo much for the fools that think killers will abide by laws. Hmmmm....wonder why Rush's name comes to mind?
Pathetic.
His name probably comes to mind because in several posts above he has shown you to be a fool, yet your only response is some feeble non sequitur in each case.
DeleteHappy Fantasy New Year!
Good afternoon folks!
ReplyDeleteLTE 1:"Her side lost and she doesn’t like it." - that pretty much sums it up. When it comes to emotional topics, logic goes out the window. Combine with a lack of knowledge of how our Constitution works and you have the referenced LTE. Good response from Mr. Johnson.
LTE 2: There's been just as many sour grapes LTE's from those opposed to Obama spreading venom and lies, so I'd say it's been a fairly even distribution. The cable "news" networks are 10% news, 90% editorial.
LTE 3,5,6: Looks like we'll be seeing an avalanche of pro and anti gun letters in the days ahead. All of the other 1st world countries have recognized the insanity of unfettered access to guns and acted accordingly. The US, being the most barbaric 1st world country has not and will not act for the forseeable future. Military based guns are plentiful, so any ban on future sales would be meaningless. The best that could be hoped for would be a substantial tax on ammunition which would place a premium on each bullet, but that is being highly optimistic and highly improbable. So, we are looking at a steady diet of mass shooting horror stories for years to come.
LTE 4: "...psychotic behavior does not have a neat, rational motive." - Exactly, so why do so many state that eliminating "gun free zones" would cause the irrational to think rationally and reconsider their actions? It doesn't matter if armed guards are present or not if someone suffering from psychosis decides to act on the demons in his head. Dealing with the mentally ill has been a severe shortcoming of this country for decades. Even the mentally ill who are not violent (the vast majority) deserve far better.
See above comments re: 'Meet the Press' for stunning additional news about David Gregory's possession of a high capacity magazine.
ReplyDeleteAs always, much ado about nothing, from the connoisseur of nothingness.
DeleteHere are a few other stories of the same level of importance that you should be following:
5 foot alligator dumped in Detroit
Cat helps crossing guard
Fainting goat traps teen in tree
Counselor....do you have a clue about defending somebody. Well, I've lived in a grungy loft most of life in downtown Winston Salem, I thought I knew a lot about the law.
DeleteHee..Hee....lordy...lordy.
Seeing 'ol Daggett on TV makes me think he'd be a better lawyer than you Rush.
Delete