Beyond Time
In 1789, as our Founders discussed "[a] well regulated Militia" and "arms" in what would become the Second Amendment, muskets, pistols, bayonets, swords and axes were the realities. Assault weapons with high capacity drum magazines and the ability to purchase thousands of rounds of ammunition over an Internet would have been incomprehensible.
In 2004, the House, not surprisingly, allowed the 1994 "Assault Weapons Ban" to expire. The tragedies continued: Virginia Tech in 2007; a theatre in Colorado and a temple in Wisconsin in 2012; a shopping mall in Oregon; and now, the brutal killing of innocent children at an elementary school in Connecticut.
An immediate national discourse is needed, accompanied initially by the introduction and enactment of a permanent assault-weapons ban. The safety of the American people is paramount.
JOHN STONE
Kernersville
Age requirements
In regard to the tragedy in Newtown, Conn.: Parents or guardians should be allowed to prohibit the purchase of a firearm by their children between the ages of 18-26. This is the period when mental illness starts manifesting itself. It is also during the period in which children may be on their parent's health insurance. Considering the patchwork of treatment for mental illness, its efficacy, and the gap between being declared incompetent and being capable of responsible gun ownership, it may well be the simplest way of preventing gun violence.
We have many bright-line age laws in our society: Sixteen to drive, 18 to vote, 21 to buy alcohol and 30 to be a senator. The presumption would be that one is a lawful purchaser, unless parents take action and place a "hold" on such a purchase.
There must be a mandatory check of the database and an automatic termination on the list when someone turns 26. By then the parents would have had time to work through treatment and gauge their child's social interactions.
It would also pay due respect to the family bonds that have weakened in our society.
CLIFFORD ONG
Winston-Salem
Second Amendment
The Second Amendment needs a review and clarification by the U.S. Supreme Court. It has been many years since our Founding Fathers laid it down, and many new handheld weapons have been invented since.
Certainly the words “bear arms” was intended to mean only those weapons that can be hand-carried — no cannons, guys! The original purpose of allowing citizens to bear arms was to establish a “well-regulated militia.” Any John Doe is not necessarily a member of a “well-regulated militia,” which I would define as the National Guard or a police force.
Automatic weapons are not weapons used to protect oneself except in a war zone; they are weapons of insurrection and assault. Those who would insist that they have a right to them, in the light of the tragedies that have been occurring, are irresponsible, and certainly not part of any “well-regulated militia.”
To make it more difficult for the demented and deranged to obtain these weapons, it behooves us as responsible citizens to give up the right to have assault weapons and multi-round clips. If someone really feels the need for the thrill of firing an automatic weapon — join the Army, please.
DAVID S. TURCK
Clemmons
Prayers in school
The Newtown, Conn., shooting has provided some with the opportunity to repeat their claim that “God and prayer have been removed from schools.” To paraphrase a cliché, as long as there are math tests, there will be prayers in school.
The truth is that students aren’t prohibited from praying at all. Students can read their Bibles in school; they can organize prayer clubs and Bible clubs.
What is prohibited is government-led prayer and government-endorsed religion lessons. Teachers and other school officials cannot lead prayer or demand that kids pray with them.
Considering the opinion some have about government, you’d think they’d appreciate the fact that government agents won’t be guiding their children’s spiritual development. Isn’t that the parents’ responsibility, anyway?
According to news reports, in December, the Irving, Texas school system hired a “very socially and fiscally conservative” former teacher who “watches Glenn Beck on a regular basis” to investigate claims that there were “pro-Islamic teachings” in their curriculum. She concluded that, if anything, the curriculum has a pro-Christian bias. I’m not surprised.
I’m also not at all surprised that some are being dishonest about “prayer in school” and have been for 30 years now. Because honesty isn’t their goal; fairness isn’t their goal; their goal is to promote their religion and they’ll do it even at the expense of honesty and fairness. I think they have plenty of opportunity to do that without being allowed to indoctrinate our school kids.
JANE FREEMONT GIBSON
Winston-Salem
Finish the Thought
Saturday, we asked readers to complete the sentence: “New Year’s resolutions are …”
“… always good, as long as you have realistic expectations. Personally, I prefer to set goals for myself all year long.”
KELLIENE FISHER
“… usually made with good intentions, but sometimes hard to keep. If I make a New Year's resolution this year it will be to continue to speak out for love and peace for people all over the world. War is seldom the answer to conflict, but love and diplomacy can be.”
NAOMI J. DAVIS
“… like babies: Fun to make, but hard to maintain.
“My resolution this year? Just like last year's... to be less lazy.”
KAM BENFIELD
“… to endeavor to compose well-written, articulate letters to submit to the Journal, contact the principal at the nearest Davie County elementary school and ask if my wife and I can purchase some of the basic classroom supplies that we've heard that several teachers have found it necessary to purchase with their own funds, physically attack any member of the Topeka, Kan., Westboro Baptist "Church" that shows up at a funeral anywhere within 75 miles of my home and try to keep my body weight below 175 pounds.”
KENNETH B. SCALF
“… the test we fail every year. But hey, hope springs eternal.”
CARY STEVENS
“… always the same: More money and less weight, but I must be dyslexic. I get less money and more weight.”
ROMAINE POINDEXTER
“… a chance to prove St. Paul was right. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. Take heart, if we are still here next year, we can try again!”
KEN HOGLUND
“… thankfully not (yet) subject to government oversight.”
DEB PHILLIPS
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ReplyDelete"If someone really feels the need for the thrill of firing an automatic weapon — join the Army, please."
ReplyDeleteDAVID S. TURCK
Clemmons
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You can always rely on seeing at least one idiotic letter from a liberal in the LTEs.
Gun dealers are not selling 'automatic' weapons over the counter. Few Americans own them, and it takes a special permit to own and possess such weapons if they do. Most are in the possession of the U.S. military, and our police departments.
'Automatic' weapons is a characterization of 'semi-automatic' weapons used to incite and inflame more ignorant liberals. And, sadly, there are a lot of them in our current perverse and immoral world.
FBI: More People Killed with Hammers, Clubs Each Year Than Rifles
DeleteWashington – Taxes for most Americans will still go up this year despite declarations from President Obama and others touting Tuesday night's fiscal crisis deal as a victory for middle-class workers.
ReplyDeleteHouseholds making between $40,000 and $50,000 will face an average tax increase of $579 in 2013, according to the Tax Policy Center's analysis. Households making between $50,000 and $75,000 will face an average tax increase of $822.
For most families, the increase will end there. But for top earners, taxes will get considerably higher this year.
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That's what I like about POTUS Obama, he's so candid.
These are, however, Social Security Taxes, that theorically you should get back. Good luck with that though, with Democrats in charge! They'd spend their grandmother's last nickle while she's still alive!
DeleteUnfortunately, both sides have spent quite a few of our grandchildren's nickels.
DeleteLetterman then replayed the clip of the night and asked her: "Let's say a man on television did that to you. What would your reaction be?"
ReplyDeleteReplied Griffin: "If it was Anderson Cooper, myself and every other gay guy and woman, I'd unzip so fast. Hands down."
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Come on David, liberals have no shame.
LTE #1 & 3 – Anyone who has studied the history of the Bill of Rights knows what the original intent of the 2nd Amendment was. In fact, anyone who can read and understand plain English knows what the 2nd Amendment says today.
ReplyDeleteThere was never any intent to grant any individual the right to possess a gun, but 50 years of NRA propaganda has proven that Dr. Goebbels was right…if you repeat anything, no matter how ridiculous, often enough, it becomes like truth to the weakminded.
LTE #2 – Congress may have avoided “the cliff” for a few more weeks, but Mr. Ong just fell off a steeper one…and neither he nor his idea is going to fly.
LTE #4 – What people need to understand about so-called Christians is that “prayer in the schools” isn’t about them praying…it’s about making everybody else pray with them.
This is nothing new. The most enduring dictatorship in human history has been that of the catholic church.
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DeleteRe: 2nd Amendement comment:
DeleteSee U.S. Supreme Court Case: District of Columbia v. Heller
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/District_of_Columbia_v._Heller
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5 Supreme Court Justices disagree with Rush the forum fool.
Rush never misses a chance to make a fool of himself.
DeleteDavid Regnery withdraws as nominee for Winston-Salem/Forsyth school board
ReplyDeleteAccording to a source who declined to be identified because he did not want to upset the local gun community, Regnery has shot a 9 millimeter automatic Uzi machine gun at a range within the past year and has talked about having a Class 3 permit.
The announcement comes the same day that the Winston-Salem Journal raised questions about whether he represented himself as a Davie County resident to obtain a federal permit to own what are known as Class 3 weapons, which include machine guns, silencers and short-barrel shotguns. Regnery lives with his wife and two children in Winston-Salem.
Sheriff Andy Stokes of Davie County, who said he does allow Class 3 permits, declined to say whether he signed off for Regnery. Stokes said he does not make that kind of information public so that would-be thieves are not tipped off on the potential location of firearms.
Stokes did say that he had the impression that Regnery lives in Davie County.
I hope they appoint Louis Newton. He taught Biology at West Forsyth when I was there and was AD for a while. He played football at UNC.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteHa, ha! When Regnery first surfaced, he told the Journal that he was pro-gun, but not a "gun nut". Oh yeah? I guess he's planning on hunting rabbits with that Uzi.
DeleteHe also is poorly informed about almost everything and has a lot of crazy ideas. When he ran for school board, he showed complete ignorance of how things work:
“What is Common Core curriculum?” Regnery answered: “It is a mandate from the Federal Government for what we should be teaching children.” He went on to say “I am very conservative and do not believe in a strong Department of Education.”
Of course, Common Core was actually created by the states and is not mandated by anyone.
Regnery said that Systems Thinking could be easily co-opted and that it was being used to teach Global Warming. He closed by stating that Systems Thinking is divisive and that the “controversy” could scare away potential Superintendent candidates.
He subscribes to many other crackpot conspiracy theories, inclucing that Chief of Police Cunningham is a communist.
Classic right wing GOP fruitcake, and our distinguished County Commissioners were about to rubber stamp him to the school board. Not that we are in the clear by any means...
I recall Regnery's macho "I feel confident that I could have saved lives if I were in Newtown" statement. The gunman was wearing a bulletproof vest. The most probable outcome of Regnery's presence at the scene would be Regnery's survivors planning his funeral. I did not see where being a CCW instructor or selling software to schools qualified him to sit on the school board. What's scary is that outside of Mr. Newton, the rest seemed no more qualified than Mr. Regnery.
DeleteDon’t hold your breath, Phargo.
DeleteWe are now left with the three others recommended by the local Republicans.
David Singletary and Irene May are like two peas in a pod. When they ran for the school board, they both made comments and statements that placed them far out of the main-stream and into a far-right world-view that seemed to be a mixture of internet conspiracy thought with a smattering of “American Exceptionalism” and a dash of Ayn Rand.
Unfortunately, that leaves former beauty queen Lori Goins Clark, the daughter of current board member Jane Goins. Just what we need…two Jesus freaks from the same family on the board.
Since the GOP controls the votes, it is unlikely that we will get an educated scientist who is also a former football player…the republicans run to the shriveled you-know-what guys who have to juice their manhood with Uzis.
Tough choice but I would choose Jesus freak over gun nut. Wish they would choose Mike.
DeleteBobby, were you whining about residency when Rahm (D) said he was a part-time resident of Chicago and wanted to run for mayor?
DeleteI didn't think so.
Mike's got his hands full with that new wife and motorcycle. I doubt he's got time for the nonsense that goes along with that job.
DeleteGood PM, folks!
DeleteThank you, Wordly, but aside from lacking credentials, I also lack the ideological bent required by our current board, so I would be a dubious candidate in their eyes. For one thing, I think the current neighborhood school plan is de facto segregation and a detriment to educating disadvantaged children.
I also think much money is misspent on buildings, technology, workshops. We would be better served by bringing back more basic instruction, rehiring arts teachers, particularly music teachers, and cutting teacher's meetings to 1 a week.
Then there is the matter of discipline. I would probably have everyone from the board to Walter Marshall after me. I could handle 'em. After all, I am managing marriage and a motorcycle.
Bikes and marriage,
DeleteBikes and marriage,
Go together like a horse and carriage...
Probably not. Most of the wives I know would not necessarily approve of a biker hubby...if you've found one who does, more power to you.
If "credentials" were required for being on the board, we wouldn't have an AM radio conspiracy nut like Irene May in there.
As to discipline, when I was in school, there was very little actual disciplining at school. Usually all it took was a look from the teacher and you knew that you better sit down and shut up, or when Daddy got home that evening you wouldn't be sitting down again any time soon.
What in the world? Pat McCrory has just named Tony Tata -- the fired superintendent of Wake County Schools who walked away with a fat $253,625 in severance pay -- as his new Secretary of Transportation. Tata has no real qualifications for either job... but he sure is raking in the cash. It pays to be a pet of the right wing in NC these days.
ReplyDeleteNo Pat, this is not what is meant by the bumper stickers that say: "Save the Tatas."
DeleteWhat did you expect? When one man (can you say Art Pope)is allowed to purchase the state government, all bets are off. Tata was never qualified for any job, but when you're holding all the aces, who cares what people think.
DeleteFor many years, NC's growth was due to its progressive image...now Pope & Co will try to drag us back to 1910 and reestablishment of the "White Men's Club". It will take us 20 years to undo the damage that they will do.
Reminds me too much of the GWB administration where key positions were filled based on loyalty as opposed to competence. That to me was the true disastrous legacy of GWB and why his administration was a failure. The next 4 years for NC are starting to shape as a recipe for disaster.
DeletePat McCrory will be a fine governor. Not like that bimbo Bev.(D) was.
DeleteThat Racist Justice Act was one of the biggest farses the the Democrats ever put upon the good citizens of N.C.
Delete"farses"? Does that rhyme with "arses"?
Deletefarces....spellboy
DeleteGood afternoon folks!
ReplyDeleteLTE 1,2,3: The recent SCOTUS 2nd Amendment ruling was actually the first time that the Supreme Court made a ruling on the 2nd. As it stands, the 2nd is an obsolete relic of the 18th century. SCOTUS notably in its ruling stated that the preface was just a "purpose", but it did not exclude owning firearms from being an individual right. Guns are here to stay in all forms. Limiting the available ammunition is the only alternative left.
LTE 4: It's so nice to see someone who actually understands how the 1st Amendment's religious clauses are to be applied in schools. Kudos to Ms. Gibson.
Finish the thought: I've always found setting goals for the year preferable to having resolutions. At least with goals there's a target to measure how far along you are and how well you are doing. Sometimes I wonder why Deb is still living in the US if she is so fearful of the govt taking control over her entire life.
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DeleteLTE 1,2, and 3 comment: People have already thought of that Dotnet. It's an end run to circumvent people's 2nd Amendment rights, and the Supreme Court will have none of that.
DeleteIt's like trying to pass a law that says women seeking an abortion can't see a doctor.
Come on dotnet, you're smarter than Rush, aren't you?
Being a 'Pervert' is a good thing in America:
ReplyDeleteElle Puts Androgynous Model Andrej Pejic on Its Cover
http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/entertainment/2013/01/elle-puts-androgynous-model-andrej-pejic-on-a-cover/
Washington (CNN) -- The FBI performed nearly 2.8 million background checks on people wanting to buy guns in December, a record month that capped a record year.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.cnn.com/2013/01/02/us/background-checks-guns/index.html?hpt=hp_bn1
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That Obama just keeps our economy singing along.
Democrats want your guns:
ReplyDeleteIllinois Senate Democrats advanced legislation late Wednesday to restrict semiautomatic weapons and high-capacity magazines, pressing forward with new gun control measures in the waning days of the session over the objections of firearms groups.
“There would be no exemptions and no grandfathering,” the group stated in its alert. “You would have a very short window to turn in your guns to the state police and avoid prosecution.”
Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/01/02/illinois-dems-press-forward-with-gun-control-bills-firearms-group-warns-no/#ixzz2GwyU1N9Z
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This what liberals have always wanted-a chance to take guns away from people.
Despite strictest gun laws in the nation, five people have already been murdered by guns in the Windy City.
Delete___________
A revered Chicago muffler shop owner became the city’s fifth homicide of 2013, but not before calling his son to let him know he was shot, MyFoxChicago.com reported.
"They shot me in the back," Michael Kozel, 57, the owner Independent Muffler Shop in the city's Southwest Side, told his adult son. Those were his last words he said.
Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/01/03/beloved-chicago-muffler-store-owner-citys-fifth-homicide-new-year/?test=latestnews#ixzz2GxGJE9Om
Release of gun data by liberal newspaper endangers citizenry:
ReplyDeleteN.Y. officials vow action after gun data published
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/01/03/gun-permit-database-fallout/1807293/
Questions directed to the liberal newspaper, Journal News.
DeleteIsn’t that private information?
No. There is no right to privacy regarding handgun ownership in New York. State law says that, at a minimum, the names and addresses of all permit holders are public record and must be disclosed.
http://www.lohud.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2013301020094
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These liberal hate groups need to be reined in.
Tinybuck does parrot on…awk…guns…awk…gays…awk…guns…awk…gays…
DeleteIt's all about his own vast sexual inadequacy…bring that tiny gun out of the closet, Tinybuck!
Forgot about the 'Heller' case, didn't you NW?
DeleteUnknown Irene May Appointed to WS-Forsyth County School Board
ReplyDeleteLet's have a little putsch music. Carry me back to the Bürgerbräukeller in 1923.
ReplyDeleteHitler's failed, but Calvary Baptist Church's succeeded. In a single day we seated two crackpots, Mark Baker and Irene May, on two county boards without a single citizen ballot being cast.
They want to pray in public and vote in secret, exactly the opposite of the intent of the Constitution and state law.
The term "Board of Education" becomes an oxymoron.
I always wonder how in the hell some of these people get in the positions they're in. Then I remember, there's people like Rush voting. And then everything becomes crystal clear.
DeleteAn Illinois police chief has banned his officers from a Belleville Denny’s Restaurant after a manager told five on-duty detectives they had to leave because one of them had a firearm.
ReplyDelete“The Belleville Police Department is very disheartened by the lack of respect shown to on-duty sworn police officers, Capt. Don Sax said in a statement to Fox News. “Until further notice all on duty Belleville Police officers are banned from Denny’s Restaurant unless responding to an official call for service.”
The incident occurred on New Year’s Day when five detectives were eating at the restaurant. A manager approached their table and told one of the detectives that she had to take her weapon out to her car or leave the restaurant.
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There's a wacky liberal around every corner.
If this would have happened at Dunkin Donuts, it would cost the company big.
DeleteA police officer without a gun? That's like a cheeseburger without cheese.
DeleteFunny....usually Denny's is in the headlines for discriminating against blacks...Tinybuck and his tiny gun would make a good Denny's manager.
ReplyDeleteBut Chick-fil-A wouldn't hire him...or maybe they would, since he's still partially in the closet.
Mark my words Rushie. They'll stop those gay boys from peeping at heterosexuals in bath facilities one day.
DeleteI can see it now:
DeleteUSC Chapter 12 - Meat Inspection
USC Section 461
Chapter 10 - Poultry and Poultry Products Inspection
USSC 696969
It shall be unlawful for naughty gay boys to leer at the buttocks of chickens, Chicken Littles and closeted gay boys in any federally protected locker room between the hours of noon and 12:01 PM on alternate Fridays during the month of Ramadan.
PENALTY Three laps around the locker room.
Exception In case that the offender makes a "raspberry" sound while leering, the penalty shall be four laps around the locker room, followed by the washing out of the offenders mouth with vile tasting soap, conducted by a grandmotherly type while reciting the admonishment "You are a bad boy".
Signed:
Kaye Hagan, Senate Majority Leader
Christine Quinn, Speaker of the House
Hillary Clinton, President of the United States of America
Friday, August 13, 2021