Just in case you missed the latest occurence of government intrusion into the lives of everyday folk, Kipper at xrlq.com has a round up of California's new laws that came into effect this week.

Highlights include the perforation of minors and pre-movie safety demonstrations.

AP carries a more complete list, sans the witty remarks
 

Most of you are aware of the BBC, the British Broadcasting Corporation. Something you may not be aware of is its policy of "impartiality" in reporting. By this I mean that both sides of an argument are given equal weighting, despite any moral or ethical imbalance implicit in the first place. With asymetrical warfare, such as terrorists against the US forces, this results in news articles that refuse to acknowledge right and wrong, all in the name of good journalism.

Take, for example, today's report: Two killed as Israel strikes car.

At first glance, this sounds like Israel has just murdered two random, innocent people on their way to a community picnic. It is not until the ninth paragraph that we are informed that the occupants were a local commander of the Islamic Jihad organization, and his lieutenant, both dressed in military fatigues.

I am not trying to address the rights and wrongs of the israeli / arab conflict here, just illustrating the way the BBC has of  distorting the coverage through editorial policy.

 

Titled: Martin backs effort to keep gun-crime suspects in jail; race tightens

Martin agreed to support "reverse onus" bail conditions, which would require those accused of gun crimes to demonstrate why they should be released. The promise was part of a pledge during a Saturday phone call to Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty and Toronto Mayor David Miller, who have vowed to end the gun violence that most recently claimed the life of a 15-year-old Toronto girl...

...Reid acknowledged that the reverse onus provision will require justification under the Charter of Rights, but the Liberals believe the courts will recognize that "the importance of protecting citizens against gun violence is paramount."

Canada seems bent on blaming the US for their current violence, rather than addressing their own drug and gang problems. Now, in addition to calling on a handgun ban, they plan to detain suspects until they can prove they are not a threat to society. This obviously runs afoul of the current habeas corpus provisions contained in the Canadian Charter. Yet the Liberals believe this is justified for the good of the people. While being tough on criminals is a standard plank of libertarian policy, this seems to be so far off base to be crazy. Does this really carry such an appeal to the Canadian electorate to help them win?

Dave the hyphenated American

 

Titled: Chicago court rejects suit against General Motors for not sponsoring Christian group

The 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago has upheld a verdict in favor of General Motors, after a born-again Christian employee sued the automaker for religious discrimination. The case stemmed from 43-year-old computer engineer John Moranski, who petitioned GM to form a company-sponsored Christian group.

Moranski's attorney argued that the manufacturer sponsors 'affinity groups' for minorities including women, gay men and women, veterans, disabled people, and racial and ethnic groups, and the manufacturer's refusal to create a similar group for Christians violated their client's civil rights.

The automaker has a blanket policy to refuse sponsorship to any groups centering on religious or political grounds. In a nine-page ruling, the court found no merit in Moranski's arguments tying his claim to the 1964 Civil Rights Act's Title VII provision (prohibiting discrimination based upon color, race. religion, sex, or national origin).

I always find the balance between a public corporation's rights to enforce its own policy and the individual right to fair and equal treatment tricky to find in certain circumstances. When religion is then mixed in another layer of complexity and passion is added.
GM has a right to sponsor whatever groups it wants, not being funded with public money or part of the government. Moranski held the view that the guidelines allow GM to treat religious groups less favorably than nonreligious groups. GM argued that it treats all religious groups the same, a view upheld by the court.

Opinions anyone?

Dave the hyphenated American

 

Guest Blogger Writes!
 

I have this web space that, for the most part, is going to waste. I just don't have the time to devote to it it anymore and haven't for a long time. Anyway I hate to see this space go to waste so much so that I am looking for someone interested in Blogging (a Blogger wannabe) to help the Liberty 1st Blog reach its a potential audience.

So if you are a right of center libertarian (or a Conservative purist) who always wanted to try out Blogging but didn't have the web space or don't know how to get started this may be the perfect opportunity for you.

Email me at "blog at Liberty1st.org" for more info.

 

Titled: MCRGO wins in Kent County!

Today, MCRGO Counsel David Bieganowski called with very good news: MCRGO has prevailed in its lawsuit against Kent County!

You may recall that some time ago MCRGO challenged Kent County's arbitrary requirement that all CPL applicants complete and submit additional 'customized forms'. Chief among them was a form--requiring a physician's signature--attesting to an applicant's 'mental health'.

Predictably, physicians routinely refused to sign such a form. Without a 'Doctor's note', applicants would then be required to attend a gun board meeting in person or even denied their CPL effectively undermining the intent of the 'shall issue' clause within State's statute. Note that Kent County was the only one of Michigan's 83 Counties to adopt such a requirement.

Based on statute, Kent County Chief Circuit Court Judge Paul Sullivan has ruled as follows:

"Mental Status Verification Forms are 'void and unenforceable".

His ruling also negates Kent County's additional requirement that applicants disclose name or address changes for the past 8 years.

We are pleased that the Michigan CPL statute MCRGO worked so hard to implement continues to withstand such legal challenges. Our goal then was to pass crystal clear language that would withstand 'creative 'interpretion' later. Judge Sullivan's ruling demonstrates once again that MCRGO has succeeded.

We thank Judge Sullivan for his jurisprudence and stand by our fundamental position:

Once an applicant has been 'cleared' by the F.B.I. and completed the intensive training required by law, s/he shall be granted their constitutional right to self-defense.

See the original news item for more info and how you can help win these battles over individual liberty.

 

I have had one for a couple of months now and just haven't got around to bragging blogging about it yet. It was my first semi automatic purchase and I absolutely love it. Prior to purchasing it I had considered a Springfield Armory XD40 but a friend of mine had this Sig, which at the time had only had 100 or so rounds run through it that he wanted to sell on the cheap. Anyway, long story short, it was an offer I couldn't refuse and now I am very glad I didn't.

Suddenly I am a Sig P229 enthusiast (read obsessed). If you are a Sig enthusiast also be sure to check out the Sig Forum here.

 

 

Titled: Mi. House votes to place Second Amendment plaque on Capitol grounds

A plaque honoring the right to bear arms would be placed near the state Capitol under legislation approved Wednesday by the state House.

The House voted 108-0 to send the Senate a bill that would require the Michigan Capitol Park Commission to place the plaque near the Capitol or in the adjacent mall area. The plaque would be installed once enough private money is collected for a foundation to which it could be attached.

The plaque, which was created by the Iosco County-based gun rights group Brass Roots, is made of more than 18,000 empty shells collected at a 1994 rally at the Capitol. It measures 4 feet by 6 feet and is inscribed with the U.S. Constitution's Second Amendment and a similar provision in the state constitution.

Rep. Leon Drolet, a Republican from Macomb County's Clinton Township who sponsored the bill, said the intent is for the monument to be funded completely with private dollars

The best part of that is that it was done with private money. Awesome!

 

Titled: THE BATTLE LINES HAVE BEEN DRAWN

LANSING, Mich. (AP) -- Gun control advocates failed earlier this year to stop a Florida law allowing people to use deadly force to defend themselves without fear of prosecution from being signed by Gov. Jeb Bush.

They aren't going to let it happen again.

The battle in Michigan over the so-called deadly force legislation is an important one for both sides. It could open the doors to similar laws across the country - a top priority for the National Rifle Association - or stop the effort in its tracks.