Titled: Gun Control: The Promotion of Denial

Have you ever asked yourself: Why, when evidence overwhelmingly shows gun banners are wrong, do they persist in making outrageous claims about law-abiding gun owners? There may finally be an answer, so read on.

“Protecting your proverbial castle would not only include your home, but also your car and any place you are legally allowed to be. "It would decriminalize the use of deadly force or lethal force in self-protection circumstances," said Wayne Groth – a supporter of [Michigan] state House Bill 5142 and House Bill 5143.”

“There is no reason to pass a law that sends a signal to the most aggressive people in society that they can act more aggressively than they can now,” said Peter Hamm, Communications Director for the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence

Michigan House Bill 5142 would allow the use of “deadly force” without first trying to retreat if a law-abiding gun owner is attacked in their home or on their surrounding land. House Bill 5143 goes further by stating that the defender does not have a duty to retreat and is also free from prosecution and civil action if their actions are found to be lawful. Such defense would be allowable in a “dwelling, residence, or occupied vehicle.” This bill also mentions conditions under which the use of deadly force is not acceptable. For instance, in the case of simple trespass, the defender may not use deadly force. Thus, the law-abiding gun owner or Right-to-Carry licensee is responsible to understand and follow the law or suffer terrible consequences, which is simply a continuation of current law.

As to Mr. Hamm’s implication that gun owners are “the most aggressive people in society,” we should at least try to determine if Michigan RTC licensees make the state more violent. After all, Oxford English Dictionary defines aggressive as: “ready or likely to attack or confront.” Therefore, there should be some statistical record to show that violent attacks or confrontations increased after Michigan enacted its RTC law in 2001. Instead, what we find is that from 2001 through 2004, Michigan’s homicide, robbery, and assault rates dropped more than the national average.

Michigan Vs. U.S. Violent Crime, 2001-2004
	Violence	Homicide	Rape	Robbery	Assault
Michigan	-10.0%	-4.5%	+2.8%	-13.6%	-13.1%
U.S.	-7.7%	-1.8%	+1.3%	-7.9%	-8.6%

Read the rest at the Chron Watch Blog

Titled:    Americans Okay With Current Balance Between National Security and Individual Liberty

Americans are generally comfortable with the current balance between national security concerns and individual liberties. Nearly a third of the respondents in a Rasmussen Reports survey (32%) say that our legal system worries too much about individual rights at the expense of national security. A similar number (29%) say there is too much concern for national security at the expense of individual liberties. Twenty-seven percent (27%) say that the current balance is about right.

Titled: Your phone records are for sale

The Chicago Police Department is warning officers their cell phone records are available to anyone -- for a price. Dozens of online services are selling lists of cell phone calls, raising security concerns among law enforcement and privacy experts.

Criminals can use such records to expose a government informant who regularly calls a law enforcement official.

Suspicious spouses can see if their husband or wife is calling a certain someone a bit too often.

And employers can check whether a worker is regularly calling a psychologist -- or a competing company.

Some online services might be skirting the law to obtain these phone lists, according to Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), who has called for legislation to criminalize phone record theft and use.

Yea but Bush did it first!!!

You know you've hit the big time when your blog gets recognized in the "The Truth Laid Bear Ecosystem".

The Liberty1st blog has reached a ranking of #17880 making us a Multicellular Microorganism.

Thanks to all readers, linkers and commenters for helping us reach a level at which we can at least probably move, even if intelligent thought is a few steps away.

Titled: New Disclosure Rules Expose NEA's Millions to 'Left-Wing' Causes

A union watchdog group says a new disclosure report confirms that the nation's largest teachers union, the National Education Association (NEA), is heavily involved in the wider liberal political movement and the Democratic Party.

Earlier this week, the Wall Street Journal reported that the NEA gave $65 million last year to liberal groups such as People for the American Way, the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition, the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD), and the Human Rights Campaign, which is the largest pro-homosexual lobby in the U.S.

In the past, unions with at least one private sector member have had to report their costs and expenses, but they have been able to lump them into large categories such as contributions, gifts, and grants. But now, under new federal rules, the NEA must detail where all its grants have gone, down to $5,000.

Just in case you thought the public education system was well balanced.

Ravenwood links to a brief four minute video demostrating the difference between so-called "assault weapons" and sporting rifles. On view are an AR-15, M1 Garand and an SKS, as well as a brief discussion on ball and expanding bullets. Well worth a look, if only for the confused and suprised look on the face of the interviewer.

At the risk of ruining whatever reputation I might still have, Say Uncle has the best blond joke ever!

Titled: It's the Demography, Stupid

Another excellent column by Mark Steyn on the impact of falling Westen birth rates and the impact this will have on the western way of life. Some quotes:

Much of what we loosely call the Western world will not survive this century, and much of it will effectively disappear within our lifetimes, including many if not most Western European countries...

If anything, the West is awash in an epidemic of self-hate crimes. A commenter on Tim Blair's Web site in Australia summed it up in a note-perfect parody of a Guardian headline: "Muslim Community Leaders Warn of Backlash from Tomorrow Morning's Terrorist Attack." Those community leaders have the measure of us.

That's the wonderful thing about multiculturalism: You can choose which side of the war you want to fight on. When the draft card arrives, just tick "home team" or "enemy," according to taste.

In National Review recently, I took issue with that line Gerald Ford always uses to ingratiate himself with conservative audiences: "A government big enough to give you everything you want is big enough to take away everything you have." Actually, you run into trouble long before that point: A government big enough to give you everything you want still isn't big enough to get you to give anything back. That's what the French and German political classes are discovering.

In the 2004 election, John Kerry won the 16 with the lowest birthrates; George W. Bush took 25 of the 26 states with the highest. By 2050, there will be 100 million fewer Europeans, 100 million more Americans--and mostly red-state Americans.

Well worth the time to read.

Titled: When Being Pro-America Makes You Anti-Democrat!

Every now and then you come across a well-reasoned and well-crafted piece that just seems to fit the way you think. You read through it, nodding as you go, excitedly waiting for the conclusion and for the words to sink in. Then, having digested the message, you sit back and a profound sense of sadness comes over you. Why didn't I write that? It says what I think. It captures how I feel right now. But then I realize that I don't need to write it. All I need to do is find it, and help it find its way to a larger audience, to ensure that it isn't lost among the flotsam of the blog world.

Here is an excerpt:

Free unfettered self-determination, through personal (including economic) liberty, a free market capitalist economy, freedom OF religion, freedom OF speech, freedom OF thought and expression, the right to fail or succeed at one’s own hand, the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, the right to one’s own earnings, the right to a safe secure nation, to raise our children as we see fit and the right to self-governance accordingly, these are the fundamental principles America was founded and built upon.

 

The simple fact is, most Americans are not anti-religion or religious speech, not anti-capitalism or free market society, not anti-military or national security, not federal dependents and not interested in relying upon any commune to raise their young or determine their place or worth in society. Today, this also means that they are not Democrats…

 

Though Democrats bristle at any suggestion that they are in any way anti-American, the fact is, their agenda is at odds with nearly every American principle today and average people able to see that, just can’t get over it, no matter how bad the alternatives might appear.

 

Read the rest here, then come back and leave a comment or two.

Titled: Twisting saga of one man's motorbike (minor registration required)

In this cautionary tale, the theft of a motorcycle and an offer to help the police apprehend the thief leads to disaster. This is a classic case of a citizen trying to help, only to get ensnared in the clutches of bureaucratic red tape. Again, we see how the unintended consequences of policy meant to help has led to disaster for Joe Public, involving ever-increasing fees, the police, the court system and city hall. So far, the only winner seems to be the towing company although the final verdict is still to come in.

Titled: AG Sprays Machine Gun Opinion (registration required)

Anyone who lawfully — key word being lawfully — owned a federally registered machine gun on or before May 19, 1986, can keep the gun and transfer it if the transfer is approved by the U.S. Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Attorney General Mike COX issued his opinion about the possession and transfer of federally registered machine guns in response to a request Rep. Leon DROLET (R-Clinton Twp.).

Mike SESSA Jr., who lives in Harrison Township and has worked with Drolet since the early 1990s to advocate for Second Amendment rights, sent the request to Drolet.

There was some confusion as to whether a license was needed to obtain the gun. The question was whether the document that has to be filled out in order to get a license is actually considered a "license." According to the Cox opinion, the document is enough to qualify as a license because it follows all federal guidelines.

Anyone who doesn't meet the requirements and fill out the documents but possesses a machine gun can go to jail under state and federal law.

So now you know

Titled: Lansing prepares for stand your ground' bill - Part 1

After the law (concealed carry) was passed, many people had concerns of out-of-control violent crime, and western style gunfights in the streets.

That didn't happen, and, according to the 2003 Michigan Uniform Crime Report, Michigan experienced a 10 percent drop in violent crime between 1999 - a year before the CCW law was passed - and 2003.

For now, an individual can still be held responsible for taking a life, no matter what pretenses surround the death. The people who received a CPL know this and have serious concerns about the price that they would pay if forced to defend themselves or their family.

"I could be perfectly justified in what I've done," said Rick Hansen, co-owner of Silver Bullet Firearms, located at 5121 S. Division Ave. "And Kent County could burn me on a criminal trial which could cost as much as $50,000 in lawyer fees, even if I'm not convicted."

"Then a year and half down the road, say a relative comes up to me Are you Rick Hansen?' And because some kid strung out on drugs came into my home, and I defended myself, I could be sued in a civil trial, which could cost another $50,000," Hansen said.

A bill introduced to the State House Judiciary Committee, HB 5143, would exonerate an individual from criminal and civil charges if a shooting meets the bill's definition of self-defense.

Titled: Lansing prepares for stand your ground' bill - Part 2

Because violent crime rates continue to decrease in Michigan, coinciding with the CCW law passed in 2000, it is hard for the pro-gun community to understand the concerns gun-control advocates still harbor.

Lt. Ralph Mason, public information officer for the Grand Rapids Police Department, hasn't seen any of his initial concerns about the CCW law come to fruition.

"We really haven't had the problems that some people thought we would. I'm still not in favor of it. But I personally thought we would have a significant problem," Mason said.

A decrease in violent crime doesn't mean people are ready to loosen gun laws, according to Shikha Hamilton, state president of the Michigan Million Mom March, a chapter of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence.

"Unless gun bills relate to hunting, generally the general public doesn't support it. We don't take an anti-gun stance. This is just an unreasonable bill," Hamilton said.

"That is the biggest challenge working in Michigan," Hamilton said. "When you have the legislature falling in line with the gun lobby and not representing their constituents."

A bill introduced to the State House Judiciary Committee, HB 5143, would exonerate an individual from criminal and civil charges if a shooting meets the bill's definition of self-defense.

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.

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."

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).

This being the season for new resolutions and other such leaps into the unknown, I very quickly snatched the "Blogger Required" sign from the window and sent Buck a long and winding email. Something must have clicked, because after a flurry of messages, a password followed allowing me access to this very blog. And who am I, you may be asking? Well, I'm an ex-Brit, who chased a dream all the way to frosty Michigan. I hope to bring a little different perspective to the discussions on this blog and hopefully prompt some of you to become frequent commenters, contributors and active advocates for the cause of liberty.

It's going to take me a couple of days to get up to speed but I'll leave you with something hopefully a little more revealing: a meme for new bloggers stolen and adapted shamelessly from Seeing the Forest:

Why I'm A Guest Blogger

Four of your favorite foods: 
Steak and Roast Potatoes 
Special House Lo Mein
Melted cheese on toast
Hungry Howies 5 item pizzas

Four movies you could watch over and over:
Lawrence of Arabia
The Full Monty
Snatch
Amelie

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!