Bean bags vs. AK-47s

An excellent follow up on the recent murder of a Border Patrol agent in AZ. I could not just paste a clip, so here is the article in its entirety.

Another Border Patrol agent on the Arizona border was shot and killed by Mexican drug smugglers last Tuesday. Of the eight attackers, four are in custody and a fifth is under surveillance by Border Patrol Blackhawk helicopters as he tries to make his way back to the Mexican border.

BP Agent Brian Terry was part of a BORTAC team (for border tactical unit) tracking armed drug smugglers 15 miles northwest of Nogales, Ariz., (and only three miles west of Interstate 19) when they were attacked with automatic weapons fire. The area is well-known as a major drug-smuggling corridor, and the smugglers are known to frequently be armed with AK-47s and other long rifles.

Here's the part Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and Border Patrol management are trying to hide: Border Patrol Agent Terry and the BORTAC team were under standing orders to always use ("non-lethal") bean-bag rounds first before using live ammunition. When the smugglers heard the first rounds, they returned fire with real bullets, and Agent Terry was killed in that exchange. Real bullets outperform bean bags every time.

The larger, ugly truth Napolitano and senior managers in the Border Patrol want to hide is that the rules of engagement and inadequate weaponry of the Border Patrol place the lives of all agents at grave risk. The National Border Patrol Council, which represents over 15,000 field agents, believes the border is too dangerous for officers to patrol without body armor, armored vehicles and automatic weapons.

Concerned about the impact of illegal aliens on the United States? Don't miss Tom Tancredo's book, "In Mortal Danger: The Battle for America's Border and Security" – now just $4.95!

Another aspect of this story that is not being reported is that the site of the shooting, Peck Canyon, is inside the area Rep. Raul Grijalva, D-Ariz., has proposed to designate as the Tumacacori Highlands Wilderness reserve. If Grijalva's bill is enacted into law, what is now a well-established drug smuggling corridor will become a drug-smuggling superhighway, because the Border Patrol will be prohibited from patrolling the region. Rep. Rob Bishop of Utah has proposed legislation that will remove the restrictions on Border Patrol jurisdiction on such public lands within 50 miles of the border.

On Thursday, Secretary Napolitano and several aides flew to Tucson to meet with local Border Patrol brass. The Obama administration obviously has a mess on its hands, and Napolitano does not want it to blow up before today's U.S. Senate vote on the Dream Act. They know another murder on the southwest border will not help garner needed votes for the Dream Act, because senators supporting that bill must be able to say with a straight face, "The border is as secure as it has ever been."

The BORTAC team encountered not one or two smugglers but a team of eight. Four are in custody, one is under surveillance in the rugged terrain of the Pajarita Wilderness area east of the small ranch town of Ruby, and three others are missing. The captured smugglers had AK-47s and backpacks filled with ammunition, food and radios. There are rumors that three of the captured four are members of the Mexican military, but that is unconfirmed. Yet, it would not be the first time Mexican police and military have been apprehended smuggling drugs into the United States.

It is not widely reported by our news media that the smugglers maintain a dozen or more permanent lookout posts on desert hilltops inside the U.S., and that those lookout posts are manned in week-long shifts by individuals who commute not from Mexico but from Phoenix, Tucson and other Arizona cities.

The allegation that the Sinaloa drug cartel obtained those AK-47s from gun shops in the United States is nonsensical. That's a fairy tale cooked up by the Obama administration and endorsed by the Mexican government because they do not want to admit that the cartels get most of their serious weaponry from the international black market and the Mexican military itself.

The rules requiring first use of bean-bag ammunition is but one example of the suicidal rules of engagement that govern Border Patrol operations. The reason they have such insane rules? The politicians who run the agency do not want the public to think the border is so dangerous a place that Border Patrol agents fear for their lives. In other words, the rules of engagement are based on a lie, a lie that must be maintained for political purposes.

Secretary Napolitano should do two things on Monday morning. First, she should order all Border Patrol agents to be issued weapons adequate for both self-defense and apprehension of armed drug smugglers. The second thing she should do Monday morning is resign.

Tom Tancredo is a former five-term congressman from Colorado and 2008 candidate for the Republican presidential nomination. He currently serves as chairman of the Rocky Mountain Foundation and co-chairman of TeamAmericaPac. Tancredo is the author of "In Mortal Danger: The Battle for America's Border and Security."

Original article HERE

Angry yet, you F'n well should be

Oh hell NO!

ATF to Require Multiple Sales Reports for Long Guns


The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) is moving to require federally licensed firearms retailers to report multiple sales of modern sporting rifles beginning January 5, 2011. Specifically, the ATF requirement calls for firearms retailers to report multiple sales, or other dispositions, of two or more .22 caliber or larger semi-automatic rifles that are capable of accepting a detachable magazine and are purchased by the same individual within five consecutive business days.

Today’s Washington Post suggests that the reporting mandate would be limited to retailers along the Southwest border; however, the Federal Register Notice does not limit the geographic scope of the reporting requirement.

This ATF “emergency” mandate was originally pushed by the anti-gun Mayors Against Illegal Guns (MAIG) coalition, headed by New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, more than a year and a half ago. And the Post reports that the Department of Justice has “languished” over this plan for several months. Given this timetable, it’s hard to see exactly where the “emergency” is.

The National Shooting Sports Foundation opposes this reporting requirement because it further burdens America’s law-abiding firearms retailers with yet another onerous regulation that will do nothing to curb crime. Multiple sales reporting of long guns will actually make it more difficult for licensed retailers to help law enforcement as traffickers modify their illegal schemes to circumvent the reporting requirement, thereby driving traffickers further underground. This is not unlike how criminals maneuvered around one-gun-a-month laws in states like Virginia – which is still considered an “exporting source state” by anti-gun organizations like the MAIG despite its restrictions on the number of firearms law-abiding residents may purchase.

Multiple sales reporting for long guns is an ill-considered mandate and one that ATF does not have the legal authority to unilaterally impose. In fact, ATF has not specified under what legal authority it presumes to act. The decision as to whether ATF can move forward with this agenda-driven mandate will be left to Cass Sunstein who heads the White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA). This is the same Cass Sunstein who in a 2007 speech at Harvard University said, “We ought to ban hunting, if there isn’t a purpose other than sport and fun. That should be against the law. It’s time now.”

NSSF will be submitting comments in opposition to this registration scheme and is encouraging all firearms retailers, sportsmen and enthusiasts to do the same.

Please voice your concern by doing the following:

1. Call the Office of Management and Budget, Office of Information and Regulation Affairs, Department of Justice, Desk Officer at (202) 395-6466.

2. E-mail Barbara A. Terrell, ATF, Firearms Industry Programs Branch at Barbara.Terrell@atf.gov

3. Call your Senators and Representative: United States Capitol Switchboard: 202-224-3121

Points to make:

1.Multiple sales reporting of long guns will actually make it more difficult for licensed retailers to help law enforcement as traffickers modify their illegal schemes to circumvent the reporting requirement. Traffickers will go further underground, hiring more people to buy their firearms. This will make it much harder for retailers to identify and report suspicious behavior to law enforcement.
2.Long guns are rarely used in crime (Bureau of Justice Statistics).
3.Imposing multiple sales-reporting requirements for long guns would further add to the already extensive paperwork and record-keeping requirements burdening America’s retailers – where a single mistake could cost them their license and even land them in jail.
4.Last year, ATF inspected 2,000 retailers in border states and only two licenses were revoked (0.1%). These revocations were for reasons unknown and could have had nothing to do with illicit trafficking of guns; furthermore, no dealers were charged with any criminal wrongdoing.
5.According to ATF, the average age of a firearm recovered in the United States is 11 years old. In Mexico it’s more than 14 years old. This demonstrates that criminals are not using new guns bought from retailers in the states.
6.Congress, when it enacted multiple sales reporting for handguns, could have required multiple sales of long guns – it specifically chose not to.


Spread the word,
Jason

RIP Agent Brian A. Terry, may you sacrifice not be in vain. Sadly I have often said it will take many more of his circumstance before anything will happen. May his family find peace, and may their sacrifice save our border and countless other lives.

"This is a sign that the politicians and bureaucrats are overly optimistic in their assessment that the borders are more secure now than at any point in our history. It showed just the opposite,"

Full Story HERE

This is what happens when criminals are ignored and lands are given to the lawless. This is a real threat in the southwest, coming to a neighborhood near you soon.

Jason

Are You Honest?

"As a warning, the following post was written in complete desperation. I have recently learned some very sobering truths from people that I love dearly. These truths have set in motion a quest within me to do whatever I can to make a change. Today is not geared at funny. Today is geared at something greater. Read it to the very end. I promise you will be affected in a way you have always needed to be. I spent more than twelve hours writing this post because its message is that important to me.
......
"Perfection" is a wife...
"Perfection" is a husband...
"Perfection" is a couple... (a boy, a girl etc...)

Be real.

Be bold about your weaknesses and you will change people's lives. Be honest about who you actually are, and others will begin to be their actual selves around you."


The excerpts above, coupled with losing a very good friend, fearing the loss of my wife under a surgeons knife etc have changed my life. Normally I try to stay on topic, and to a bit this is. Everyday I try to be a better man, for my wife, my children and myself. Most days I fail in one sense or another, I am slowly coming to terms with that. THIS helps, and you should read it, ALL OF IT. Read the comments, comment yourself and read the follow up HERE
I am a broken man, I have been unkind to my wife and unfair to my children. I have done this in "their" name. Believing the ends justify the means. I live with this knowing I am learning, making corrections and becoming the man I need to be. Pass the original post far and wide, look in the mirror. If you do not fix yourself, you can fix nothing.

Have fun, stay safe...
Jason

Consequentialism?

Summed up Consequentialism is that the ends justify the means. Basically as long as the end result is what we want, who cares how we get there. Our government, not only today but of generations past also, seem to thrive on this "theory." I think about this often as I evaluate my purpose and worth as a man, and as I try to guide my sons.

Definition of END
a-cessation of a course of action, pursuit, or activity

The end, as most people see it, is as defined above. I tend to look at a larger, broader picture. To me there is but one end, my death. Just as nothing before my birth could I control, nothing after my death will I be able to either.


Definition of MEAN(S)
2-plural but sing or plural in constr : something useful or helpful to a desired end



Once again most people look at a singular event to a singular end. My paycheck justifies my "worth", and the means to my home, car, etc...

Throughout life we all have the means to create change, positive and negative. To put my opinion bluntly the ends NEVER justify the means. To believe so is looking at the picture, and life, backwards. The means justify the end...if you are lucky. Among warriors of old, they dreamt of a warriors death, one of honor and bravery. To die in a service to a value, larger then your own. When I look at the world around me and learn of lives past, it is not the "method" of death that brought a justified end, but their actions in the end justified their lives. In many a movie, most recently 300, there is the scene where brothers in arms make a statement about "honored to met you" or some such.
From 300:
Stelios: It's an honor to die at your side.
King Leonidas: It's an honor to have lived at yours.

My basic point in this drabble is to say, that from the moment you took your 1st breath, the end has been coming. Make the journey to that end as pure and honorable in every aspect of your life, justify your end by the way you live your life. For some direction on how to achieve this, look to your articles of faith, or to "The Code of the Samurai."

Live a good life, and you will be a good man.
Stay safe,
Jason
III

Semper Fi Devil Dog, 11/07/2010

You will be missed, you have had an impact on my life greater than you can imagine. RIP

Since this entire blog is pseudonym, I will only say this man was not my father, but as close as one could be to filling that role. For all my life a man of honor has been there, and now he is gone.

WTF?

"After announcing that it would buy $900 billion in U.S. Treasury bonds in the next six months, Fed Chairman Ben S. Bernanke said in an opinion article that the move was aimed in part at spurring a stock rally so as to increase the wealth of businesses and stock owners." Full article HERE

Call me crazy but this is once AGAIN the wrong direction. Just 2 weeks ago Bernake boy toy Geitner said "It is very important for people to understand that the United States of America and no country around the world can devalue its way to prosperity, to (be) competitive,It is not a viable, feasible strategy and we will not engage in it."

Getting froggy, hope we can survive a few more years.

Jason

III

An Open Letter to Sheriff Paul Babeu

Attn: Sheriff Paul Babeu
With all of the current media reports and claims, why can we not bring together the Sheriff’s Department and citizens that want to be active? There are many people in the community that wish to take an active role in the establishment and security of their homes outside of a full time commitment. While I understand the department’s reluctance to endorse and support citizen patrols of the desert regions, this is done at a time that the Sheriff’s Office says “We find our deputies are being outgunned and clearly the violence has increased recently.” (From your site HERE) Has thought been given to providing training or guidelines to citizens that want to, need to, participate in their community and its defense? Many of those I have spoken with would appreciate a more open dialog. To paraphrase them, “if you lead, we will follow.” While some out there are looking for publicity and or attention, many more just want to help. If this means providing water, emotional, spiritual, moral, and in the extreme case tactical support; we will. But keep in mind that as you ask for donations to increase your departments arms supply, many citizens have the equipment, means, experience and desire; why can this not be utilized with the co-operation of the Pinal County Sheriff’s Department? Money is the one thing many citizens do not have at this time. From another article on your site it states “What this incident does show is the lack of manpower in Pinal County. Deputy Puroll was alone and outgunned. There is one deputy for every one thousand citizens in Pinal Co., and Sheriff Babeu says it's time for some border help”.(Emphasis mine original article HERE) Having simple limits, background checks or requirements can filter out some of the negative traits of volunteers that may be frowned upon. Require a combination of prior Police/Military/EMS service and/or current AZ CCW, with an interview and/or background check provided by the Pinal County Sheriff’s Department. I do realize that there is a liability to involving citizens; but claiming a lack of resources, and denying a major resource of your constituents and willing volunteers seems against your goal. If you feel you cannot endorse a group, any group, is there a way to set up a route to open the dialog and/or communication for persons who will participate independently? Thank you very much for taking the time to consider these questions as I know your time is very busy right now.

Jason XXXXX
Pinal County Resident

Submission to the Federal Reserve Board Members

From an e-mail i got from a friend, I thought it was a well done open letter and deserved distribution.


To Mr. Bernanke and the Federal Reserve Board Members,

What a difference just a few weeks and a few Fed minutes can make....
As I have feared, all of this talk by Mr. Bernanke in regards to the need for additional stimulus, including possible large scale asset purchases, has again caused the U.S. Dollar to depreciate, and for the stock market to engage in "irrational exuberance" in regards to all hard and soft commodities!!!

METALS, GRAINS, CHEESE, MEATS, EGGS, COTTON, FEED, OIL, ETC. HAVE ALL SKYROCKETED, THESE INPUT COSTS FOR FOOD, FUEL, CLOTHES AND DIAPERS WILL BE PASSED ON TO THE CONSUMER RIGHT AWAY, BECAUSE THESE ARE THINGS WE HAVE TO HAVE...

BUT WAIT, YOU DON'T LOOK AT THESE THINGS THAT I MUST HAVE TO LIVE, YOU ONLY LOOK AT CORE INFLATION EXCLUDING FOOD AND FUEL...
SO IT WILL TAKE ABOUT 4-6 MONTHS FOR THESE HIGH COMMODITY COSTS TO MOVE THE CORE INFLATION NEEDLE enough to get your attention, BUT I TAKE AN IMMEDIATE HIT FOR FOOD AND FUEL WHICH MEANS I HAVE LESS DISCRETIONARY INCOME TO SPEND, AND WHAT ABOUT THE INPUT COSTS THAT COMPANIES ARE UNABLE TO PASS ON?? WHAT IS THE END RESULT: MORE JOB'S LOST........

THIS STOCK MARKET RALLY IS THE DIRECT RESULT OF A DECLINING DOLLAR, AND THE DECLINING DOLLAR IS THE DIRECT, OR AS SOME WOULD ARGUE THE INDIRECT RESULT OF FEDERAL RESERVE POLICIES!
I THOUGHT IT WAS THE JOB OF THE U.S. TREASURY TO SET DOLLAR POLICY???
THIS WILL NOT END WELL, ANY TIME THE FED ATTEMPTS TO INFLATE ASSET PRICES AND THE STOCK MARKET THINKS IT IS WAGGING THE DOG, IT ENDS WITH A POP!!!

Please just stop what you are doing and begin to back yourselves out of the corner, allow commodities to correct, allow interest rates to rise, allow people to continue to pay down their debt and build up their savings accounts, instead of pumping it into the gas tank or the dinner table. Reward savers with some kind of return on their hard earned money, and let the stock market go ahead and throw a hissy fit, let it correct 20% or more, and then it can get back to fundamentals for valuations instead of empty headed QUANTITATIVE EASING SPECULATION.... The retail investor has bailed on the stock market and you are hurting them more by artificially propping up the stock market, and artificially keeping interest rates low.

THIS FIXATION WITH THE EVILS OF DEFLATION NEEDS TO MODERATE, IF YOU KEEP ON FUELING ALL OF THIS SPECULATION, YOUR JUST GOING TO MAKE MY LIFE AND MILLIONS OF OTHER AMERICANS WHO DID NOTHING TO CAUSE THIS MESS A WHOLE LOT MORE EXPENSIVE AND A WHOLE LOT LESS SATISFYING....

But what do I know, I'm just an unemployed high school graduate, middle class nobody with an 800+ credit score, who owns his home, has zero debt, and, an actual savings account that you guys are actively and intentionally depreciating.

I'M A PART OF THE "NO YOU CAN'T CROWD" WHO IS BEING FORCED TO FINANCE

THE "YES WE CAN CROWD"


REGARDS,
XXXX XXXXX

No I haven't died. Had some family issues to tend to, then got backed up with some BATFE addendum nightmare. Anyways, getting my ass in-line again and posting should be coming a little more regularly in the near future.
This past Sunday I was on a citizens patrol approx 2 Miles east of Vekol Valley road and South of Highway 8. This is just outside of Casa Grande, AZ. This missed us by a stones throw...
Story HERE
I am TIRED of the "they only want..." argument. Don't fret about the boys and girls on patrol too much, we were geared up and armed as needed. Keep all patrol personnel in your thoughts. I will try to update the fight, til then I will try and help do a job your government WON'T!

Keep the pressure up, Vote early and often. :)

3 Points Recon

My observations from July 17/18, 2010 in the southern desert of Arizona. (Three Points area.)


This area is rampant with smuggling, both human and drug, but I wanted to witness it firsthand. On the 17th of July, a group of us went down to see what we would find. We rolled into the area at about 1800 hrs and set up a camp and lookout/watch location. Being that it was night, and I could not film under a half-moon overcast you will have to take my word on this next section. Within 60 minutes of observation, first visual contact was made. About 300 yards south of our position I witnessed a flashlight illuminating and moving. For approximately 2 minutes it was behaving similar to a parking attendant at a large event, ushering a group to a fixed location, then all was dark again. Within the next hour this happened again further down the trail as you would expect but for a very short duration. Was this 1 or 1000, I do not know as at that range visibility was of the light source only. In the third hour of observation a new, subdued light source appeared due west of the original. This was much more erratic and shorter in its usage, and repeated no more than 30 or so seconds before going dark, but at a higher frequency and progressing down the terrain faster. It was shortly after this we were asked, via radio/phone, by Border Patrol to “illuminate our personal lights, sling rifles and holster handguns” as they were in pursuit of a “hostile” and did not want to mistake our group for him/them. We complied and returned to camp.
Since we were later getting started than planned, we did not have time to photograph, and log the surrounding area in the setting sun. The following pictures are of the area the next morning. All photos were taken by me within 100 yards of our camp and the existing road.

There are uncountable numbers of water bottles in the area.

Garbage the strung about, it is difficult to look somewhere and NOT see evidence of what is happening in the area.

Drop points are often in the shade, and any number of items can be found...Bags, hygiene products, baby food packaging, human waste, clothing etc. Keep in mind these are but a sample of over 60 photos taken in an area no larger than a football field.

We will be going back and to other areas in the future.
Jason

UPDATE clarification: I/we are in NO WAY affiliated with Ready or the other racist/socialist a-holes around. I do not condone the speeches or platforms he or his group espouse.

All my bags are packed, guns are good to go...

Heading out at 1600 hrs to the Arizona desert known as "cocaine highway"

Will provide a SITREP upon return. If it is in your nature give out some good thoughts for a safe and productive op.

Jason

III

DOJ sues Arizona...why you ask????

There are a few things in the gov'ts brief that I can agree with:

"In our constitutional system, the federal government has preeminent authority to regulate immigration matters. This authority derives from the United States Constitution and numerous acts of Congress."
"Although states may exercise their police power in a manner that has an incidental or indirect effect on aliens, a state may not establish its own immigration policy or enforce state laws in a manner that interferes with the federal immigration laws."
However here is where it goes a little hinky:
"Assuring effective enforcement of the provisions against illegal migration and unlawful presence is a highly important interest, but it is not the singular goal of the federal immigration laws." While not the singular goal, a pretty f'n big one.
"See 8 U.S.C. § 1304(e). The INA provides that any alien who fails to comply with this requirement may be fined and imprisoned not more than 30 days. See id.; 18 U.S.C. § 3571." hmmmmmmmm, if Arizona asks for this FEDERALLY REQUIRED ID we are racists, and causing a conflict of federal laws.
"Through a variety of programs, DHS works cooperatively with states and localities to accomplish its mission to enforce the federal immigration laws." Wait a minute here, so local authorities CAN arrest and detain under federal law?
"S.B. 1070’s mandate for verification of alien status will necessarily result in a dramatic increase in the number of verification requests being issued to DHS, and will thereby place a tremendous burden on DHS resources, necessitating a reallocation of DHS resources away from its policy priorities" But a page or so back it was stated that handling immigration WAS a DHS priority, it is called ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement)for Christ's sake. There is much, much more HERE I cannot believe their basic arguments are:
1. It is a federal issue, and even though we are not doing it, it is our game. You are not allowed to play... This is plainly contradicted not only in the brief, but dailyby local law enforcement and state laws dealing with Federal laws. E.G.- Firearms, Alcohol, Tobacco, Speed Limits on Federal roadways, Drug Use, Safety Standards, Building Codes, Lending Laws... and the list can go on and on.
2. Since our above argument sucks, we the Federal Government think that this will make us do a part of our job...and we think it will be really hard.
This whole boondoggle pisses me off, I STAND WITH ARIZONA, and so should you. If this is pushed too hard the citizens of Arizona will start pushing back. As Mike Vanderboegh has said before on federal laws..."they were protecting YOU from US"

Take heed, stay safe,
Jason
III

Yeah, What They Said....

IN CONGRESS, JULY 4, 1776
The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America
When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security. — Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.

He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.

He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.

He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.

He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their Public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.

He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.

He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected, whereby the Legislative Powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.

He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.

He has obstructed the Administration of Justice by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary Powers.

He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.

He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our people and eat out their substance.

He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.

He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil Power.

He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:

For quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:

For protecting them, by a mock Trial from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:

For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:

For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:

For depriving us in many cases, of the benefit of Trial by Jury:

For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences:

For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies

For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:

For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.

He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.

He has plundered our seas, ravaged our coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.

He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation, and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & Perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.

He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.

He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.

In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.

Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our British brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.

We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these united Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States, that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. — And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.

TheAZCDF (Arizona Civil Defense Force)

Couldn't make this trip. Good job boys...I'll make the next one. For those not local, this area has had a Deputy shot in recent time and 2 dead people found. Heavy traffic area and the .gov gave us a sign. Yeah thanks for that.

RISK(s)

Chief Alan Brunacini (1985, 2002) wrote;
• We will risk our lives a lot, in a highly calculated and controlled manner, to protect a savable human life;
• We will risk our lives a little, in a highly calculated and controlled manner, to protect savable property.
• We will not risk our lives at all to protect lives or property that is already lost.”

3 More off "The List"

NIJ 0101.04 Standard Level III Soft Armor
Level IV Rifle plates Front and Rear
MOLLE Quick Release Plate Carrier
PASGT Level IIIA with BLSS Kit

Gotta love Fathers Day!

Memorial Day

Too Late to Apologize: A Declaration

Quality Music for Memorial Day

War on Drugs QOTD

From NICKI

"I'm also less than thrilled with the "coddle the drug user" policy the current administration has announced, intending treat addiction as a public health issue, rather than a choice that has consequences. First, I have no sympathy for these people. They made their choices with the full knowledge of what drugs can do to them. Nowadays, you really have to be living under a rock not to know the effects. You make the choice, you live with it, or you take positive steps to make changes. I have no sympathy, and I certainly don't want my tax dollars being wasted on yet more useless programs."

Quote 2.0
"No one has the right what to tell you what you can put in your own body. However, If you step over the line and violate the property rights of someone else in a free society you'd get the book thrown at you. That is if the perpetrator survived the encounter."
From Chef

Hat Tip to Econ, good write ups both of you. AP story is here

Is it "Terrorism" yet?

From HERE
"We know that they helped facilitate it; we know that they helped direct it," said Attorney General Eric Holder. "And I suspect that we are going to come up with evidence which shows that they helped to finance it. They were intimately involved in this plot." Said Holder of the Pakistani Taliban invlovement in the failed NYC bombing.

I guess now that it is NOT "Homegrown," “somebody with a political agenda who doesn't like the health care bill or something.” per Bloomberg all I want to know is, was Faisel Shahzad a terrorist. Or just the people who support the Constitution of the US.

Arizona Constitutional Carry

QUOTE OF THE DAY!
"However, the measure was supported by police unions representing rank-and-file officers, who said their best friend on the streets is a law-abiding citizen equipped to protect themselves or others."
From HERE
A GREAT day in Arizona.
Jason

The Taxman Cometh

Today was tax day at my house. Words are not fit to print. Next year looks bad, time to buy. Came out OK on federal, state killed me. Oldy but a goody
My wifes post "HATE TAXES... I voted Ron Paul!!! It is not my fault!!!"
Jason
III

Posting Edits

With the current thrust of political action, posting may be edited in the near future. I originally started writing here for 2 reasons, (1) to entice education/debate, (2) to document my ideas on truth and liberty. I am considering the recourse of those words as time for them is running out. Either this post or previous ones will disappear in the near future. Please feel free to email if you would like any of the previous text.
"Summum ius summa iniuria."-Cicero

Jason
III

The Cookbook is BACK!

On of my personal favorite sites is back up. After a small hiatus the Economist Cookbook is up and running. Give it a read, it is worth your time!
One of my favorites from the past HERE
Jason
III

Drug Costs, the bigger picture

Between 1974 and 2001 the percentage of Americans in prison per ca pita had doubled. Details on their stats and backgrounds can be found HERE

In 1970 the "War on Drugs" was officially federal policy. Coincidence? Approximately 25% of those in prisons are there on drug, not "drug related," charges. (Cited HERE) From yet another report we get this: "According to a federal survey of jail inmates, in 2002, of the 96,359 violent offenders in jail, 37.6% used alcohol at the time of their offense, 21.8% used drugs, and 47.2% used alcohol or drugs; of the 112,895 property offenders in jail that year, 28.5% used alcohol at the time of their offense, 32.5% used drugs, and 46.8% used alcohol or drugs; of the 112,447 drug offenders in jail that year, 22.4% used alcohol at the time of their offense, 43.2% used drugs, and 51.7% used drugs or alcohol at the time of their offense." Truth be told, I haven't touched an "illegal drug" in almost 20 years, not because they are "illegal" but because I do not like their effects on my consciousness. Yet we sell alcohol on street corners, glorify it's usage and overturned prohibition. Did incarceration rise and all of the crazies come out with the repeal of prohibition, no... would everyone become a junkie if the "war on drugs" was ended...nope. According to the American Corrections Association, the average daily cost per state prison inmate per day in the US is $67.55. State prisons held 249,400 inmates for drug offenses in 2006. That means it cost states approximately $16,846,970 per day to imprison drug offenders, or $6,149,144,050 per year.

One more fun fact, in 1984 the first "private prison" was opened in Tennessee. Look at that graph above again...see it. Crime does pay, depending on where you sit. What will you do, when what you do is no longer condoned. In this time of deficit, do we really need to spend $19 billion to enforce and $6.15 billion on punishment of this? To see this years direct cost per second, you can go HERE

I may revisit this topic as I finish my reading on "health care" and prescription costs, as reform is thrust upon us, and the potential costs of trying to synthesize the effects of mother natures medicine.

Jason

III

PS - My main point is to question the "official story," no matter your personal beliefs and perspectives. I have no love for drugs, druggies and drug dealers.

The unanimous Declaration

Today as part of the 2010 tour of the Declaration of Independence, an original Dunlap Broadside printed on July 4, 1776 was on display in Arizona.
See news of it HERE

Seeing it just inches away, knowing the history, it affected me beyond my comprehension. I was damn near teary eyed as I saw the past 230+ years flash in front of me. I have, as of yet, been unable to travel to DC to see so much history, and rely on copies I have hung in my house. The power of this document, it pure words, hit me like a brick in the face. If you have a chance, see this. When asked by the local media "How I felt after examining the document," I could only respond that I was honored to see something that was so important to our history. They then asked if I would speak "on camera," sorry but no; I do not trust the local media at all.My boys, along with the Arizona Rangers, and the previously mentioned document.

Jason

III

Quote of the week

"What you did manage to do, however, was to accomplish the impossible: you caused me to feel sympathy for an IRS agent. Ain’t that a bite in the ass?"

From Syd HERE go read the wole thing!

Jason
III

Enemies. Foreign and Domestic

Finally got off of my duff and read Matthew Bracken's book "Enemies Foreign and Domestic." If you have waited like I did, STOP right now, click the above link and BUY IT! While there is not a grand story, that is not predictable or recognizable to any threeper, it is a very important exercise in thought. Some small things that end up on the prep list:

Night Vision

Radios (multi type and frequency)

Contacts with contacts who have contacts....

The story was enjoyable, and if you are empathetic you can really identify with the characters and their struggle. The best thing i can say about it it when my wife stated "I thought it was a true story," I smiled and said "It could be..." That is the jab, it "could happen" and reminded me of many questions I have yet unanswered of our recent history, topped off Mr. Bracken has started a journey we should support of a common cause. Buy it, read it, learn it. Then return to the blogosphere.

Early Valentine Gift

The tenor in DC over the proposed takeover of health care is changing.
Obama Admits Health Care Reform May Die In Congress
Now this is not the gift as I see it. Some BS "reform" legislation will be rammed down our throats, the 2010 elections will move some seats. Millions will cheer and we will start the cycle all over again. The gift is that the people who a mere 6-12 months ago would have been shocked to find out our current President cannot, in fact, walk on water; are forced to report that President Obama has little to no leadership ability or experience.
"The time has come for more forceful presidential leadership," Neas said. Obama must explain more clearly how his health care provisions would help average Americans and must give clearer guidance to Congress, he said.
A comment from one of his policy "supporters." Now where have those who are paying attention heard remarks about the Presidents leadership, or lack there of before. My earliest remembrance is when I first heard of him and thought I should look into him a bit, about 2006. My first reaction was "who the f*(k cares, what has this guy done, ever, that points to him being a top candidate." Now this obviously shows I am not clairvoyant, but maybe I am OK at observations. Most people who know me, will also know I have an appreciation of the ideas of "laws" and study them at random. I to some extent pride my self on being "law-abiding" by choosing to not recognize laws I feel are unjust, irrelevant, or biased. I will be happy to not see a "law" I would have to break on general principle alone.
Hope this all goes away, and fast. If it does go away... KUDOS to the American people, you started using your voice. Do not fall silently back to a slumber no matter what the future holds.
Jason

9/11: Science and Conspiracy (NAT GEO)

Jebus crimeney. This was just freakin STUPID. While I admit there are questions that are logical that have not been answered to my satisfaction, seriously these are the best "point vs. counter-point" they could come up with? The idea that ANYONE gives "Loose Change" anything other than WTF, was this made by a 16 year old look is asking for ridicule. (OK he was like 20, and probably rode a short bus) Can we please have someone other than Popular Mechanics do an in depth actual analysis? PM left to many unanswered questions, but at least they looked at real ideas and used real testing. This was "theory vs. theory" with NO actual substance. I think I am now dumber from watching it, I need to blow up my TV. FYI Structural Steel does NOT need 2700* F to falter:
From HERE
Although steel does not burn, it loses strength in a fire, which can lead to a structural failure. Above 500 °F, steel starts to lose its structural integrity, and at 600 °F, steel loses 75 percent of its strength, according to International Paint. Interchar and other Chartek fireproofing materials swell to provide a tough and stable insulating layer over the steel to protect it.
The average house burns at 1100* to 1400*
From HERE
Real stats don't add up to their conspiracy theories. I am more than a little curious about the fall rate and directions (beyond "Pancake Collapse"), Building 7, and some of the Flight 93 rational.
Damn the Japanese physicist are in on it too.

Rant off,
Jason

Open Letter(s)

Was shown a MUST see video by a buddy of mine today. Go FULL SCREEN and volume ALL THE WAY UP. Here it is:

The retort (remix) is even more powerfull, if only it had a III in the final scene.

If they show up "removed" search America Rising An Open Letter to Democrat Politicians (for video #1) America Rising An Open Letter to the Republican Party (for video #2)

PSYOPS in full effect.
Jason
III

SHOT Show, final day

Lots and lots of walking. If you get the chance GO. Bring your own water, comfy footwear and a bag or three. Ended up with about 1000 pens, a ton of cozies, hats, and enough stickers to choke an elephant. Had a great meeting with the Aimpoint crew, finalized some future plans and came to the conclusion that VERY high end optics, are not worth their very high end price. Bushnell has come a long way, and are a fair price. Off to Zumanity tonight, then heading back to Arizona.

SHOT Show day 2

Today was much slower pace. All of the major manufactures had their best foot forward. The only things that really caught my attention were the:
Taurus/Rossi "Circuit Court Judge"
Smith & Wesson "Body Guard" series with integral laser sights. Very nice and clean, just need .380 ammo to run the semi-auto.

Taking Thursday off to rest the feet abd back, along with having a little "vacation time."
Jason

SHOT Show day 1

WOW, it is big. This is my first year and I am "overwhelmed". To try and convey the size I will bore you with some details. Check in started at 0730 this morning, and we were on the floor by 0800. At 1100 we took a break for a "sack lunch" and were about 2/3 of the way done with the first floor, or so we thought. After a full day of walking (8 hours) we are about 60% seen with all of the large vendors to go. Personal Highlights:
- Ultimate Equipment - A 1911 handled folding knife. I was salivating, and my wife agreed these are a must have.
- Magpul Dynamics - I am a "fan boy" of these guys so that was cool.
- Black Hills Ammo - Good ammo, GREAT people. They are on my short list of "must stock" companies.
- Laser-Ammo - This training tool I could not wait for and bought on the spot!
That is it for now, getting ready to go see Penn & Teller at the Rio. God I love this city, even though I can only afford small doses.

Jason
UPDATE-- Meet Massad Ayoob at the Penn & Teller show. Fantastic ending to a great day!

SHOT Show day (-)1

Arrived in Vegas safe and sound. We will see what tomorrow brings. I will update as i can vacation willing.

Jason
III

Second Amendment IMHO

On a forum the question was asked:"How far will you go with "shall not be infringed"? Not in a what will you do, but what should we have done legislatively. Below is my response.
Shall not be infringed:
I will try to cover most bases but I am sure I will miss a few.
Everyone who is a US citizen, and walking on the outside (not incarcerated) should have the right to bear arms in my opinion. Self defense is a basic right of all living beings, including plants and animals. It is the natural way.
Types of arms: For lack of a better term “the cat is out of the bag.” If there is a chance, however slight, that I may come up against a threat with any weapon imaginable (Nuclear, Biological, Chemical, Conventional or Explosive) I believe I have the right to defend as I see fit within my means. This does not mean I am owed a chem. suit, Barrett 50 cal, and an M16 by birthright, but if I can provide these tools for myself and family I should have that right. If I think, and can provide, claymores and defensive charges on my property that should be my right. You want them on yours, cool we can talk placement and compare and contrast our options. But what about “public safety”? Fine legislate that I must post if NBC, or explosives defenses or weapons are in the area, but do not infringe my right to have them. In regards to firearms in particular, arms of a military origin should be the norm if desired for tactics and defense. This was their sole purpose in design, to allow you to kill instead of being killed. Legislate an ownership requirement such as the cards required in Illinois and DC, or a registration list? Violations in my opinion. No public safety claim can be legitimized under these, similar to “3 million jobs created or saved.” Not a legitimate statistic or verifiable claim through an actual study of facts.
Felons, if they have “paid their debt” should be allowed ALL of the natural, “unalienable”, and Constitutional rights. If they cannot be trusted with the basic right of self defense, or they have done a crime so heinous we as a society choose to remove that right, remove the person. Death is not required, banishment, imprisonment and death are all options. Just as any other defensive action…remove the threat, not the rights and abilities of the threatened. Removing the 2A from some one “charged or accused” of any crime is a definite violation, “innocent until proven guilty” should not be a catch phrase, but a culture.
Class III should be a third level training class, not a government classification.
If you act improperly with the above rights, we as your neighbors and fellow citizens have an opportunity and in-fact in obligation to respond with force. This is where a jurisdictional police force, posse, and a very limited federal government could come into play. This is where legislation comes in again. The idea of legislating what I “might do” is another breach of the innocent until proven guilty culture. If I want to run around naked and anally rape dogs, the elderly and everything else with less than 6 legs, no law will stop me, nor should it pretend to. Now if you want to legislate that anyone doing the previous, individually or as a whole, are sentenced to the punishments listed under the felons subject that would be allowed and “fair.” It would not prevent the illegal activity, but would outline the “what if” that a potential criminal can weigh out as pros/cons. Crimes happen, just like accidents and we should all have the ability to defend and react to both. The ATF, FFL, 4473 and such are not directly allowed under the specific Amendment but subsequent legislation that I believe should be repealed. I understand I am on the “extremist minority” with this, and am willing to accept some of the above mentioned violations to keep the peace with the majority. You did however ask for opinions and this is mine, “shall not be infringed” is an intentionally simple and plainly worded statement.

Rant over, thanks…
Jason