Category: Current Events

It would seem on this day in 1787, Delaware became the first state to ratify the Constitution of the United States.  Happy 220th anniversary of saying yes The United States, Delaware!

According to Michael Bane:

On the Nebraska mall shooting, I’m getting unsubstantiated reports that the mall has removed the “No Guns” signs from their little gun-free zone paradise, lest someone take a picture of them.

It would be interesting if it turns out to be true

Today is Pearl Harbor Day 

That is the Wreck of the USS Cassin, and USS Downes.  In the background is the USS Pennsylvania.  It is a lesson in being unprepared, and in the folly of believing our oceans still protect us.  America took a stand against Japanese imperial aggression in east Asia by passing sanctions against Japan, but we were unprepared for war.

There are those who argue Pearl Harbor is a lesson in getting involved, and those who argue it cautions against isolationism.  I am in the latter category.  America’s entrance into World War II was inevitable, but the sense of isolationism that pervaded the American populace left the country wholly unprepared for war, and left Pearl Harbor vulnerable.  There is no going back to the days when we could count on the Royal Navy to protect global trade networks.  That responsibility now falls on us.  Pearl Harbor is a big part of the reason I can’t vote for Ron Paul.   Whether you call it isolationism or non-interventionism is of little matter to me.   Paul’s philosophy is inward looking.  While I share his concerns about our nation remaining sovereign, the United States has a role to play in the world, and Pearl Harbor was the wakeup call that it was time to step up.

For people thinking it’s all just not worth it, and looking to check out, I have a bit of advice for you: have the guts to put a bullet in your head yourself, throw yourself in front of a train, or off a bridge.  What possesses someone to take the route of suicide by cop?  Or to “go out in in style”?

People argue that we live in a society that glorifies violence, glorifies guns, or any matter of depravity.  The truth is we live in a society that abhors personal responsibility. Murder-suicide is the ultimate escape from that, and it’s not surprising it’s become more common.  No longer do you have to worry about ending your own life.  You can “go out in style” by making yourself a celebrity, and, in the end, dodge the ultimate responsibility of having to off yourself.

Surely there will be an endless parade of people who will blame a countless number of things for this recent happening in America’s Heartland.  I don’t want to offer anything that will help the perpetrator evade responsibility and shame for these kinds of actions.

The perpetrator of this latest mass murder-suicide is a coward, plain and simple.  Society would do itself a favor by simply curing his name, and spitting on his memory.  Maybe some public shame, rather than deflecting blame, might do more to discourage other disturbed people from doing the same thing.

Thanks to all the veterans out there who risked their lives so we all can continue to enjoy our constitutional rights. I celebrated the day by exercising some of mine at Cabela’s in Hamburg, PA, and then again by loading five fresh 55gr .223 Remington cartridges by hand. The Bench of Evil is now operational. Bitter gets to stay an extra day tomorrow due to the holiday, so Happy Veterans Day everyone!

UPDATE: In the comments:

Apparently there is one living veteran of the American Expeditionary Force, Mr. Fred Buckles, of Charles Town, WV.

I think he ought to receive a full state funeral when he dies, as the representative of the two million Americans who were part of the AEF and as a final thank-you to those men.

If you agree, then I ask that you blog about the idea and also contact your congresscritters.

I agree that would be fitting.

Sailorcurt does some more analysis of the election results in Virginia, which I talked about earlier here.

The Brady campaign seems to have a tendency to stick with “safe” endorsements. They don’t expect their endorsement to actually gain any votes for the candidates (except in certain, very specific areas) so they only make endorsements in races where they have a reasonable expectation to win.

Even with that, they don’t have a great success rate and they lost both of the races that were being touted by all involved as being “referendums on gun control”…Devolites-Davis lost her District 34 senate seat and Cuccinelli held onto his (by the skin of his teeth) in district 37.

Yep.  And they are telling people it’s a win.

The strange thing is that the NRA seems to have the same tendency as the Brady Campaign. The NRA absolutely CAN have an impact on the election results but in many cases they seem to worry more about getting the “W” than supporting the superior candidates.

For example: In Senate district 14, the NRA supported “B” rated Henry Blevins against extremely Pro-gun (and VCDL endorsed) libertarian candidate Donald Tabor. There was no anti-gun candidate in the race so there was no danger of splitting the pro-gun vote…so why not support the superior candidate? Unless, of course, the “W” is more important than upholding principles.

Not all that strange.  Most groups that issue endorsements will endorse as many safe, friendly seats as they can in order to inflate the value of their endorsements.  I called out Brady mostly because they lost in the ones where they really took chances, and then touted it as a victory.

The main reason NRA won’t endorse Libertarian candidates is because Libertarians don’t win.  If you endorse the Libertarian, the Republican who didn’t get your endorsement is going to be pissed at you, and might decide his B grade isn’t worth keeping.

Read Sailorcurt’s whole post.  It’s a good analysis of the election.  I’ve also written in the past about the Grading/Endorsement system, and how it’s more politics than principle.

Looks like Traction Control is off in SoCal.  This is really one of those times we should stop being blue staters or red staters, Democrats or Republicans, gun owners or non-gun owners.  At times like this, we’re all Americans.

The process of our parents robbing us blind has begun.

UPDATE: Bitter has more. We both get some reactions from pissed off boomers who note, correctly, the system screwed them too, and it’s not their fault.  Still, I couldn’t help poking some fun at their expense ;)   Sorry.

It pains me to write that headline, because I do love the ladies (especially one lady in particular):

The suicide rate among preteen and young teen girls spiked 76 percent, a disturbing sign that federal health officials say they can’t fully explain.

For all young people between ages 10 to 24, the suicide rate rose 8 percent from 2003 to 2004 – the biggest single-year bump in 15 years – in what one official called “a dramatic and huge increase.”

Of course, the gun control folks will be disappointed in this:

The study also documented a change in suicide method. In 1990, guns accounted for more than half of all suicides among young females. By 2004, though, death by hanging and suffocation became the most common suicide method. It accounted for about 71 percent of all suicides in girls aged 10-14; about half of those aged 15-19; and 34 percent between 20-24.

Well, we haven’t exactly made guns less accessible since 1990, so it would seem that guns aren’t a driving factor behind female suicide, especially as more young women arm themselves. They definitely aren’t going to like this:

It also said the suicide methods suggest that prevention focused solely on restricting access to pills, weapons or other lethal means may be of limited success.

I’ve never found the prevention of suicide a compelling reason to restrict access to anything, because I believe that it’s a person’s fundamental right to terminate his life. But it’s nice to know studies are showing it wouldn’t work anyway.

Hat tip to Ms. Moneymakers

UPDATE: ZendoDeb has more.