Politics – Page 391 – Shall Not Be Questioned

You Know The Government is Testing our Poop Doncha?

If someone were to say that, you might think that they were a paranoid psychotic.Â Well, it turns out they wouldn’t be.

She plans to start a survey for drugs in the wastewater of at least 40 Oregon communities.

The science behind the testing is simple. Nearly every drug — legal and illicit — that people take leaves the body. That waste goes into toilets and then into wastewater treatment plants.

“Wastewater facilities are wonderful places to understand what humans consume and excrete,” Field said.

I’ll bet guys are lining up to take her on a date!Â When people are storing urine and feces in jars in their basement, because they really are out to get you, things certainly will have taken a turn for the surreal.

Hat tip to Joe and Bruce Schneier

Timony in Some Hot Water

Dave Hardy has the scoop on Philadelphia’s former police commissioner.

Important Anniversary

I didn’t see this until today, but Chris Bryne reminds us it’s the 15 year anniversary of an important event, and tells the story.

Holding the State to its Burden

I have to agree with Bitter on the importance of holding the state to its burden of proof when it wants to remove someone’s freedom in order to provide retribution for a crime, and to protect society.Â It’s a dangerous road we’re traveling when we start suggesting defense attorneys are responsible for crime.

Cracking Down

Now this might actually help New Jersey fight crime.

New Jersey is a Choir?

Bitter seems surprised some think that New Jersey is “the choir” in regards to preaching about gun rights. I agree with her assessment. The voice of gun control has been all New Jersey residents have heard for years, and that’s reflected in their laws. We have a story to tell to the residents of New Jersey, and it’s a compelling one.

We have been on the defensive for quite some time. Now we’re at a point where the anti-gun people are on the defensive, and are touting what amount to small losses as huge victories for gun control, because they got something dammit. Dog food tastes great if you haven’t had a square meal in 14 years.

We have them on the defensive now. Did anyone see the video with Andrew Dysart and Paul Helmke? When you have Paul on C-SPAN defending their position on campus carry, folks, we’ve come a long way. Bryan Miller’s and Scott Bach’s blog are a good way for us to contribute to that, by making sure people reading in New Jersey are getting more than the crap the media and anti-gun crowd wants them to hear. It’s time to start attacking them on their own territory, in states they think are “safe”, and that starts with the public debate. To that end, I am going to submit a membership application to the Association of New Jersey Rifle and Pistol Clubs, the NRA affiliate for that state. In addition to buying some ammo in August 28th, why not also consider donating some money to your favorite gun rights group in an anti-gun state, or offer some support. If anyone has any recommendations for groups, have at it in the comments.

UPDATE: Thirdpower points out:

With all due respect to Andrew Dysart, not only is Paul, former mayor and president of a Natâ€™l organization, reduced to arguing against CCW on campus, but to debating w/ college students.

Indeed

New Brew Pub in West Philly

I’m familiar with the neighborhood Dock Street Brew Pub is going into.Â A former girlfriend of mine lives at 48th and Baltimore.Â I will definitely pay it a visit when it opens.

Great Article on “The Peace Racket”

Kevin Baker points out a long article, but one that is well worth reading, that documents the moral failings of the peace racket.

Castle Doctrine Could Help Cops Too

Most of the castle doctrine bills that have been worked through legislatures typically carry a provision to make someone who is involved in a self-defense shooting immune from civil suit from the attacker or his estate.Â It’s always seems to me this would benefit police officers as well.

Wyatt Earp tells of a case where a police officer was involved in a self-defense shooting that was completely justified, and which the city is likely to settle instead of fight. Â Yet the city politicians could be absolutely counted on to fight any kind of civil immunity for people involved in self-defense shootings, including police officers.

This is yet another example of the City of Philadelphia’s sick political culture, which does very little to empower police officers and citizens to fight crime, and does everything to empower the criminals.Â Two things kill Philadelphia: taxes and crime.Â There’s no indication that the cities leadership is interesting in tackling either.

More Robberies Gone Sour

If I keep hearing about robberies like this happening in Pennsylvania, I’m going to have to reconsider my belief that it’s generally best to let these kinds of thing go down, be a good witness, and call the police, as long as the Robbers proceed according to getting the money and getting out.

The robbers seem to be violating that unsaid agreement, which means if someone comes into a convenience store with a gun drawn and declares a robbery, the proper course of action should be swift and well aimed fire.

Hat Tip to Zendo Deb