The Right to Speak and the Right to Protest

My analysis of the Obama visit to Notre Dame and the protests that ensued can be found at...

...Columbia Conservative Examiner.

I hope this spurs some thought-provoking debate...

Follow-Up to 'Don't Tread on Me' Controversy

It seems that the veracity of the story about the man in Louisiana who was detained by law enforcement due to his bumper-sticker that says 'Don't Tread on Me' is in dispute.

As a follow-up I noticed that World Net Daily has a major, exclusive story on this matter.

The WND reporter contacted the persons involved in Ball, Louisiana, and spoke directly with the person detained by police and his sister-in-law. Their names are being withheld by WND.

Contrary to the opinion of some, I have not found WND to be untrustworthy. I do admit they publish stories that sometimes can be hard to verify due to the extreme sensitive nature of their content...and the fact that you won't find these types of stories reported by anyone else.

And this is why I see their value.

On the other hand, Texas Fred is a blogger that I trust. He says that the story is not true.

Here is Fred's reasoning:

Knowing the cops in that part of the country, the ONLY thing they would have said about that flag is, 'Hey man, where can I get one of those??'

Unless, and on this I am only speculating, unless this happened to be a Dem and/or a Black officer, and then, yeah, this could be real...

Those guys in that part of Louisiana are still flying the Stars and Bars and have *Be a MAN, Join the Klan* stickers on the back of the pickup!!

Something about this story stinks man, not your part, you're reporting from the source, I am going on experience, and the fact that I am from Louisiana, it's my home, and the fact that our entire family, both sides, mine and the wife, are cops, past, present and retired, and the Louisiana branch have ALL called BS on this one...

Just sayin'...

I have absolutely no reason to doubt or question Fred's integrity as he has been a stellar example of honesty in the time I have known him.

But I do believe there is more to this story than what meets the eye. It may not have been Ball police officers that pulled him over. It could have been any number of law enforcement agencies--county, state, etc.

I am also certain that they would not pull him over for merely displaying the bumper sticker, although that may have been an unspoken, underlying reason for doing so. They are not going to subject themselves to legal and disciplinary action, but cops use all sorts of legitimate excuses to pull over drivers, when their ulterior motive is something different.

We also must not forget that the Obama administration sent out a memo to all law enforcement agencies in the country alerting them to the now-infamous 'potential homegrown terrorist' allegation directed at patriotic Americans.

One thing is for certain, if the story turns out to be false, I WILL retract it. Until we get clear proof, stay tuned...

It's The Free Speech, Stupid!

Apparently freedom of expression is a luxury, not a right, that can be exercised unfettered only by the 'chosen ones' of the politically correct.

This is the subject of my article today at Columbia Conservative Examiner.

Give it a read. This is one of the most important, yet controversial, subjects of our time.

Geert Wilders Takes CPAC by Storm

Although he was not invited to speak at the main event, an alternative event was planned at the CPAC convention featuring embattled Dutch politician Geert Wilders, who was indicted in the Netherlands for 'speaking against Islam.'

Wilders was also refused entrance into the U.K. for 'speaking against Islam.'

But there were several thousand American patriots who were determined to allow Wilders to speak at CPAC, although they had to set up shop in an alternative area. In fact, the Wilders event was so heavily attended that listeners had to be placed in every single nook and cranny of the venue.

Be sure to click on the link and view the pics, read the commentary, and then read Wilders' stunning, eloquent defense of free speech in a world where human liberty is under attack as perhaps never before.

BEWARE THE FAIRNESS DOCTRINE TROJAN HORSE

As we have been warning for months, even years, the attempt by liberal Democrats to silence conservative voices on radio and other media may well take the covert tactic of using a 'Trojan horse' that would have the same effect as the Fairness Doctrine, but without calling it that.

News has come to our attention that an FCC commissioner has confirmed this tactic. It is very real. And they are serious about doing it.

McDowell warned that if the doctrine were revived, it might not "wear the same label. That's just Marketing 101: if your brand is controversial, make a new brand," he told his audience.

He suggested the doctrine could be woven into the fabric of policy initiatives with names like localism, diversity or network neutrality. "According to some, the premise of any of these initiatives is similar to the philosophical underpinnings of the Doctrine: the government must keep electronic conduits of information viewpoint neutral," he said.

McDowell suggested that a stealth version of the doctrine may already be teed up at the FCC in the form of community advisory boards to help determine local programming. McDowell says he is fine with those boards if they are voluntary--some stations already seek such input. But that if they are required, as the FCC has proposed, "Would not such a policy be akin to re-imposition of the Doctrine, albeit under a different name and sales pitch?"

McDowell also said that efforts to reimpose the doctrine could stretch to cable, satellite, and even the Internet. "Certain legal commentators have suggested that a new corollary of the Doctrine should be fashioned for the Internet, on the theory that web surfers should be exposed to topics and views that they have not chosen for themselves," adding: "I am not making this up."

Folks, this is war. Remember, they are not only targeting radio but television and the Internet. This is a direct, frontal attack on free speech, and it is all being done without reviving 'the Fairness Doctrine.'

It would be highly advisable for all who are interested in protecting free speech to read this entire article that spells out the intention of the enemies of liberty.

To Minimize and Marginalize

This blog is essentially about human liberty. If there is a common thread that holds all if its posts together it would be the fight to protect freedom and to stand against ALL attempts from ANY source to encroach upon that freedom.

One thing I have noticed after roughly 2 years of blogging is that there is an element in the blogosphere that will attempt to minimize and marginalize your voice unless you 'tow the party line,' i.e., agree with them.

Some time ago a fellow blogger warned that there are those around and about who would definitely attempt to minimize my voice.

This is 100% true.

The Liberty Sphere has been totally ignored by some who have received nothing but constant attention by me via the links to their blogs.

But I would be remiss without quickly acknowledging that this group is a minority. Most of you have been most supportive at one time or another.

I realize that this blog is not everyone's cup of tea. My opinions are strong, and I WILL fight for them. I don't mind calling a spade a spade, and that includes 'sacred cows' such as the NRA, the GOP, the Libertarian Party, Google, or any other group or entity that I think is headed down the wrong path on an issue.

This stance has included advertisers. I dropped American Express when they accepted a government bailout.

In fact, I have dropped ALL advertisers at this point. I am not going to be 'beholden' to anybody or afraid to speak my mind for the fear it may 'offend' someone. If anyone wishes to advertise here it will be due to their support for this blog's main purpose--to promote human liberty.

This goes for bloggers and readers as well. If my views on the 2nd Amendment, the 1st Amendment, politics, religion, or any other issue costs me readers and support, then so be it. I would rather forever dwell in the deepest bowels of blogosphere hell than to sell out my convictions in order to placate a misguided audience that may bring me a lot of 'traffic.'

I am not going to kiss ANYBODY's ass. I am my own man and I am capable of thinking quite independently and choosing my own path. I don't need either your approval or your permission.

If this means that I will only have a few hundred readers forever and ever, so be it.

But I will not budge. I will not back down. I will not tone down anything that I feel strongly about. And if this means you can't stomach it and thus won't support this blog, then perhaps all of your supposed support for 'free speech' is nothing more than bullshit.

Free speech, free expression, etc., is about nothing if not supporting speech that you may not like.

Come January I am going to have a 'tip jar' on this blog. If you like what's here, if you support my objectives, then you can support it of your own free will.

Oh, and to those of you wish I would just go away, I will quickly add that I have no intention of going anywhere. I am here to stay. So live with it.

Free speech, free Press, the right to free religious expression, the right to assemble freely, and the right to carry and use guns--these are the things I cherish.

Many obviously believe these values are no longer worth fighting for in America. You won't find that sentiment here. If these values are going down, they are not going down without a fight.

Central to human liberty is truth. And I am going to tell the truth come hell or high water.

ALERT! Dems Already Plan to Muzzle Conservatives!

Even before the votes have been counted, the Democrats made known today that they already plan to muzzle conservative voices in the media.

Senator Charles 'Little Chucky' Schumer, D-NY, stated on Fox News this morning that Democrats will most definitely bring back the so-called 'Fairness Doctrine' in order to effectively silence conservatives.

Of course, the 'Fairness Doctrine' is anything but fair. Say good-bye to all your favorite conservative talk radio shows--Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Glen Beck, Laura Ingraham, and others.

They all will be gone, poof, finis...if Little Chucky, Chairman Ba-O, and the Democratic Congress get their way.

Here are 2 reports on the Democrats' plans to muzzle conservative free speech:
Michelle Malkin reports...Little Chucky even said conservative speech is like 'pornography.'
Gateway Pundit reports--along with video of Little Chucky.

If You Pray, the Time is Now--40 Days of Prayer

At church yesterday morning I heard a sermon that was just what I needed, given my pessimistic mood of late about American voters and the upcoming election.

The minister spoke of the numerous instances in the Bible and in history that individuals and groups of people overcame overwhelming odds to beat back attempts to bring them to ruin.

One can't help but think about the political career of Abraham Lincoln as an example. Lincoln lost numerous elections in his career prior to being elected President. And he faced seemingly insurmountable odds as he was referred to by his opponents as a scoundrel and much worse.

Yet Lincoln persisted until he won.

Harry Truman is a modern-day Presidential example--the only Democrat that has been worth supporting in the last 70 years.

As I thought about the relationship of that basic premise to this year's election, I wondered if perhaps this were another such time, one of those shining moments when the underdogs seemed defeated beyond all hope only to rise from the ashes to a glorious victory.

Many churches are engaging in something called '40 Days of Prayer' from now until the November election. The objective of this season of prayer is 3-fold: 1). To ask for Divine intervention, 2). To energize Christians to work hard for what's right and not necessarily for
what's popular, and 3). To ask for strength to beat back the forces of darkness and tyranny that would rob citizens of God-given freedom in the name of 'giving' them financial prosperity.

Interestingly, yesterday was the day that many churches in many denominations across the country engaged in civil disobedience by defying the IRS in speaking out about politics in general and politicians by name.

The IRS currently forbids ministers from engaging in partisan political rhetoric from pulpits, even when such things clearly involve moral-ethical-spiritual issues. As part of today's big government statism, the IRS will revoke the tax-exempt status of any church where the minister engages in freedom of speech when it comes to politics.

Many churches on Sunday decided to participate in what is called 'Freedom of the Pulpit' Sunday to defy such Nazi-like prohibitions on free speech.

It is not by accident that the beginning of the 40 Days of Prayer for the election and Freedom of the Pulpit Sunday fell on the same day. The 2 are irrevocably intertwined.

When the citizens allow tyranny to gain a foothold in government, freedom of speech suffers.

By the way, don't forget that Barack Obama is attempting to silence television ads that are critical of him by threatening legal action against the stations that run them.

This is the mindset of tyrants.

Thus, if you pray, now is the time to engage in serious prayer for this country. If you don't pray but believe in the cause, then you can participate in the 40 Days by engaging in meditation or positive thoughts a few minutes a day on behalf of your country.

And then, act!

Who Let These Kooks Through the Door?

For two nights in a row, the freaky hecklers of 'Code Pink' attempted to disrupt the Republican National Convention.

My question is, who let these kooks through the door?

Surely, someone dropped the ball when it comes to security at a major political event, and heads should roll as a result.

During Sarah Palin's speech on Wednesday night, the kooks tried to disrupt the speech but barely made a ripple. Palin didn't even have to stop or acknowledge their presence.

But during John McCain's speech on Thursday evening, the kooks shouted, heckled, and interrupted McCain who stated in response, 'This is one of the reasons I believe we need to stop shouting at each other.'

At least twice the kooks had to be wrestled to the floor and hauled out of the arena.

You see, these lamebrains don't believe in free speech, though they constantly refer to it. Their MO is to disrupt free speech. They wish to prevent the free speech of those with whom they disagree by heckling them into silence.

Again, my question is, who let the kooks through the door, and why?

Methinks that a few saboteurs were planted around and about during the RNC.

Mark Steyn Update: Totalitarians Spooked

Mark Steyn, the National Review reporter/commentator who was hauled before a British Columbian 'human rights' tribunal on charges of 'inciting Islamophobia' in an article he wrote for the magazine Mclean's, reports that his case has been dropped by the Canadian Human Rights Commission.

The Commission, which acts as a Canadian watchdog group, deciding what is and is not acceptable speech for citizens, decided that Steyn's words were not sufficiently unacceptable enough to appoint a national tribunal.

But Steyn still faces a 'verdict' from the purported 'judges' of the British Columbian Human Rights Tribunal following a trial spurred by the complaints of the Canadian Islamic Congress, which accused Steyn of inciting hate against Muslims by writing in Mclean's that the growth of Islam in Europe is having dramatic repercussions on society.

The kangaroo court of the human rights tribunal in British Columbia is the entity from whence came forth these words on free speech: 'Free speech is an American concept, and thus, I have no use for it.'

But apparently the totalitarians that have infiltrated the Canadian government have been sufficiently spooked by the possibility of the harsh condemnation of the free world that the national Commission trumped the decision of the British Columbian tribunal by throwing the Steyn case out of court.

This does not mean that the tribunal in B.C. will not find Steyn guilty. But it is curious that the national Commission issued a decision on the case before rather than after the B.C. tribunal makes its decision.

And it is worth noting that both Canadian entities have already received an avalanche of less-than-complimentary commentary on the fact that the Steyn case was brought in the first place.

Thus, the Canadian Human Rights Commission did the right thing, albeit under intense pressure from freedom of speech groups. We can only hope the British Columbian tribunal will follow suit.

Second Amendment News Roundup for 6/19/08

Focusing on guns, politics, and news of interest, here is today's Second Amendment News Roundup:

Gateway Pundit states that the Democrats are continuing with their sickening and disgusting calls for the government seizure of the oil industry. What Commie Bastards!
http://gatewaypundit.blogspot.com/2008/06/rep-hinchey-d-ny-calls-for-government.html

Further, remember Commie-Dictator Hugo Chavez in Venezuela, you know, the man who seizes private industry and nationalizes private enterprise? Well, our Demo-Commies in Nancy Pelosi's House are copying the tactics of their good buddy and mentor, Hugo Chavez. Michelle Malkin reports:
http://michellemalkin.com/2008/06/18/the-chavistas-in-our-backyard/

JR has a good one from the 'dumb crook' files, and he has plenty of links for you to see:
http://akeyboardanda45.blogspot.com/2008/06/sometimes-dumb-crooks-file-intersects.html

Roberta X comments on the Associated Press flap and suggests some great alternatives:
http://twowheeledmadwoman.blogspot.com/2008/06/great-ap-flap.html

Roberta also blogs about her discontent with the choices this year--Obama, McCain, and Barr:
http://twowheeledmadwoman.blogspot.com/2008/06/voting-for-prexi-plesi-big-guy.html

Armed and Safe writes about the ban of the .50 rifles in New Jersey, that state where all Constitutional rights go to die:
http://armedandsafe.blogspot.com/2008/06/banning-50-in-new-jersey.html

Blogonomicon has an excellent read on 'right and duty'--the obligation to carry a gun:
http://blogonomicon.blogspot.com/2008/06/right-and-duty.html

Congrats to Breda on this great milestone. She has an excellent blog, and yes, Breda, we like you!
http://thebredafallacy.blogspot.com/2008/06/you-like-me-you-really-like-me.html

Nicki provides excellent commentary on John Lott's 'No Profits, No Oil':
http://libertyzone.blogspot.com/2008/06/john-lott-no-profits-no-oil.html

The MUST-read of the day is by David Codrea. Canada, Britain and the rest of Europe have no Constitutional guarantee of Free Speech, and now they are taking advantage of it much to the detriment of the citizens. As David reports, there are voices RIGHT HERE IN AMERICA who are urging that we emulate Canada and Britain, and thus limit Free Speech. BASTARDS!
http://waronguns.blogspot.com/2008/06/freedom-of-speech-within-reason-and-as.html

Dr. John Lott points to the John Kass piece on the inequities of the Chicago handgun ban:
http://johnrlott.blogspot.com/2008/06/chicago-tribunes-john-kass-on.html

The Volokh Conspiracy has a run-down on the five Supreme Court decisions handed down today:
http://volokh.com/archives/archive_2008_06_15-2008_06_21.shtml#1213883362

Second Amendment News Roundup for 6/17/08

Focusing on guns, politics, and news of interest, here is today's Second Amendment News Roundup:

Dr. John Lott reports that a battle is a-brewing in Georgia over concealed handgun permits:
http://johnrlott.blogspot.com/2008/06/concealed-handgun-opponents-focus-on-no.html

Breda's latest post for the Buckeye Firearms Association is up at the website, and it's entitled, 'Of Mice and Men':
http://www.buckeyefirearms.org/node/5763

As a follow-up to yesterday's story on the boycott of the Associated Press, Yahoo News says that a group of bloggers is negotiating an agreement with the AP, but there is a problem that could be a deal-breaker:
http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/080616/ap_bloggers.html?.v=4

JR has excellent signage for would-be intruders:
http://akeyboardanda45.blogspot.com/2008/06/fits-has-sign-that-lisa.html

Alphecca posts pics from Charlton Heston's gun vault:
http://www.alphecca.com/?p=817

Armed and Safe writes that one of the Bastard's foot soldiers in Congress has introduced another gun ban:
http://armedandsafe.blogspot.com/2008/06/yet-another-bill-to-ban-so-called.html

The Counterterrorism Blog has a frightening assessment of the growing terrorist nuclear network:
http://counterterrorismblog.org/2008/06/the_nuclear_network.php

Gateway Pundit show us just how wrong John Murtha and Barack Obama were about our soldiers who were charged with crimes in the War:
http://gatewaypundit.blogspot.com/2008/06/cleared-charges-dismissed-on-haditha.html

Gateway also reports that Brazil has discovered a massive offshore oil deposit in the Gulf, which other countries are going after in our own backyard, but which the U.S. is forbidden from doing due to the moronic policies of the Democrats and their extremist environmentalist cohorts:
http://gatewaypundit.blogspot.com/2008/06/brazil-discovers-new-offshore-oil.html

Speaking of offshore drilling, Instapundit has a link that shows Americans overwhelmingly support it, in defiance of their elected officials (Democrats in particular):
http://pajamasmedia.com/instapundit/archives2/020569.php

Gun Pundit has info and a link to info about the 2009 2A blog bash in Phoenix:
http://www.gunpundit.com/646.php

Uncle comments on algore's endorsement of the Obamessiah:
http://www.saysuncle.com/archives/2008/06/17/boy-that-was-a-nail-biter/

Sebastian points to the unbelievable garbage at the Huffington Post:
http://www.snowflakesinhell.com/2008/06/17/unbelievable-garbage-at-huffpo/

Squeaky issues a special alert for Tennessee gunnies about a new bill introduced in the legislature:
http://www.squeakywheelseeksgrease.com/blog/2008/06/17/listen-up-tennessee-gunnies/

Well, the ATF is up to more shenanigans. They barged in on a gun store in Cleveland, Georgia and confiscated their records. David Codrea has the story:
http://waronguns.blogspot.com/2008/06/for-records.html

Robert Spencer has written a riveting piece at Human Events on 'the jihad against free speech,' which contains updated commentary on the plight of NRO reporter Mark Steyn in totalitarian Canada:
http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=27027

Second Amendment News Roundup for 6/9/08

Focusing on guns, politics, and news of interest, here is today's Second Amendment News Roundup:

The MUST-read of the day is the Mark Steyn interview over at Girl on the Right:
http://girlontheright.com/2008/06/09/brass-balls-radio-the-steyn-interview/

The NRA issues an important grassroots alert on the upcoming general election:
http://www.nraila.org/GrassrootsAlerts/read.aspx

Ahab blogs on gun stuff in the movies, and Clint Eastwood stands above them all:
http://www.nrahab.com/2008/06/09/why-i-bought-a-big-tv/

The Counterterrorism Blog has news about Venezuela's Hugo Chavez's recent about-face:
http://counterterrorismblog.org/2008/06/chavezs_abrupt_aboutface_on_th.php

The Stiletto provides most interesting commentary on Hillary's speech on Saturday--including what she did NOT say! And be sure to read the 2nd part of the section which comments on Britain's 'first they came for the guns, and then they came for the knives':
http://thestilettoblog.com/2008/06/09/the-daily-blade-hillary-said-the-magic-words-what-now.aspx

Speaking of Mark Steyn, be sure to read his comments entitled, 'Notes on a Show Trial':
http://www.steynonline.com/content/view/1345/128/

Monica Crowley reports that Haley Barbour is being considered as McCain's running mate, and she shows why this would not be a good idea:
http://monicamemo.typepad.com/weblog/2008/06/please-lord-let.html

Threats Watch provides today's daily briefing on threats to the nation's security from around the world:
http://threatswatch.org/dailybriefings/

David Codrea provides a disturbing update on how the Bastard and the New York City court system are screwing over a licensed gun dealer from the state of Georgia:
http://waronguns.blogspot.com/2008/06/to-fight-another-day.html

Breda blogs about her latest shooting experience--in the searing hot weather to boot!
http://thebredafallacy.blogspot.com/2008/06/whew-its-hot.html

I agree 100% with Sebastian here. Read it all:
http://www.snowflakesinhell.com/2008/06/09/on-the-lesser-of-two-evils/

Uncle has two quotes of the day that are well-worth the read:
http://www.saysuncle.com/archives/2008/06/09/quote-of-the-day-17/

Every few days the mainstream media posts a picture of Obama with a halo around his head. I saw one on AOL Saturday, and now Reuters has one. Gateway Pundit shows that most Americans aren't buying this crap...a new poll tells the story:
http://gatewaypundit.blogspot.com/2008/06/most-americans-agree-media-actively.html

Nicki points to a speech made on the House floor concerning the environmentalist wackos...read it all:
http://libertyzone.blogspot.com/2008/06/inconvenient-truth.html

Cap'n Bob and the Damsel blog on their day at the gun show in California:
http://capnbob.us/blog/2008/06/07/our-day-at-the-gun-show/

Michelle Malkin reports that Snuffy Pfleger will return to his church after his suspension, on June 16:
http://michellemalkin.com/2008/06/09/michael-pfleger-returns-june-16-hes-a-black-jesus-stuck-in-a-white-mans-body/

John Lott provides info on justifiable homicides in states with right-to-carry vs. states with no right to carry:
http://johnrlott.blogspot.com/2008/06/justifiable-homicides-in-right-to-carry.html

Eugene Volokh provides essential reading on why the term 'hate speech' is not a legal term but something made up by those who wish to limit free speech:
http://volokh.com/archives/archive_2008_06_01-2008_06_07.shtml#1212872018

My favorite intellectual, Dr. Walter Williams, has written another goodie on energy policy and environmentalists:
http://www.gmu.edu/departments/economics/wew/articles/08/Dumb%20Or%20Ill-informed.htm

Important Mark Steyn Interview Today

In a blog interview featured in 'Girl on the Right,' a new addition to The Liberty Sphere's preferred links, Mark Steyn will talk about his personal nightmare in the Canadian free speech/free press case.

The interview can be found today on Brass Balls Radio, via Girl on the Right:
http://girlontheright.com/2008/06/06/following-on-in-our-all-mark-steyn-theme/

Girl on the Right provides a daily audio/video feed from Brass Balls Radio.

Mark Steyn, of course, is the National Review columnist/reporter whose article on radical Islam in Europe landed him in a British Columbian human rights tribunal. He is charged with 'Islamophobia' and attempting to incite Islamophobia.

Human rights observers say that the case is representative of Canada's descent into totalitarianism. The case is also a grim reminder that formerly free societies are succumbing to the hysteria of extremists who believe that pointing out the weaknesses and failures of Islam, for example, is apparently a hideous crime against humanity that must be harshly judged and punished.

Free societies, however, allow no such limits on human liberty.

Steyn's own words concerning his own personal ordeal at the hands of the Canadian government should be a stark wake-up call to all around the world who value human freedom.

Canadian Totalitarianism

Canada marches toward totalitarianism as it attempts to squelch free speech. The country has already essentially robbed the citizens of their gun rights, and now it appears the speech-and-thought gestapo are alive and well, and with the power of the government behind them.

Totalitarian governments do these sorts of things, not free ones. Whether they are Communist or Nazi, totalitarianism first robs citizens of their gun rights and then goes after their freedom of speech.

The record of history is our guide.

Mark Steyn is a reporter/commentator for the U.S. political magazine, National Review, which was founded by conservative icon William F. Buckley, Jr. in the 1950s. Steyn is on trial before a so-called 'human rights tribunal' in British Columbia over a piece he wrote on the oppressive influence of Islam in Europe. The article first appeared in National Review, but the story was picked up by a Canadian publication, 'McLean's,' and now both Steyn and the magazine are in deep trouble.

The Canadian government seems to believe that Steyn is 'guilty' of the 'crime' of 'Islamophobia.'

Radical Muslim groups in Canada are responsible for the prosecution of Steyn, given that they were 'offended' by the article he wrote.

Canada has been on the downhill slide for a number of years with regard to basic human rights. Its citizens no longer have the basic right to self-defense, and its 'human rights tribunals' are going after those who exercise their free speech in being critical of things deemed to be 'politically incorrect.'

If Steyn is convicted of his heinous crime against humanity (said with tongue firmly planted in cheek), it will be literally the end of freedom of speech in Canada, thanks to the speech-and-thought police of the politically correct movement...and their supporters in radical Islam.

Read the entire report on Mark Steyn at National Review here:
http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=YTUyMDU3ZmE0N2E4YjJlNmQxNGRlMWRiYTI3NjA0NjI=

Second Amendment News Roundup for 6/3/08

Focusing on guns, politics, and news of interest, here is today's Second Amendment News Roundup:

Michelle Malkin comments on the AP story claiming Hillary Clinton's defeat today:
http://michellemalkin.com/2008/06/03/its-curtains-for-hillary/

Gateway Pundit is reporting today that Hillary has stated she will consider being Obama's running mate:
http://gatewaypundit.blogspot.com/2008/06/hillary-says-shes-open-to-being-obamas.html

The MUST read of the day is by Monica Crowley, which is entitled, 'Obama's First Fatal Mistake':
http://monicamemo.typepad.com/weblog/2008/06/obamas-first-fa.html

David Codrea reports that the Bastard has won round one in his lawsuit against a Georgia gun store owner who wishes to appeal to a higher court:
http://waronguns.blogspot.com/2008/06/wallace-no-surrender.html

Armed and Safe has more on this story here:
http://armedandsafe.blogspot.com/2008/06/adventure-outdoors-denied-jury-trial.html

Roberta X opines on the fact that rising fuel costs are raising the costs of (GASP!!) public transit:
http://twowheeledmadwoman.blogspot.com/2008/06/youre-doing-it-wrong.html

Mike McCarville reports that the Oklahoma City police chief has opened a firestorm of controversy over his remarks that the city needs more gun control:
http://wwwtmrcom.blogspot.com/2008/06/citty-under-fire-for-gun-control.html

Uh oh. JR has the story of a man who shot himself while demonstrating how to handle a gun:
http://akeyboardanda45.blogspot.com/2008/06/rule-1.html

Alphecca has some quick news links today:
http://www.alphecca.com/?p=800

Blogstitution posts excerpts from A Concise History of the American Neo-Conservative movement:
http://www.blogstitution.com/2008/05/a-concise-history-of-american-neo-conservatism/

Born Again Redneck has the quote of the day: Mark Steyn's comment on Barack Obama:
http://bornagainredneck.blogspot.com/2008/06/mark-steyn-on-obama.html

Cap'n Bob has a neat video of the Damsel getting in some target practice:
http://capnbob.us/blog/2008/06/02/yesterdays-shoot/

Dustin reports on the upcoming Second Amendment Foundation Gun Rights Policy Conference and posts a report from the group on that haven of gun-grabbers, San Francisco:
http://dustinsgunblog.blogspot.com/2008/06/saf-san-francisco-red-ink-pushing-gun.html

In case you haven't heard yet, Dustin also says that Cavalry Arms is back up and running:
http://dustinsgunblog.blogspot.com/2008/06/cavalry-arms-update.html

Freedom Sight blogs on some extremely light-weight means of transportation:
http://freedomsight.net/?p=2537

Can you imagine this squid-brain as First Lady? Sebastian has a quote from Michelle Obama:
http://www.snowflakesinhell.com/2008/06/03/quote-of-the-day-57/

Robb Allen has some gun humor you need to see:
http://blog.robballen.com/archive/2008/06/03/AREngraving.aspx

Wow. Uncle reports that the Commies in Massachusetts are laying the squeeze on citizens who fail to buy health insurance:
http://www.saysuncle.com/archives/2008/06/03/live-free-or-there/

Traction Control has a good read entitled, 'Where Functional Firearms May No Longer Protect':
http://tractioncontrol.well-regulatedmilitia.org/?p=1107

Tam blogs on the ATF's definition of a gun:
http://booksbikesboomsticks.blogspot.com/2008/06/gun-by-any-other-name.html

Gun Pundit has a vintage photo from 1922--guns and girls:
http://www.gunpundit.com/612.php

Gunservatively points to a quote by Stephen Halbrooks on the language of the 2nd Amendment: http://gunservatively.blogspot.com/2008/06/language-of-second-amendment.html

Glenn Reynolds makes available a piece he wrote prior to the OKC bombing on the Second Amendment, revolution, and democracy:
http://pajamasmedia.com/instapundit/archives2/020026.php

More anti-free speech in academia. Eugene Volokh reports on the highly disturbing story of a Canadian college where the student government association has banned any student club that discusses pro-life issues:
http://volokh.com/archives/archive_2008_06_01-2008_06_07.shtml#1212515822

UPDATE:Imposters Seize Liestoppers Board

As reported last evening, the Liestoppers message boards have been hacked by those intent on silencing free speech, particularly in this election year. First, the message boards were seized and shut down. And now, imposters are running the show.

The message boards are back up and running but with imposters at the helm. This travesty of liberty should not go unpunished.

Liestoppers has posted the URL and the owner of their message board management here: http://liestoppers.blogspot.com/2008/04/update-we-are-still-working-on-it.html

Feel free to go to Invision and register a complaint about the problem.

My friends, we who blog should not allow this type of activity to go by without a concerted response. If they can do this to Liestoppers they can do it to ANY of us. And that means anyone who wishes to silence free speech, political dissent and discussion, and any other expression of liberty has the means to do so.

Solidarity on the part of bloggers, and their readers, who value truth, liberty, integrity, and justice is essential when these sorts of things happen.

We will keep you updated on the situation, or, of course, you may visit the Liestoppers blog, which has not been hacked (only their message boards have been effected).

Make no mistake, my friends, corruption in government is lethal to freedom-loving citizens.
When an entire city government, it's police department, its District Attorney's office, and the county Democratic Party are all awash in corruption so pervasive it would make one dizzy, lives are at stake.

These people will stop at nothing to further their agenda and silence any opposition. They framed three innocent young men all in an attempt to get a corrupt District Attorney elected. The lives of these young men were almost completely ruined beyond repair.

And now, with politics being at the forefront of everyone's thinking, you can rest assured that the corrupt political machine of Durham, Duke University, and the North Carolina Democratic Party is hard at work attempting to re-launch their voodoo.

This is why Duke attempted to shut down Liestoppers, and this is why the message boards at the blog were seized by imposters who purvey a message that is fraught with lies and deceit--all in the name of the very ones who sought and are seeking to put a stop to those lies and deceit.

Unless the citizens of North Carolina wake up and oust every single vestige of this rank stench of cankered corruption within the state's political system, then they deserve the derision and scornful laughter of the law-abiding citizens in the rest of the country.

Criticize China? Better Watch Your Back

It's a good thing CNN's Jack Cafferty isn't in China. In all likelihood he would be placed under arrest and hauled into prison for a lengthy sentence.

Cafferty's crime? He dared refer to the the Chinese government as 'goons' and 'thugs' in response to the regime's treatment of the people of Tibet.

The remarks were spoken from the safety of CNN's headquarters during the network's daily broadcast of 'The Situation Room. Cafferty quipped, 'I think they're basically the same bunch of goons and thugs they've been for the last 50 years.'

This prompted the Chinese Foreign Ministry to summon CNN's Beijing bureau chief in order to demand an apology.

As usual, the regime's spin on the incident is that Cafferty was referring to 'the Chinese people as a whole' and not merely to the regime. According to the ruling Communist Party officials such words are tantamount to 'verbal terrorism' against the Chinese people and indicates an anti-Chinese bias at CNN.

Officials at CNN, however, refuse an apology. Cafferty himself stated that he was in no way referring to the Chinese people but only to the Chinese government, and that he apologized if anyone thought otherwise.

The entire display, however, is classic Chinese Communist reaction to criticism. Not only does the regime fail to recognize the value of free speech but it is particularly harsh toward speech, either written or spoken, that in any way portrays the government in a negative light.

In other words, if you dare criticize the government, it's off to jail with you.

Most of the Chinese people understand this, including Chinese-Americans. Some, however, view the American ideal of freedom of speech as a totally foreign concept that is to be devalued. It is extremely important for such person to understand that in this country freedom of speech was first envisioned to protect in particular any speech that is critical of government.

This is part of our understanding of basic, inherent human rights and liberties.

Thus, until the Chinese government understands that human liberty is the pinnacle of human progress, most of us in the States will always view the regime as 'the same bunch of goons and thugs they've been for the past 50 years.'

I will even go further than Mr. Cafferty. China's government is tyrannical. It suppresses the liberties of the Chinese people and holds them in the heavy grip of oppression.

Therefore, it is a rogue regime that is worthy of nothing but the free world's disdain and condemnation.

Second Amendment News Roundup for 12/12/07

Focusing on guns and politics, here is today's Second Amendment News Roundup:

Cap'n Bob and the Damsel have excellent reading today, via Human Events, entitled, Shopping Mall Signs We'd Like To See:
http://capnbob.us/blog/2007/12/12/shopping-mall-signs-wed-like-to-see/

Front Sight, Press has a most interesting read today entitled, Contrast:
http://www.snubnose.info/wordpress/rkba/contrast/

The McCarville Report has been down lately due to the massive ice storm in Oklahoma. Mike McCarville gives us an update on digging out:
http://wwwtmrcom.blogspot.com/2007/12/ice-storm-wreaks-havoc.html

Alphecca comments on the latest example of Hillary Hypocrisy:
http://www.alphecca.com/?p=571

Armed and Safe has three parts of his theme entitled, 'Cook County Illinois Wants To Outdo D.C.' Click on this first part of the series, and then read the other two on his blog:
http://armedandsafe.blogspot.com/2007/12/cook-county-illinois-wants-to-outdo.html

Born Again Redneck has a very informative rundown on the Iowa GOP debate:
http://bornagainredneck.blogspot.com/2007/12/iowa-gop-debate.html

Tam has the 'Word' of the day:
http://booksbikesboomsticks.blogspot.com/2007/12/word.html

The War on Guns has a good read entitled, 'Original Understanding':
http://waronguns.blogspot.com/2007/12/original-understanding.html

The Liberty Zone reports on the GOA's Larry Pratt and his debate with Paul Helmke of the Brady Gang:
http://libertyzone.blogspot.com/2007/12/more-proof-that-paul-helmke-is-moron.html

Breda informs us of her day at the shooting range:
http://thebredafallacy.blogspot.com/2007/12/range-report_11.html

Squeaky provides us with the perfect description of PETA:
http://www.squeakywheelseeksgrease.com/blog/2007/12/11/generalization-time-peta-is-a-piece-of-shit/

Snow Flakes in Hell has an excellent response to Ahab's support for certain restrictions on gun rights:
http://www.snowflakesinhell.com/?p=2127

Sharp as a Marble reports that Carolyn McCarthy, D-NY, has been mouthing off again on the House floor about gun violence and gun control:
http://blog.robballen.com/archive/2007/12/12/ABC-PSH.aspx

Say Uncle has the quote of the day:
http://www.saysuncle.com/archives/2007/12/12/quote_of_the_day-185/

Michelle Malkin informs us of the disturbing news that the Fort Dix Six are spreading the Jihad in jail:
http://michellemalkin.com/2007/12/12/fort-dix-six-plotters-spreading-jihad-in-jail/

The Buckeye Firearms Association posts a report by Kylie Conway of NBC24 that says women are shooting firearms in higher and higher numbers:
http://www.buckeyefirearms.org/article4088.html

The Volokh Conspiracy has the good news that free speech has been upheld in Georgia:
http://volokh.com/archives/archive_2007_12_09-2007_12_15.shtml#1197492455

GOA Issues New Warning on Fairness Doctrine

Washington, DC (TLS). Gun Owners of America (GOA) has issued a new warning about the so-called 'Fairness Doctrine' and the damage it could do to the gun rights movement.

The GOA's success has been due in a large part to its access to talk radio, which has a sizable conservative audience. Democrats in Congress wish to silence conservative voices in the media by bringing back the old 'Fairness Doctrine,' which would allow liberals to demand 'equal time.'

Republicans in the House of Representatives were able to pass an amendment to an appropriations bill that prohibits the use of federal funds to implement the Fairness Doctrine.

This, however, is only a temporary measure.

When Senate Republicans attempted to add a similar amendment to a bill this week, that amendment was blocked by Senate Democrats. This means that should Democrats win the White House in 2008, and pick up a few more seats in Congress, you can kiss good-bye Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Glenn Beck, and even Paul Harvey for that matter.

Radio stations will be frightened into dropping these programs from the air for the fear that they would be forced to give Democrats and other leftists, even Communists, 'equal time.'

Funny how the government-run PBS radio and TV network has a liberal slant. Wonder if the Fairness Doctrine will be applied there? What about Chris Matthews on MSNBC? George Stephanopolis on NBC? Bob Sheiffer on CBS?

Believe me, if Democrats succeed in this attempt to thwart free speech, and in turn do damage to our 2nd Amendment rights by limiting access to talk radio, we will launch a massive public campaign to demand equal time for each and every statement Couric, Rather, Matthews, Blitzer, Sheiffer, and all the rest mouth off in favor of liberal public policies.

And then, if we are denied equal time, we will sue the pants off of them!

My friends, this will be war if the Democrats think they can get away with this ruse to silence free speech.

Read the GOA alert here:
http://www.gunowners.org/a072007.htm