Kevin's Korner

First, let me say thanks to the NRA (National Rifle Association) for the “Stand and Fight” drive. Protecting the 2nd amendment is the focus, and we need to heed the call.

Normally, I don’t write endorsements of organizations, much less make a plea for people to join them. But, never before, have our gun rights been attacked as they are currently being attacked across this country.

From Connecticut to Colorado, from New York to California, and all the way to Washington DC, the gun control forces are on the march, and they mean to take no prisoners. Make no mistake, the ultimate goal of the gun grabbers is to take all guns out of the hands of citizens. Frankly, it is more about Government control over people’s lives, then it is about guns.

With the White House pushing hardest for “gun control”, the battle will be at the top and all he way down to the state and local governments. With the recent Colorado actions we have seen the Vice President lobby State Representatives personally and forcefully. Our 2nd amendment enemies are strong.

We can be stronger. There are almost 100 million gun owners in this country. I suspect it is more, because some are already afraid to admit having guns for fear of being listed as “gun owner” by the government.

The NRA has been making very strong membership gains for many months now. They have pushed past 4 million members. Still, that is a small percentage of gun owners. A run on ammunition continues, and some guns are increasingly hard to find. Many do recognize the danger. But many still have not acted. It’s time for that to change.

I urge anyone who wants to see our 2nd amendment defended, to please join the NRA today. Don’t wait. Don’t put it off. Our enemies aren’t. They are strong and organized. But we gun owners can certainly fight back.

Even if you don’t wish to join the NRA there are other organizations you could join. The 2nd Amendment foundation and the Gun Owners of America are just two.

Just to be clear, I don’t benefit personally in ANY way if you join one of these groups. But, our country does benefit, and our country needs you. Will you answer the call?

NRA
http://www.NRA.org/

GOA
www.gunowners.org/

2nd Amendment Foundation
http://www.saf.org/

When I was growing up, guns were all around me. My grandfather had several, and it seemed every friend’s father had at least one gun. Most often it was a hunting rifle. In Southeastern Pennsylvania, Deer Hunting season was almost a religious holiday. There were never ending stories of how they got their first deer, or how they almost got that Big Buck.

My father and grandfather had already given up hunting, so I was left to hear the stories and use a bit of imagination. But after all these years, what really stands out, are the times the kids I grew up with, spent with their dad. It really was a great bonding time for all of them. Now, I didn’t really feel left out, my dad and grandfather were “baseball” dads and hardly missed a game, so we just had a different bonding activity. But even after giving up hunting, they never gave up their guns.

Like many of you, I watched the President’s statement on Wednesday on guns, and the sickening feeling I got, as I saw how he was using those children to try and play on people’s emotions, seemed to settle in my stomach. No, there would not be one fact, not one study, or one program cited that pointed out that “Gun Control” was somehow effective.This was about a photo op. A time to try and pull at people’s heartstrings, to get them to support something they normally would not.

But there was something else there. I haven’t heard anyone else mention this, or say they observed this, so maybe it was just me. However, what I saw, in the President’s face, was a man who look defeated. Oh, the impression of sadness was being made, but it seemed much more then sadness to me. The President tried to sound confident, but his tone, and his body language, betrayed him. It was almost if, he had just gotten off the phone with Senator Harry Reid (D-NV) and he had told the President that there was no way any of these measures would pass the Democratic controlled Senate, much less the GOP controlled House.

Oh, I certainly could be wrong. When I looked at those 23 Executive Orders he signed, I felt even more confident in my belief that the President already felt defeated. Yes, I do oppose them, but considering what I was expecting, it was extremely mild. And if we look closely, the President actually signed 3 executive “actions” (same thing as orders just a different name) and various letters and reports. One is, “nominate an ATF Director”. Seriously, you need to sign something saying that “we” need to do this?

WSJ: List of Executive Actions,
http://on.wsj.com/SKyGWk

My basic point here is that this was more song and dance then anything. The President was trying to give the appearance of “doing something” about guns.

Even so, those of us who believe in the 2nd Amendment, need to keep the pressure on Congress. We can’t let this be simply be “another issue”. It is about the right of a free people, to defend themselves, against a tyrannical government. Especially if you live in states, that have Democrat Senators, but have majorities of gun rights supporters in their state. Places like Nevada, Indiana, West Virginia, Virginia, Pennsylvania, North Carolina and several others.

I would suggest, that if you have not already, that you join the NRA or another 2nd Amendment supporting group. I am a proud member of the NRA and their work is critical, especially now. Guns SAVE many lives and Gun rights must not be sacrificed on the alter of emotional excesses. Freedom depends on it.

This past week, Vice President Joe Biden, met with various groups to discuss “gun violence”. Well, actually to talk about using government power to “control” guns. The key word here is “control”.

Here is what Biden said:
http://yhoo.it/Skr6S2

“We are not going to get caught up in the notion that unless we can do everything, we’re going to do nothing. It’s critically important that we act,” said Biden …”There are executive orders, executive action that can be taken. We haven’t decided what that is yet,” Biden said, adding that Obama is conferring with Attorney General Eric Holder on potential action.

So the Vice President wants the President to use “executive action”, but has no idea what that action may be. In other words, “We don’t care if our action is constitutional or not, we will figure out a way around that”.

Should this surprise anyone? This administration has shown total disregard for the U.S. Constitution.

One of the things this administration is “looking into” is more and better “tracking” of gun sales both public and private. Who are they trying to kid? Remember ‘Fast and Furious’ anyone? The government let guns go south of the border into Mexico on purpose, but now wants to restrict the American Public from their 2nd Amendment rights. Hypocritical doesn’t begin to describe this administrations actions.

More From the Vice President:

But now, “the president and I are determined to take action,” Biden said at Wednesday’s meeting with gun violence victims and gun-control advocates.
“This is not an exercise in photo opportunities or just getting to ask you all what your opinions are. We’re reaching out to all parties on whatever side of the debate you fall,” he said…

With all due respect Mr Vice President, that is EXACTLY what this was, a Photo Op. You, nor anyone else in this administration, plan on listening to anyone on this. The focus has been how you can grab guns from law abiding citizens. That was, and is you plan, no matter what was “discussed” at this meeting.

I won’t detail my support for the 2nd Amendment and why, but I will direct you to an article I wrote this past summer.

“The Second Amendment is Crucial to Freedom” –
http://bit.ly/ONQOFK

These proposed actions from the Obama administration, must be opposed. We cannot stand by, while they just shred the 2nd Amendment before our eyes. I encourage any of my readers, who have not yet joined the NRA, or any other 2nd Amendment defending organization, to join them now.

Here is a link to the NRA website:
www.nra.org

We must not be silent anymore.

Vice President Joe Biden

We hear all the outrage from the Left, anytime some horrible shooting happens. They consistently focus on guns, right away, without even looking at evidence, or other factors. They want to use an emotional appeal, to get government to “do something” about it. Which means, of course, taking away gun rights from law abiding citizens.

First, let me go back a little to World War 2. There has always been a question of why Japan did not invade the West Coast of the United States right after Pearl Harbor was bombed. Here is one possible reason:

In 1960, Robert Menard was a Commander aboard the USS Constellation when he was part of a meeting between United States Navy personnel and their counterparts in the Japanese Defense Forces. Fifteen years had passed since VJ day, most of those at the meeting were WWII veterans, and men who had fought each other to the death at sea were now comrades in battle who could confide in one another. Someone at the table asked a Japanese admiral why, with the Pacific Fleet devastated at Pearl Harbor and the mainland US forces in what Japan had to know was a pathetic state of unreadiness, Japan had not simply invaded the West Coast. Commander Menard would never forget the crafty look on the Japanese commander’s face as he frankly answered the question. “You are right,” he told the Americans. “We did indeed know much about your preparedness. We knew that probably every second home in your country contained firearms. We knew that your country actually had state championships for private citizens shooting military rifles. We were not fools to set foot in such quicksand.”

Now, I cannot say if this quote is genuine or not but it would make a lot of sense. Even if it isn’t true, I would bet the Japanese knew what they would face with an invasion of the USA. A well armed populace, would be a pretty good deterrent to any country wanting to invade.

Now, what does this have to do with modern day shootings in our country? Actually, it has a lot to do with it.

Have you noticed where, most of these shootings take place? Schools, Malls, theaters, almost always, a place that is very obviously a “gun free zone”. It is, in fact, really a perfect victim zone, since the killers know, that it is highly unlikely they will run into anyone who is armed.

The media doesn’t like to report, any of the times guns are used to stop violent killers. Just 2 days after the Sandy Hook killings, a theater in Texas had a shooting stopped, by an off duty armed officer, who works security at the theater.

Here it is:
http://bit.ly/XFHwAZ

Just one quote here.

It could have been a tragedy, if an off-duty Sheriff’s Sgt. working security for the theater hadn’t taken down the gunman.

Yes, it very well could have been. But we don’t hear a peep from the National News Media. It doesn’t fit into their narrative, that all guns are bad and evil.

I won’t go into all the statistics, but let me just reference a previous article I wrote that did:

http://bit.ly/ONQOFK

We cannot be afraid to stand up for the rights of gun owners in the face of these horrible killings. In fact, we MUST spread the truth. The truth is, if we had armed guards in schools (as some schools do already) and if we had more freedom for concealed carry in this country, we would see these killings reduced and stopped.

Far from causing these horrible killings, legal gun ownership helps put a stop to these awful crimes. The fact remains, that these shootings will continue until we get rid of the fantasy of “Gun Free Zones” and the idea that somehow this small sign will stop a shooter. Guns are here to stay, and we need to be able to use them legally to defend ourselves and our children.

I have nothing against people forming unions. In the America I grew up in, they gave a worker, group representation. It wasn’t all that complicated, many people agreed that unions were the great equalizer when negotiating with Corporations. It gave the worker some power, instead of “being alone”.

Workers should be free to form, and join unions. But they should be just as free, not to join a union. When early unions were formed, they made the argument that workers had a right to Freedom of association. They could “associate” with whoever they liked. Including fellow workers.

When the Supreme Court ruled in “NAACP Vs Alabama”, in 1958 and “Boy Scouts of America Vs Dale, in 2000, they cited, in part the 1st Amendment right to freedom to assemble. They basically reaffirmed Freedom of Association. (They cited both the 1st and 14th Amendments).

Should workers also have the right NOT to associate with a union? Should a worker, ANY worker be forced to join a union? Do we have an obligation to individual rights or not?

This past week, Michigan has moved forward, to be the 24th “Right to Work” state in the country. The Left, predictably, has gone ballistic. It strikes at the heart of their dependence on union money. You know, the money workers are FORCED to pay, in certain companies or industries.

And what do these Democrats have to say?

Senate Democratic Leader Gretchen Whitmer, who on Thursday called the votes to approve the right-to-work measure “petty and vindictive politics,” sparked more backlash Friday when she said she wants the president, who is set to visit Detroit on a previously scheduled political trip on Monday, to push back on Republican Gov. Rick Snyder by holding back federal money for a new international bridge project to Canada and a badly needed mass-transit program in ailing Detroit.

From “Weasel Zippers”:
http://bit.ly/WW9WpT

I guess the Left isn’t so “pro choice” after all, only on abortion. The U.S. Constitution affirms our right to freedom of assembly, which has been ruled on, by numerous Supreme Court decisions, that it also includes the freedom to associate with whoever we want. Also, to disassociate from whoever we want.

It’s time for conservatives and libertarians to stand up for individual rights, and for the right not to be forced to join unions. Freedom and Liberty demand it.