Let me state one thing I HATE GUNS. I really don't see the need for them. That said, I am aware that I am probably in the minority and I've accepted this. Owning one or two guns for self defence and hunting for sustenance (not for wall trophies) I can comprehend. When I was taught to use a gun my teacher said if I wasn't willing to empty to clip in the person going after me then owning a gun would be more dangerous for me than a protection. That makes total sense to me, however, I don't believe I have it in me to kill anyone. I guess no one knows if they are capable or not of something so taboo until they are actually put in the situation. (I'm talking the average sane person here, not the wackjobs and gang members that seem to see it as a sport).
Gun violence today is becoming a common place thing mostly because people are all to willing to shoot off their gun when someone shoots off their mouth. This being said, no one EVER needs to own a fully automatic death spitting military grade gun. NO ONE. I think they should be turned into the military when you are discharged, they get one back if they reenlist but they have no place on the streets of any country where they can be wielded by revenge seeking people with low self control and no thought beyond the tip of their gun as to the lives they are taking.
Though I hate guns I would never deny anyone their second amendment rights to own them. As long as they are safe, kept in a gun vault or safe, out of the kids reach, and not taken out and showed to friends and family members how well 'protected' you are. This doesn't include the survivalists that are stockpiling guns and ammo for protection from the very government that gives them the right to bare arms. Yes, I'm talking about the militias out there that feel so impotent in their lives they have to invent conspiracies that the government is out to get them and they need to protect their family; from what, the government zombie Apocalypse? NO ONE NEEDS THAT MANY GUNS, THAT MANY BULLETS AND THAT MANY GRENADES. PERIOD! Guns should be used for imminent danger not your own private war. To add to that, no civilian needs armor piercing bullets. It's only purpose is to kill cops, owning them should be considered attempted murder of a police officer and carried out to the fullest extent of the law.
I know the current administration is trying to get their heads around what needs to be done to curb the violence and keep the most vulnerable ones in our nation safe. I don't think we will ever be able to do that unless we put those children in a prison like environment to keep them safe. They haven't done anything wrong. Children should be free to play and learn in a safe, open environment. Otherwise, we're just raising them like veal, ripe for the slaughter on the streets or in prison because that's all they know. And it really doesn't matter how hard the current administration tries, the NRA has attached themselves like leaches to so many politicians that they will blockade any and every attempt that might limit the amount of guns a person can have, shoot, keep in the reach of children, whether you are crazy or sane, you have the right to own and operate a gun.
My solution? I have to register my car, as it is a lethal weapon. If you don't know this, you shouldn't be allowed to drive. My registration fees goes toward (well supposed to go for) the upkeep on the roads and so forth. Guns should be presented and registered EVERY YEAR. It's not like we don't have the technology. Everyone has to register with fingerprints, serial numbers, makes and models and the general ammo that you shoot with it. Have the rifling patterns registered so when a gun is used in an illegal activity they know where the gun came from. Every year, those guns need to be scanned and updated. The sane honest people with guns shouldn't find this process as such a horrible experience as lets say the militia maniac who has hundreds of guns. If someone is caught in the process of a crime, or on the street with a weapon that isn't registered the are to be arrested for attempted murder because the only reason to carry a gun on your person is to kill someone. Now, if someone uses another persons gun and kills someone, not only is the shooter liable but also the registered owner, whether or not he knew that person has his gun. Unless he can provide a police report showing it has been stolen, like a car, he will be liable and just as culpable as the shooter. Hell, they can share a cell for all I care.
Fingerprinting can all be done electronically now, so people at gun shows can have a reader, or a person is read at the front of the show and an ID will come out with what they are able to buy. If someone hasn't paid their registration they can't buy any more guns. If someone has been reported as less than sane with violent idiations or fantasies, then that should send up a red flag and no one will sell to them.
The problem with this idea? Well, first, it will take money to set it up. The money earned from this effort would go to help the local police department, auditors that will go out and spot check and write tickets to people who haven't registered their gun, transferred the title or reported it stolen. The biggest problem I feel will be getting the militia to play along, they don't like the government to know what they have, the definitely don't want them sniffing around their property. If we are to draw our future from our past, many honest and hard working people will die because of one mans paranoia.
When will the killing stop? Will we as human beings ever stop seeing ourselves as disposable?
Showing posts with label Poly-Ticks. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Poly-Ticks. Show all posts
07 February 2013
02 January 2013
New Years Resolutions
For those that know me I am something of a New Years Resolution fiend. I have a theme, and how that theme will work in each facet of my life. My theme this year is HEALTH. And to be healthy I need to write. So armed with that ubiquitous theme I am going to resolve to do at least two blogs a month. I've been so self-absorbed the past year. Literally self absorbed to the point that I've turned my insides out and I'm still trying to put things back where they belong. Believe me, it wasn't fun. Maybe I'll share some of those lessons learned in the coming year, maybe I'll just share the bits and pieces that make a life worth the taxes we pay for it. No matter what it is, please hold on, as in most of our lives, it's going to be a bumpy ride.
17 September 2012
Feeling the Grrrrr in Disgruntled American
Okay, I get that we are in the middle of an election year. I get that the candidates, even the president, needs to put that somewhat first on his agenda. I get it. I don't like it, but I get it. What I really can't abide is a theme I keep hearing on all the news and political pundit shows:
This would actually be a good time to put in a reliable, secure BYOD (as in they bring their own device they've paid for instead up upgrading on the tax-payers dime) so they can be just as mobile and responsive to their constituents as we have to be to our subordinates, peers and management. (I'm not saying we need to run the country like a business, because seriously, you can't lay off the voters).
What are my political views, you might wonder: I'm undecided. I call myself a free-thinker because I look at both sides, see which one can do the most good, get the most done and then I vote for the lesser of the two evils.
If nothing truly is going to get passed until after November then why oh why are we paying them then? Some say it's strategy, some say it's cowardice, some say it's just politics at it's worst. But seriously, if they aren't going to work couldn't we save some money if we put the House and the Senate along with all their staff and toadies on furlough? That's been the solution for the smaller government groups like the States and Cities, isn't it? I know there will still be a need to have some people there, the paper doesn't push itself. However the rest of them that are just waiting for the Elephant or the Ass to take up residence before they do anything. The concept is equally repugnant and mind-numbingly inane that we shouldn't have to pay for it. Both sides are screaming for reduction in spending, here's one way they can cut the fat, trim the gristle and maybe show the voters they are willing to go from a fillet mignon diet to chicken for a few months."Nothing will get passed until after the election."
This would actually be a good time to put in a reliable, secure BYOD (as in they bring their own device they've paid for instead up upgrading on the tax-payers dime) so they can be just as mobile and responsive to their constituents as we have to be to our subordinates, peers and management. (I'm not saying we need to run the country like a business, because seriously, you can't lay off the voters).
What are my political views, you might wonder: I'm undecided. I call myself a free-thinker because I look at both sides, see which one can do the most good, get the most done and then I vote for the lesser of the two evils.
11 November 2011
Violence Against Berkeley Students
My nephew witnessed the brutality he's reporting on here and I feel it needs to meet a wider audience. Please re-post, respond, resend to anyone and everyone you can think of. It is our right and responsibility to speak out against injustice in this country, we shouldn't be beaten into submission. We are supposed to be living in a DEMOCRACY, aren't we?
Please take 10 minutes of your time to help California students:
Although the Penn State rape scandal and Rick Perry's debate blunder dominated the news cycle this past 48 hours, there is a much more horrifying story being pushed to the side. I was on The UC Berkeley campus when STUDENTS were assaulted and beaten by UCPD and Alameda County Sheriffs. Among the many students arrested was my English professor Celeste Langan, and Nobel prize winning Poet Laureate Robert Haas. These elderly, meek professors were arrested for placing their bodies between the students and the cops batons. Somehow, that qualifies as "resisting arrest."
PLEASE DO NOT ALLOW POLICE BRUTALITY AGAINST STUDENTS TO GO UNCHECKED. I am asking that you take 10 minutes to first read the link below explaining why the students are protesting, then watch the video of the UC response. I have provided below the E-mail addresses of some people who need to know your opinion on the manner. You do not have to agree with the protestors, or even be political to be against violence. What if the small girl who is hit first in the video was your child? Look and see what happened to these kids and voice your opinion! If you don't do it, no one else will.
If you do not want to write a letter, please forward this e-mail along.
Thank you for your time,
-Patrick Gartner, Junior at UC Berkeley
Links:
1) The protest was to send a message to the UC Regents. Over the past two years, the Regents cut staff and wages, increased tuition and gave themselves raises in the mean time. Now they want to increase tuition another 81%. If that was your tax-rate, you would probably march too.
2) This is a video of police beating students. I was personally there to witness this interaction. The cops said they needed to clear the fields to take down the tents, but this is a lie. At the time this happened the tents were already down! Also, I don't see tent poles in anyone's hands.
Voice Your Feelings as Citizens, Activists, Parents and or Tax-Payers.
EMAIL THE GOVERNOR DIRECTLY HERE: http://gov.ca.gov/m_contact.php
Addresses: Send a letter to one, some or all please! It only takes a few minutes.
EX OFFICIO REGENTS | |
---|---|
Jerry Brown Governor of California State Capitol Sacramento, CA 95814 (916) 445-2841 Gavin Newsom Lieutenant Governor State Capitol, Room 1114 Sacramento, CA 95814 (916) 445-8994 John A. Pérez Speaker of the Assembly State Capitol, Room 219 P.O. Box 942849 Sacramento, CA 94249 Mark G. Yudof President of the University 1111 Franklin St., 12th Floor Oakland, CA 94607-5200 (510) 987-9074 | Tom Torlakson State Superintendent of Public Instruction 1430 N Street, Suite 5602 Sacramento, CA 95814-5901 (916) 319-0800 Bruce Hallett Alumni Regent (President, Alumni Associations of UC) 1111 Franklin Street, 12th floor Oakland, CA 94607 (510) 987-9220 Lori Pelliccioni Alumni Regent (Vice President, Alumni Associations of UC) 1111 Franklin Street, 12th floor Oakland, CA 94607 (510) 987-9220 |
APPOINTED REGENTS | |
Richard C. Blum Office of the Secretary and Chief of Staff 1111 Franklin Street, 12th floor Oakland, CA 94607 (510) 987-9220 | David Crane Office of the Secretary and Chief of Staff 1111 Franklin Street, 12th floor Oakland, CA 94607 (510) 987-9220 |
William De La Pena, M.D. Office of the Secretary and Chief of Staff 1111 Franklin Street, 12th floor Oakland, CA 94607 (510) 987-9220 | Russell Gould Office of the Secretary and Chief of Staff 1111 Franklin St., 12th floor Oakland, CA 94607 (510) 987-9220 |
Eddie Island Office of the Secretary and Chief of Staff 1111 Franklin Street 12th Floor Oakland, CA 94607 (510) 987-9220 | Odessa Johnson P.O. Box 580595 Modesto, CA 95358 (209) 521-0887 |
George Kieffer Office of the Secretary and Chief of Staff 1111 Franklin Street 12th Floor Oakland, CA 94607 (510) 987-9220 | Sherry L. Lansing, Chairman Office of the Secretary and Chief of Staff 1111 Franklin Street 12th Floor Oakland, CA 94607 (510) 987-9220 |
Monica Lozano Office of the Secretary and Chief of Staff 1111 Franklin Street 12th Floor Oakland, CA 94607 (510) 987-9220 | Hadi Makarechian Office of the Secretary and Chief of Staff 1111 Franklin Street, 12th floor Oakland, CA 94607 (510) 987-9220 |
George Marcus Office of the Secretary and Chief of Staff 1111 Franklin Street, 12th floor Oakland, CA 94607 (510) 987-9220 | Alfredo Mireles, Jr. Student Regent University of California, San Francisco 500 Parnassus Ave. MU-232 East San Francisco, CA 94143-0244 |
Norman Pattiz Office of the Secretary and Chief of Staff 1111 Franklin Street, 12th floor Oakland, CA 94607 (510) 987-9220 | Bonnie Reiss Office of the Secretary and Chief of Staff 1111 Franklin Street, 12th floor Oakland, CA 94607 (510) 987-9220 |
Fred Ruiz Ruiz Foods, Inc. P.O. Box 37 Dinuba, CA 93618 (800) 477-6474 | Leslie Tang Schilling Office of the Secretary and Chief of Staff 1111 Franklin St., 12th floor Oakland, CA 94607 (510) 987-9220 |
Bruce D. Varner, Vice Chair Office of the Secretary and Chief of Staff 1111 Franklin St., 12th floor Oakland, CA 94607 (510) 987-9220 | Paul Wachter Main Street Advisors 3110 Main Street Santa Monica, CA 90405 (310) 392-7607 |
Charlene Zettel Office of the Secretary and Chief of Staff 1111 Franklin St., 12th floor Oakland, CA 94607 (510) 987-9220 | |
REGENTS DESIGNATES | |
Ronald Rubenstein Alumni Regent-designate (Secretary, Alumni Associations of UC) 1111 Franklin Street, 12th floor Oakland, CA 94607 (510) 987-9220 | Alan Mendelson Alumni Regent-designate (Treasurer, Alumni Associations of UC) 1111 Franklin Street, 12th floor Oakland, CA 94607 (510) 987-9220 |
Jonathan Stein Student Regent-designate 1111 Franklin Street, 12th floor Oakland, CA 94607 (510) 987-9220 | |
FACULTY REPRESENTATIVES | |
Robert Anderson Chair, Academic Senate University of California 1111 Franklin St., 12th Floor Oakland, CA 94607-5200 (510) 987-9303 | Robert Powell Vice Chair, Academic Senate University of California 1111 Franklin St., 12th Floor Oakland, CA 94607-5200 (510) 987-0711 |
STAFF ADVISORS | |
Penny Herbert Staff Advisor Program Human Resources and Benefits 1111 Franklin St., 5th Floor Oakland, CA 94607-5200 (510) 987-0217 | Kevin Smith Staff Advisor Program Human Resources and Benefits 1111 Franklin St., 5th Floor Oakland, CA 94607-5200 (510) 987-0217 |
Occupy Cal 11/9/11 PART 1
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