Out with the new, in with the old

Down here in Orange County California we’re coming into an election year. Our current Sheriff, Sandra Hutchens, is appointed and not elected. She was chosen to replace Carona when he was federally indicted on corruption charges. We’ve had a rough time down here with our public office holders, and I think this coming election the people are going to let them know how they feel. I’m publicly supporting Bill Hunt as a candidate at this time. I feel his views are much inline with what I’d like to see in a Sheriff. One of the major talking points lately has been CCW (California Concealed Weapons Permit) issuance. Carona made it a point to issue CCW’s to people who contributed money to him, but not to normal, everyday people. Hutchens who is currently the appointed Sheriff revoked over 400 CCW permits issued under Carona’s term.

Now, the issuance and revocation of CCW’s falls solely on the Sheriff. Under California law there must be a ‘good cause’, which is deemed worthy by the Sheriff. Hutchens sees no ‘good cause’ in anything. While Hunt says he’ll issue a CCW to anyone for any reason, so long as they pass the background check and complete the required training. This is a huge improvement over the current system, and in fact, it completely eliminates any possible corruption in the system.

Now, just the other day a new candidate has announced his running, and his name is Craig Hunter. Hunter says that he’s going to be more open to ‘good cause’ statements. However, his statement really leaves it open ended for him to still discriminate if he so chooses. Now, the idea that the Sheriff can pick and choose who can protect themselves seems a little absurd. But, this is the world we live in. Fair is not a word that is used, and “that’s life” is what we’re accustomed to. Generally I’d have to say this is correct, but with a persons rights, and their own self preservation, I’m going to have to disagree completely. It should not be in the interest of the Sheriff, local government, or federal government, to limit the options in which people can defend themselves. We are the people that make up the government. We’re the voice that gives them power. We need to stand fast and tall and make our rights heard.

I had a friend send me a link which can be viewed at the end of the article. It was his justification as to why drugs should be illegal. Now, this is an interesting topic, and I’ve only recently begun to dig into it. However, I will say that I’m neutral on this topic at this time. I’m neither for or against making drugs legal. I see benefits on both sides, and thus can not make an informed decision. However, err on the side of caution, I’d be willing to go along with legalization to support the rights of the individual. Now, this doesn’t mean I approve of reckless drug use or driving while under the influence of anything. Moderation is the key to life, and infringing on someone else’s rights to get your high on is not, and should not be tolerated.

Read more…

Anyone who recycles knows that the CRV here in CA knows that we don’t get the entire “deposit” back from our CRV. The reason is we’re charged a flat rate, and then when we go to redeem our CRV “deposit” our recyclables are weighed. Well, some bottles are getting thinner, and the current weight:money ratio doesn’t benefit the recycler. Also, any unclaimed deposits are put into a general fund for CA recycling and environment programs.

I have no problem with the fund for the environment here in CA. I do have a problem though with it currently being empty because our state government “borrowed” the funds to pay for other things. So now what? Well, they need to re-pay the funds. They’re going to do this by implementing new legislation! I can see you’re just so excited already! Well, This new Senate Bill (SB402), is going to expand the current program to include a myriad of other items including cartons to be listed under this “bottle” bill. Now they can tax, excuse me, add a CRV to juice boxes, foil containers, paper cartons, and other items. Even items that don’t hold a beverage. Don’t de surprised if we start seeing a “box tax” on all items that are packaged to help fund our state.

I can’t believe people elect these fools. Who’s doing it? LA, SF, and Sacramento? Do those Liberal counties really speak for the whole for state? I find it hard to believe we can keep going this route before a collapse. Elections are coming up in a year (2010), and I urge everyone to vote locally for senate members you can count on to uphold a smaller government that values peoples rights. We don’t need more taxes, we need a more responsible legislature. Money mismanagement is rampant in our state and it needs to stop. Keep checking in here to see who is a straight talker when it comes to CA.

We’ve seen Obama promise a lot of change with his administration. However the only change that’s been put into effect is this new cigarette ban. The law bans flavored tobacco in cigarettes. So while it’s still fine if you smoke cigarettes, it’s just illegal to smoke them if they are cherry flavored. Clove cigarettes will be banned too, although not menthol. I suppose if they banned menthol, which is actually what kids smoke, then they might be considered racist. Funny thing to note. Philip Morris was the co-sponsor of this new bill. What a good way to get rid of the smaller competition on the market.

Seriously? Yes! The new FDA regulations say no tobacco can be flavored that’s used for cigarettes. What’s next? No flavored alcohol?

I understand they want to limit children’s ability to access harmful things, and I agree completely with the current restrictions on tobacco and alcohol from children. Well, I think alcohol should be 18 since you’re legally an adult, however I digress.

Somewhere along the line we’ve become sheeple. That’s sheep + people = sheeple to the people, or ahem, to the sheeple who don’t know. So, somewhere along the line we’ve become these sheep that the government can use as toys. We’re the demos, not citizens. If we were citizens we’d have a say so in our own lives. However the government is making it nearly impossible for us to even make bad or questionable choices.

I’m an avid firearms supporter and the reason is clear to me. If we give up our rights, even one of them, we’re paving the road in gold for our lives to be legislated out of existence. I know, everything isn’t a firearms issue. I’ll agree here. However, when we’re talking rights, it’s always about firearms.

So, in California we have the right to not be part of our child’s educations. We do not have the right to carry a firearm for self defense. And, we also don’t have the right to smoke cherry flavored cigarettes.

I, for one, welcome our new cigarette blanding overlords.

Just remember that chant as you allow more and more rights to be taken away from you.

Every day I wake up, and I have a goal. A goal that I can learn from yesterday and apply it to the present. After all, if one can not learn from their mistakes, they’re bound to repeat them. Well, that’s just what our appropriations committee and our senate here in California did. They went through and rubber stamped a bill that’s so absurd that everyone needs to be aware of it.

Ok, so California is a Liberal state (just a little, right?), and we have some terrible gun laws already on the books to “save the children”. However, do we need another fiscally negative bill to be passed given this economy and our current status as being BANKRUPT? Yeah, that’s right. AB962 is fiscally negative. It’s going to take money from other funds to support itself. It’s also going to limit the amount of sales tax the state takes in from Internet and mail orders. It will also have the effect of causing sport and recreation shooters to go to the range even less, because ammunition will be harder to get, more expensive, and tiresome to purchase.

So, what are the details you’re asking? If you want to read the proposed laws you can do so here. However I’ll give you a rundown.

First, all purchases of ammunition would be illegal to felons. Gee, it’s already against the law for felons to possess ammunition. Guess we need a double law on this one so they’ll think twice about doing it.

Second, all orders would need to be face-to-face. Which doesn’t sounds bad at first, however many dealers outside of CA are already not selling guns, parts, accessories to CA because of the restrictive laws. This would just add to it making them not sell ammunition either. Let’s also not forget that felons and gang members aren’t law abiding, so what do they care?

Third, it would require licensed “ammunition dealers” (yes, yet another restriction), to finger print and ID the purchaser. Now, you already have to show ID if you look under age, just like tobacco and alcohol. However now they’ll have a file on what you buy, how often, and in what quantities. So if you purchase some ammo, and some banger shoots up the town, you may be a suspect if your purchase matches what was used. Remember, innocent until proven guilty, right?

Fourth, there was limits on quantities that were able to be transfered if you weren’t a dealer. However those were struck down for being obscenely ridiculous.

Fifth, there is not money to enforce this. The state is broke… Why are we trying to pass laws that will cause the state to spend more money at a time like this? Violent crime is at an all time low across the country, yet we’re still looking to pass laws like this for no apparent reason.

Sixth, criminals don’t follow the law. If they did we wouldn’t have a drug problem. What do they care if we add another law? All we’re doing is disarming law abiding citizens. We have rights, and we need to stand up for them. If we lay down our guns, who’s going to stop the lawmakers from handing us muzzles and forcing us to wear them? We can’t let them win, we need to be in control of lawmakers, not the other way around. They work for us!

This isn’t about Republicans or Democrats. In fact you won’t see me siding with anyone on this blog. We need to enforce our constitution and hold everyone accountable. Elected officials work for us. They should fear us, not us fear them. We’re going backwards with our country and state. If our founding fathers could see us now they’d know they failed, which brings tears to my eyes.

If you would like to read more on this, you can read an analogy by other senators here.

Yes, that’s right. Joe Wilson when he spoke out against Obama was lying. Obama does not want to extend healthcare to the “undocumented” persons living here in the U.S. He’s said this many times, and I believe him on this issue. His voting record and previous statements made since he’s been in politics also back up his claims.

So, essentially, Joe Wilson was actually the liar. However, there’s one interesting point that should be shown here. Although Obama will not give health care to “undocumented” persons…

HE WANTS TO MAKE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS CITIZENS!

Yes, instead of sending the illegal people home, or anything else, he would rather give them the highest honor of all, making them U.S. citizens. To add insult to injury, he doesn’t even acknowledge that they’re illegal, they’re simply “undocumented” in his eyes.

When can the madness end? Can I have my country back now?

I’m fed up with everything. From the broken school system in California to the broken administration in the White House. I’m going to blog everything that comes across my mind from now on. Once I feel I have a good grasp on how I feel on important issues, issues that normal Americans care about, I’m going to write a book.

Watch out America, here comes some extremist with *gasp* American views!