There is plenty of good news out there; like Saddam is standing in line awaiting his first installment of the promised 77 virgins… good luck with that one, Saddam. The good news can be found at many non-MSM sites. Scroll down and click on CENTCOM under my ‘Intel Sources.’ There are some really good news articles there.
I wish everyone a very Happy New Year, blessed with health and posperity!
God bless you all (or for my southern readers, ya’ll).
Read this story from ‘WorldNetDaily;’ obviously one of the ‘law-abiding’ people who came to his country (illegally?) seeking one of the jobs that Americans won’t accept. Right?
This is an opinion piece and not intended to represent an interpretation of existing laws pertinent to any specific state, city, town, etc.
References; both via ‘WorldNetDaily.’
3 home intruders shot dead in Albuquerque
Identities of River Road intruders, homeowner released
The right to employ lethal force in self defense is an emotional issue for many people. Some say one person should never willingly take the life of another human no matter the circumstances; others adamantly argue that one has every right to defend self, family and property with whatever force is necessary. Some states having recently reauthorized its citizens to us lethal force has gone so far as to include the defense of others who are in a recognizably life threatening situation.
Before I disclose my opinion, which will probably be no surprise to those who have followed my writings, let me first explore humanity somewhat. Without stereotyping a time period; when I was young, my parents did not lock the house when they departed, nor did they lock the car when it was left to go shopping, or site seeing. People generally had a basic respect for the rights of others and the predatory nature of criminals had not become so bold as to break into someone’s home or car to steal what did not belong to them. Theft was oriented more toward businesses than private citizens. Today, inhibitions toward entering a private home to steal are no longer evident. Criminals prey on any source and homes are just another source.
During the hay day of the anti-gun lobby, many laws were enacted that required a victim to “first flee.” In other words, if a homeowner suspected or encountered a home invader, that homeowner was required by law to attempt to flee the situation. Wow, what a boon for the practicing criminal; break into a home and if the home owner is encountered he/she must by law flee away from you. (Which side of the political spectrum do you think was responsible for that notion?)
Fortunately, many states and communities have come to finally recognize that citizens have a constitutional right to own firearms and have a basic right to protect themselves, their family and their possessions. The threat of encountering an armed homeowner is in fact a deterrent to crime. That also applies to personal crimes (assault, rape, etc.) when the threat of encountering an armed citizen is high. Most criminals are not so dedicated to their profession that they are willing to die while practicing their lawlessness.
I wholeheartedly support responsible citizens being armed and I wholeheartedly support the use of lethal force in defense of life and property. I will not attempt to define a “responsible citizen” other than to say that common sense must apply. I have no problem with the sale of firearms including an instantaneous national agency check, but I also realize felons who wish to purchase a gun will not do so legitimately. I also have no problem with responsible citizens carrying firearms in public – concealed or in the open. I do not feel threatened by fellow citizens being armed.
Interestingly, the cities with the highest personal violent crime rates are those with the strictest gun control laws. Criminals thrive in areas where they perceive an advantage; and they perceive unarmed victims to be to their advantage. Personal crimes and home invasions are lower in areas where the threat of encountering an armed victim is higher.
If someone breaks into my home, they will be well advised to be certain that I am not home, because if I am home, the only way they will exit my home is on a gurney – most likely in a body bag. I am one of those people who have basically no tolerance for those who criminally prey on others. I have it settled in my mind that I can and will shoot anyone who breaks into my home or who I determine to be a lethal threat to my family. I have also decided that I will use lethal force should I come upon someone else whose life is immediately threatened by another.
Not everyone is suited to accept arming themselves or to predetermine what action they will take under certain circumstances. In this day and age, it is advisable to give serious thought to possibilities and determine now what action, if any, you will take.
So reads the title to this NewsMax article. From the article:
Two civil rights groups filed a lawsuit Tuesday challenging a suburb’s new law that outlaws renting to illegal immigrants, alleging the ordinance violates federal law and forces landlords to act as immigration officers.
The American Civil Liberties Union and the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund filed the suit on behalf of Farmers Branch residents and landlords.
…“Immigration enforcement must be left to the federal government, not each local municipality,” said Lisa Graybill, legal director of the ACLU of Texas. “Otherwise Texas will end up with a patchwork system that is impractical and unenforceable.”
…In November, City Council members unanimously approved having property managers or owners verify the immigration or citizenship status of apartment renters. Council members also approved resolutions making English the city’s official language and allowing local authorities to become part of a federal program so they can enforce immigration laws.
There may be some contention about the means used by the Farm Branch City Council to enact such a law, but the idea of requiring landlords to verify immigration or citizen status prior to renting apartments or homes seems absolutely reasonable to me. The idea that only the federal government may enact laws to enforce (or fail to enforce) immigration is a socialist/communist tendency (which explains the ACLU involvement). Communities that take positive steps to help counter the effects of illegal immigration should be applauded, not prosecuted. Of course the more governments (town, city, county and state) that get involved in trying to counter illegal immigration, the greater the task for the ACLU to fight the various entities/laws.
Former President Gerald Ford Dies at 93. ‘Breitbart.com’ has a great article written about the former president; however, absent from the article is the fact that Gerald Ford served his nation in the uniform of the United States Navy during World War II. He served from 1942 to 1946 and saw service aboard the USS Monterey in the Pacific Theater. President Ford was a national hero who ascended to the oval office in a time of great need in our nation’s history. He served his nation well. Thank you, President Ford, for your service to this great nation. May your family be comforted and blessed by God in this time of great sorrow and need.
Reference material:
Wash. Capitol: Menorah OK, Nativity Scene Not
New York Village Would Rather Remove 9-Foot Menorah than Allow Nativity Scene
Nativity Scene or Creche (Please pardon my use of Wiki.)
The First Amendment to The Constitution of the United States reads, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;”
This season, the Christian celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ and Jewish celebration of Chanukah seem to bring out the worst in the secularists. Cities, towns, schools communities are threatened with lawsuits at the mere mention of displaying a Christian Nativity Scene and Jewish Menorah. Why? Seemingly because such displays violate the First Amendment to The Constitution of the United States. In some way people twist the display of a creche or menorah to be a “law respecting the establishment of religion.” Was I asleep when the Congress voted to pass a bill designating the Methodist faith as the national church with financial support to be paid out of the U.S. Treasury? The MSM obviously missed the huge signing ceremony at the White House, consummating into law the bill passed by Congress.
Look, my point is this; there is a significant and common sense difference between an institution, whether it is a town or city government or a school system, ‘recognizing’ a celebration of a religious body and the ‘establishment of religion.’ Allowing or even purchasing and displaying a creche and/or menorah does not constitute the ‘establishment of religion.’ It is merely an exercise in good manners by ‘recognizing’ the celebration of the believers during the period of a national holiday. Those who believe they are threatened by the public display of a nativity scene or menorah obviously have insecurity issues which should probably be treated.
It is time for Common Sense to be exhumed, revived and profusely practiced throughout our citizenry. Secularists, progressives, socialists are not physically threatened in any manner by Christians and Jews. Worst case; the secularist, socialist, progressive ideology of no personal responsibility is threatened by Christianity and Judaism which demands personal accountability. But, isn’t personal accountability what our laws are about?
At any rate, there have been no laws passed ‘establishing religion’ so it’s time to stop bellyaching about those who wish to celebrate the greatest story ever told.
At the close of today’s work the end of the roof with the gabled porch is covered with sheeting along with half of the porch. That is where it will stay until after Christmas because rain is moving into the area. For reference, that is the back of the house. The ridge (roof peak) is about 20 feet off the ground. The ridge for the roof over the main house (to the left) will be about 32 feet above the ground. That roof will take a lot more time to frame and sheet. I’ll try to take a picture of the framing of the main roof for comparison.
Merry Christmas, all!
To My Moral Relativist and Secular Progressive Readers:
Please accept with no obligation, implied or implicit, my best wishes for an environmentally conscious, socially responsible, low-stress, non-addictive, gender-neutral celebration of the winter solstice holiday, practiced within the most enjoyable traditions of the religious persuasion of your choice, or secular practices of your choice, with respect for the religious/secular persuasion and/or traditions of others, or their choice not to practice religious or secular traditions at all.
I also wish you a fiscally successful, personally fulfilling and medically uncomplicated recognition of the onset of the generally accepted calendar year 2007, but not without due respect for the calendars of choice of other cultures whose contributions to society have helped make America great. Not to imply that America is necessarily greater than any other country nor the only America in the Western Hemisphere. Also, this wish is made without regard to the race, creed, color, age, physical ability, religious faith or sexual preference of the wishee.
By accepting these greetings, you are accepting the aforementioned terms as stated. This greeting is not subject to clarification or withdrawal. It is freely transferable with no alteration to the original greeting. It implies no promise by the wisher to actually implement any of the wishes for herself/himself/others, and is void where prohibited by law and is revocable at the sole discretion of the wisher. This wish is warranted to perform as expected within the usual application of good tidings for a period of one year or until the issuance of a subsequent holiday greeting, whichever comes first, and warranty is limited to replacement of this wish or issuance of a new wish at the sole discretion of the wisher.
To My Conservative Readers:
Merry Christmas
and
Happy New Year!
Jason the ‘Texas Rainmaker‘ has a short but well aimed article entitled, “Jobs Americans Won’t Do?” It is in reference to a statement made by the President which included a description that (illegal) immigrants are “doing jobs that Americans will not do…” and the response of people applying for the jobs suddenly vacated in Greeley, Colorado when ICE raided one of the Swift meat processing plants. It seems there are quite a few Americans who would like a chance to do the job(s) being done by illegal aliens. I guess that’s just one more cliche out the window…
Old Soldier 