Monthly Archives: April 2020

Its easy to forget just how quickly the rhetoric has shifted on the Second Amendment in just the last few years. For decades, we heard the same tired line from Democrats that nobody is coming to take your guns. Many including myself didnt buy into the assertion at the time, and for many of those who defended the Second Amendment, we caught quite a bit of grief over it.

Just two years ago, though, retired Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens called for acomplete repeal of the Second Amendment. Stevens is not a part of some radical fringe, he was one of nine of the most powerful members of our judicial branch. His boldness was quite a departure from then-President Barack Obamasdeclarationthat I believe in the Second Amendment in 2016.

Fast forward to 2019, when we heard candidates for the Democratic nomination for president such as former Texas U.S. Rep. Beto ORourke, U.S. Sen. Cory Booker, and U.S. Rep. Eric Swalwell declare their support of mandatory buyback programs for assault weapons a term that Democrats still struggle to define to this day. Mandatory meaning that if a law-abiding Coloradan decided that they wanted to keep the firearms they owned, police could come to their door to confiscate them forcibly.

Hell yes, we are going to take your AR-15, said ORourke from the debate stage just six months ago. The AR-15 platform currently one of the most popular firearm platforms in the United States today is used in upwards of 17 million guns in the hands of Americans already. Matter of fact, one of those 17 million is owned by yours truly, and I can guarantee it has never been used to harm the innocent.

Indeed, they are coming to take your guns.

Yet, here we are again, recycled rhetoric and all. Two new pieces of legislation have been introduced at the state level that will be heralded as common sense and not in conflict with the Second Amendment. The first imposes penalties if an individual fails to report a missing or stolen firearm (HB20-1356), the second requires safe storage of firearms (HB20-1355).

To many, these bills may seem harmless, but if the party of those proposing them has an end goal of eliminating or at least grossly infringing upon Coloradans right to protect themselves, why should we trust that these bills arent just a step toward that end goal?

It would fill an entire opinion piece to discuss why both HB20-1356 and HB20-1355 are bad ideas, so Ill try to be brief.

If, in fact, the goal is to curb gun violence, how does reporting a stolen firearm assist in that goal? After all, firearms dont have GPS trackers. Once somebody reports that their firearm is lost or stolen, how much closer are we to preventing that firearm from being used against innocent people? How does HB20-1356 even begin to save lives?

As for the second bill, HB20-1355, unless we plan to send law enforcement to every door to askifsomebody owns firearms andhowthey are stored, nobody will be charged with not properly storing a firearm, unless it is later used in a crime.

Regardless of the policies themselves which are borderline ridiculous I believe it is important to understand the endgame for all policymakers involved. Has anybody asked state Rep. Tom Sullivan, D-Centennial, the sponsor of HB20-1356, whether he would support a full repeal of the Second Amendment? Has anybody asked Colorado House Speaker K.C. Becker, D-Boulder, or Senate Majority Leader Steve Fenberg, D-Boulder, that same question?

When Rep. Monica Duran, D-Wheat Ridge, the sponsor of HB20-1355, says that Democrats will be bringing gun legislation to the point where its just as common as a health care bill, it surely seems to reinforce the idea that these efforts are simply an attempt to slowly chip away at the Second Amendment death by a thousand bills. After all, less than a year couldnt possibly show whether or not their legislation was effective, so why would they immediately propose new bills the next session?

Therein lies the issue. While the pro-gun control group Moms Demand Action was able to review the bills with enough time to arrange a protest on the day they were introduced, Republicans such as myself were unaware of the bills contents. Thats the way the Democrats want it. These bills arent about saving lives; they arent about finding a balance. Theyre about sending a subtle message to Coloradans: Hell yes, were coming for your guns. It just might take a while.

John Cooke, R-Greeley, represents District 13 in the Colorado Senate. He also served as Weld County Sheriff from 2002 to 2014.

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'Indeed, they are coming to take your guns' - coloradopolitics.com

While much in the world has been suspended or stopped, our efforts to protect and defend the Second Amendment must go on.

While we all know the most effective methods of communicating with voters about an upcoming election involve person-to-person interaction, current circumstances make that near impossible. Thus, we must adapt and adjust to make sure we are utilizing all the tools in our grassroots toolbox to make sure our fellow Second Amendment supporters are kept updated on the importanceof the 2020 elections, as well as all issues pertaining to our firearm freedoms. And as always, our efforts to engage voters is highly dependent onyou!

Below are some of the ways that we are reaching out to remind everyone of the importance of the Second Amendment during these uncertain times. If you are interested in assisting, contact us at (800) 392-VOTE (8683) orILA-Contact@nrahq.org, and we will put you in touch with your states Grassroots Coordinator so he/she may assist you. Or, you may undertake many of these activities on your own with your own networks.

Making Phone Calls:Now that more of the population is choosing to spend time at home, we are reaching out to them over the phone. Our goal is to remind everyone that with all of the declarations of states of emergency, now is an important time to stay vigilant in defense of our Second Amendment Rights. Make sure you are also proactively calling your family, friends, and fellow firearms owners as well, reiterating this important news and keeping them informed.

Sending Text Messages:One method of reaching out to voters that is relatively new in our Grassroots arsenal is to send text messages. Using a number of different systems, we are able to give volunteers log in credentials and then assign a list of voters to communicate with. The best part about this type of peer-to-peer text messaging is that you can actually see who responds to your message, and if the voter has questions, you can answer them in real time! As with phone calls, you too can simply create your own text groups and keep them posted with regular updates and calls to action.

Hosting Web Based Meetings:Another relatively new technology that your Grassroots Programs and Campaign Field Operations Division has used to expand our reach is our web-based meeting software. We have been able to hold virtual meetings in an effort to help educate and train new volunteers and campaign staff all across the country, and have taken steps to better utilize this software to stay connected during these uncertain times. As we host webinars open to our members and supporters, we will be sure to alert you and provide you with instructions on how to access these informative briefings.

If you would like to get involved in any of the efforts mentioned above, please contact us at (800) 392-VOTE (8683) orILA-Contact@nrahq.org, and we will put you in touch with your states Grassroots Coordinator so he/she may assist you. Phone calls and text messages can be done from anywhere into any of our election priority states, and we can use the web-based meetings to show you how step-by-step.

Its more important than ever that we continue to think and work creatively and strategically to make sure we and our supporters are as engaged in our mutual efforts as possible.

Act smart and be safe!

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Grassroots Networking In These Unique Times - NRA ILA

The two candidates in a runoff to head the union for Chicagos rank-and-file cops are both politically conservative. They are both fans of President Donald Trump. And neither sees eye-to-eye with Mayor Lori Lightfoot, especially when she takes progressive stands on police reform and criminal justice issues.

But both incumbent Kevin Graham and challenger John Catanzara Jr., the top finishers in the first round of balloting for Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 7 president, are talking up Lightfoots nomination of former Dallas police chief David Brown to be superintendent one of the biggest policing decisions of her mayoral tenure.

Brown, who awaits City Council confirmation, came to national prominence in 2016 when a sniper killed five Dallas officers. Cops under Brown killed the sniper by detonating an explosive carried by a remote-controlled robot.

That was a very tough call to make, and it was the right call to make, Catanzara told WBEZ. I give him kudos for that.

Catanzara made his name in 2017, Trumps first year in office, when the Chicago Police Department reprimanded him for posting on Facebook a photo of himself in his police uniform, holding a placard that said he supports his president and the Second Amendment.

Catanzara said his support for Brown is not without reservation. The FOP candidate pointed to a 2018 article by Brown about racial inequality, justice and policing in America. Brown, who is black, put an unfavorable spin on the police shooting that ignited rioting in Ferguson, Mo.

The article did not impress Catanzara, who is white.

He was bashing the police and making everything racially based and now hes coming here, trying to lead the troops [after] furthering the narrative that the police are the problem, Catanzara said.

In Catanzaras next breath, however, he gushed about Browns response to a 2010 tragedy involving the chiefs son, who had a psychotic episode and fatally shot two people one of them a suburban cop before he himself was killed by the police. Brown had his own grief but visited the families of his sons victims to say he was sorry.

It goes to speak to the mans character, Catanzara said. He had the humanity and the understanding that they needed obviously to hear from him and he needed to apologize.

Graham, elected union president three years ago, was the only local official given the honor of welcoming Trump to town as he stepped off Air Force One before a Chicago speech last fall.

Graham told WBEZ he has heard a number of good things about Brown. One of those is his ability to work with a wide variety of people.

The FOP incumbent said he is looking forward to meeting with Brown about a court-enforced agreement to reform Chicago policing: Certainly Ive heard that he is in favor of the consent decree. I am not. So I want to find out why hes in favor of it.

Graham said he wont make up his mind about Brown just yet.

The members of the Chicago Police Department my members have been kicked around for the last couple years and unfairly, Graham said. I want to know what he wants to do to try to bring the morale up around here.

But both of these Trump-loving candidates seeking to head the citys big police union say they are willing to give the former Dallas chief a chance in Chicago.

Mailed-in FOP ballots were due April 2. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the elections in-person voting and its ballot counting were postponed and have not yet been rescheduled.

Chip Mitchell reports out of WBEZs West Side studio about criminal justice. Follow him at @ChipMitchell1.

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The Conservative Candidates Vying To Lead Chicagos Police Union Support The Mayors Pick For Top Cop - WBEZ

To the editor,

The recent letter titled, Instead of complaining about imaginary rights, help us all get through the crisis, makes me sick to my stomach. As a military veteran who took an oath to uphold the constitution, I am confused by this readers assertion that our rights are imaginary. They are actually inalienable and written very clearly in the constitution, therefore, far from imaginary. I understand the readers concern for the safety of the people and himself, but we must be careful as a society not to give up these rights at times like this. After 9/11 we all gave up a lot of our privacy rights and we are seeing the abuses of that with the FISA court issues. We are constantly giving up our privacy rights to our phone carriers, Facebook, Instagram, and many others.

Now in the face of this pandemic, we are being deprived of our first and in some cases our second amendment rights. The first amendment says clearly that Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances. Peacefully assemble: I read an article this morning where a man was handcuffed in front of his 6-year-old for playing T-Ball in a park with her and his wife. Not close to anyone else. This is a clear violation of my non-imaginary first amendment right. A church pastor in Florida was arrested for holding services in his church. Arrested! Another clear violation of this non-imaginary right.

The second amendment is constantly under attack so we do not even want to pretend that this is not a perfect opportunity for some to try to infringe on that right in the name of public safety. This is not acceptable. If it is OK to go buy groceries in a store where the entire town is assembling, then buying ammo or guns should be equally allowed. As a matter of fact, there is no verbiage in the constitution prohibiting the government from infringing on any right to buy food, but there is clear language on the former.

Asking the public to self-quarantine, asking the public to avoid crowds, asking business to shut down, are all reasonable asks. But when the government begins to enforce these asks, then we start to have a problem.

For the reader:

Inalienable:adjectivenot transferable to another or not capable of being taken away or denied; inalienable: Inherent in the U.S. Constitution is the belief that all people are born with an unalienable right to freedom.

Imaginary:adjectiveexisting only in the imagination or fancy; not real; fancied: an imaginary illness; the imaginary animals in the stories of Dr. Seuss.

Our constitution was written by the founders of this country, not Dr. Seuss. We were born with these rights, they were not given to us by our Government. The Bill of Rights, was not written to control what we can and cannot do, it was written to control what the government can and cannot do.

Thank you.

Gary BrownPaso Robles

Editors note: Letters to the editor do not necessarily reflect the views of the Paso Robles Daily News or its staff. We welcome letters from local residents regarding relevant local topics. To submit,click here.

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Letter to the editor: Constitutional rights are inalienable, not imaginary - Paso Robles Daily News

Senator Chris Murphy attempted to tie federal gun control legislation to the Saugus High School shooting in Santa Clarita, California during an interview with MTV. In the background is fellow anti-gunner Sen. Richard Blumenthal.

United States -(AmmoLand.com)-One thing to keep in mind is when you look at what has been introduced in Congress, not all of the items are legislation. Sometimes, attacks on our rights can come in other ways even if they dont actually infringe on our rights, they hold the potential to shift the political landscape against our rights.

One such piece of legislation is S Res 110, introduced by Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT). This is a resolution, which would just be voted on by the United States Senate. As such, it would not have the force of law. So why focus on this one? Because this resolution would make it far easier to attack our rights. This is not a huge stretch of the imagination. This is very real, and you can understand why by reading the text of the resolution.

Murphy, who has been very active against our Second Amendment rights, is opposed to allowing those teachers (or other school personnel) who wish to have effective tools to defend the students under their care to receive effective training on how to use those tools. He cant argue against armed securitys potential to stop a potential tragedy after the West Freeway Church of Christ incident.

Armed attendees at that church stopped the potential mass shooting in six seconds. It is generally accepted that it took police about ten minutes to first enter Sandy Hook Elementary School, almost five minutes after the last shot was fired (per the New York Times). Roughly 600 seconds for police to arrive, and roughly 300 for the killer to do his evil (or insane) act.

For years, Murphy and other anti-Second Amendment extremists have used Sandy Hook to beat Second Amendment supporters over the head. It was a horrific event, and any person with a shred of decency or morality wants effective solutions to prevent a recurrence. For Second Amendment supporters, the morally imperative thing to do is also the right strategic move to make.

Murphy, though, has a much easier case to make, usually through the usual emotional manipulation. His argument runs along the lines of, Teachers are there to teach, to nurture kids. How can someone do that while carrying a gun?

Any mother who has a CCW permit can refute that nonsense. So could any teacher who has one that they use of course, not when on school grounds in the course of their lives. Does it make them any less capable of being a nurturing force? Second Amendment supporters know that the answer is no.

The real problem, though, given the media and political landscape, is convincing the American people that the real answer is ending gun-free zones. That is a long-term effort, and it will involve getting through the propaganda that Murphy and others will spread with the help of the media.

In the meantime, Second Amendment supporters should politely urge their Senators to oppose S Res 110. Instead, urge them to support measures like The School Violence Prevention and Mitigation Act of 2019, which would actually make a difference.

About Harold Hutchison

Writer Harold Hutchison has more than a dozen years of experience covering military affairs, international events, U.S. politics and Second Amendment issues. Harold was consulting senior editor at Soldier of Fortune magazine and is the author of the novel Strike Group Reagan. He has also written for the Daily Caller, National Review, Patriot Post, Strategypage.com, and other national websites.

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Below The Radar: S Res 110 - AmmoLand Shooting Sports News

Dont release inmates into our communities

Please do not release any prison inmates into the community.

I do respect the reasons, but in this case, the negative consequences of this action greatly outweigh its benefits. With all that is going on, it is imperative that we protect the safety of the community and not add to the stresses we already face each day. Remember the inmates are there for a reason.

Find an alternative facility to house these inmates, similar to the action of opening up a vacant building to house the infected homeless population. I applaud this action. If we can do it for the homeless, we can do it for the inmates. Dig deep and do it.

It is sad to say this, but the problem of prison overcrowding is not new, and we keep kicking the can down the road. It is so unfortunate that it takes a global pandemic to spur action, either positive or negative.

Ron Iwami

Manoa Valley

Able-bodied allowed on beach, but not others

Mayor Kirk Caldwell allows only able-bodied people to use Ala Moana beach. My blue handicap car pass is not sufficient to get me into the parking lot.

At age 75, I can only swim, and I have for most of my life. My ability to walk long distances is limited. The police cruise the park from time to time. They can monitor illegal parking. My letter to Caldwell was not answered and cars are still blocked from entering Ala Moana parking.

Its almost two months now that I have not been able to swim in our therapeutic salt water.

Carolyn Tsukayama

Palolo

Drive-through testing safer for patient, worker

Im glad to see that most people in our communities are taking the recommended precautions to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

Many thanks to Dr. Scott Miscovich of Premier Medical Group Hawaii and all others involved for starting up the drive-through testing sites around the state. Those two little tents outside The Queens Medical Center do not appear capable of handling large numbers of people with suspected infections. These drive-through testing sites are much safer and convenient for both health care personnel and people who may be ill.

On another note, it is disconcerting to see that the state is sending the Hawaii National Guard to assist in screening incoming travelers at the airports when those numbers are at an all-time low (Hawaii National Guard to help with airport screenings as state records 3rd coronavirus death, Star-Advertiser, April 4). It would have seemed more consistent to send them when we had high numbers of travelers coming into Hawaii.

Noella Takai

Makiki

First Amendment rights at risk from pandemic

After reading many stories about the coronavirus pandemic, I glanced at Jacob Sullums column (Will COVID-19 pandemic kill constitutional freedoms?, Star-Advertiser, April 4). This was something different, I thought.

Sullum pointed out how some politicians had already used the fear and anxiety created by COVID-19 to restrict constitutional rights and freedoms. He cited some Second Amendment examples. But they also could be used to restrict First Amendment freedoms of religion, speech and assembly.

The price of liberty is eternal vigilance.

Mark Saxon

Kahului

Stock market investment should be for long term

I am willing to bet any amount of money that a few or many people already have bailed out of their so-called investments in the stock market.

Rule No. 1: If you are going to invest in the stock market, it should be for the long term. The young investors today who are investing in their 401(k) plans should be in seventh heaven right now. They are buying shares that are dirt cheap. Load up, if you can.

The only time you will lose money in the stock market is when you sell. The market goes down, you panic and you sell. Youve lost money and you dont know when you are going to get back in. When the market goes up and down, its all paper gains and paper losses.

The best reference on why you should stay in the market is history. Since 1929, the year the Great Depression began. the market gyrated up and down. But, look at the trend of the stock market. It is always going up.

Albert Miral

Ewa Beach

Require food handlers to wear masks, gloves

As the coronavirus continues to ramp up, local government has called for stay@home and face masks.

Either the governor or the mayors must mandate that all food handlers wear face masks and gloves.

Ive gone to a sub sandwich place, Chinese plate lunch, malasada truck and other take-out businesses, and nobody was wearing a mask. Consider the made-to-order food places: Theyre talking over the food.

Requiring face masks and gloves for food handlers should be common sense.

Jeff Kino

Kaneohe

Working Americans shouldnt just get scraps

The CARES Act is financial crumbs for the American people in an effort to keep us quiet by giving us the bare minimum. Some letters to the editor complained about the country being in debt as a result of the federal government finally doing its job helping the working class (We need to prepare for future saddled by debt, $2 trillion CARES Act looks like socialism, Star-Advertiser, Letters, April 4). I wonder how many times those same people worry about the debt America has assumed by throwing billions toward foreign intervention.

Maybe, just maybe, the working people in this country could get a bailout instead of billion-dollar corporations for once. And maybe, just maybe, the disaffected members of the working class in this country could expect better from their elected officials instead of settling for scraps.

Saundra Ramirez

Aliamanu

KINDNESS GOING VIRAL

Even in these days overshadowed by the coronavirus, bright spots exist. If you see kindness or positivity going on, share it with our readers via a 150-word letter to the editor; email it to letters@staradvertiser.com. Well be running some of these uplifting letters occasionally to help keep spirits up, as we hunker down. We are all in this together.

EXPRESS YOURSELF

The Honolulu Star-Advertiser welcomes all opinions. Want your voice to be heard? Submit a letter to the editor.

>> Write us: We welcome letters up to 150 words, and guest columns of 500-600 words. We reserve the right to edit for clarity and length. Include your name, address and daytime phone number.

>> Mail: Letters to the Editor, Honolulu Star-Advertiser 7 Waterfront Plaza, 500 Ala Moana, Suite 210 Honolulu, HI 96813

>> Contact: 529-4831 (phone), 529-4750 (fax), letters@staradvertiser.com, staradvertiser.com/editorial/submit-letter

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Letters: Don't release inmates; Not all are allowed on beach; First Amendment rights at risk - Honolulu Star-Advertiser