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GraniteGrok

“Don’t let people who already have them keep them” – here comes the slippery slope

I quoted Chuck here in this post:

In the current state of play, moderate gun owners have become convinced by the NRA and other, even more radical gun organizations such as Gun Owners of America that the goal of all gun-safety advocates is to take away their guns. These owners view even the most reasonable gun-safety proposals with suspicion, fearing a slippery slope to a ban on firearms. This paranoia is what gives the gun lobby its power.

Well, looks like there ARE people, possessing sufficient power, to try grease that slippery slope.  Oh sure, there will be tender words from the Left of compromise and “no, we won’t take your guns away”.  However, their level of compromise, in taking advantage of this emotional crisis, will be this; if 100 is where we are now, and 0 is absolute confiscation, I have no doubt they believe that a 12 will be a “good compromise”.  Why do I think so?  Here’s just a few; I am convinced that more will come flocking out, especially as they see political opportunity to quickly move a Progressive goal of effectively disarming the populace, especially the red states.

  • US Rep Ron Barber (D-Ariz): I want to see legislation enacted that takes away the availability of these kinds of weapons that can do so much harm in such a short period of time
  • Judge Larry Burns: To guarantee that there would never be another Tucson or Sandy Hook, we would probably have to make it a capital offense to so much as look at a gun….Ban the manufacture, importation, sale, transfer and possession of both assault weapons and high-capacity magazines. Don’t let people who already have them keep them. Don’t let ones that have already been manufactured stay on the market.
  • NYC Mayor Bloomberg: he would go farther than the 1994 ban and outlaw all automatic and semi-automatic weapons and high-capacity magazines. The mayor said magazines shouldn’t be allowed to contain more than five or even three rounds.
And then NY Gov. Andrew Cuomo actually came out and made it quite plain what the end game may well be – a ‘0’:
Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo (D-N.Y.) said Thursday that all options, including confiscation and “mandatory sales to the state,” would be on the table next month when the New York State Legislature debates new gun control measures. The comments were specifically aimed at what might happen should stricter rules be imposed on “assault” weapons and high-capacity magazines.
Audio here:

Obama – the nation’s best gun seller

Well, it certainly didn’t take long for this running joke to become rather serious once Obama said that he will start playing politics with gun control (gun “safety” has nothing to do with it!) and that was like lighting the Christmas Tree at the start line of a dragway for gun haters everywhere.  We here at the ‘Grok have been blogging about this almost non-stop.  Yes, at the top level this may be about guns and certainly that word, and associated words, have filled our posts.  Yet the deeper levels, this has nothing to do about guns – and the political Progressives know it well.  At the bedrock level, this is about trust and control by politicians, and guilt, innocence and Freedom of the Individual.  Frankly, we see that Politicians, especially on the Left, are acting on pure emotion as individuals instead of sober minded, thinking policy makers that know better than to create public policy based on outlier events (for while being horrific events, and tragic events, these mass killings are certainly outweighed by the massive number of deaths of innocent babes in the womb by State sponsored / paid for abortions).

But that doesn’t come up as it spoils the narrative; they decry the death by the gun but not by the abortionists speculum, vacuum or chemical agents.

But back to the premise of the Title: two very recent posts have proven that Americans are in disagreement with the Freedom-crushers (as opposed to calling them mere-gun grabbers).  I also went to a local gun store this morning and range to get a feel for what is actually happening locally – and was surprised by what I heard.

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As former Senator Chuck Hagel (R Squish – NE) angles to be next SecDef, remember this:

(H/T: Looking Spoon) Groveling yet, Chuck? Former Nebraska senator Chuck Hagel is apologizing for comments he made in 1998 during a debate over the nomination of philanthropist James Hormel as ambassador to Luxembourg. Hagel came under fire yesterday from gay-rights groups for opposing Hormel’s nomination on the grounds that he was “openly, aggressively gay.” Hagel … Read more

Friday Humor – A physicist, biologist, and a mathematician…

I haven’t done Friday Humor in a long time.  Given everything that is happening around us, perhaps it is time to bring this feature back:

A Mathematician, a Biologist and a Physicist are sitting in a street cafe watching people going in and coming out of the house on the other side of the street. First they see two people going into the house. Time passes. After a while they notice three persons coming out of the house.

  • The Physicist: “The measurement wasn’t accurate.”
  • The Biologist: “They have reproduced”
  • The Mathematician:

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All we heard was “gay marriage was settled law – leave it alone!!!”

Settled Law.  Once again, we see that “settled law” is only for Statist legislature results and not Republican laws.

Yep, that was the mantra of the Democrats who rightly feared that the Republican majority would reverse the law.  We read “Move on!”, “you campaigned on economic not social issues”, “why do you want to hurt people”, and of course, the ever present “Homophobes” (which I have always chuckled over – I have no “fear” of homosexuals as the definition of the word states, but hey, when you merely disagree with the political aims and policies of one of the Democrat protected identity victim groups, be ready for the “you hate babies and puppy dog” attacks).

Anyways, the new NH Reps have been sworn in, leaders chosen, LSR (re: bills to be considered once fleshed out), and now,  the operational rules of the NH House (“how DO we do the things that we do?”) are to be hashed out.  Or, in this 3rd iteration of Really Big Partisan Majority session, what is going to get rammed down somebody’s throat?  It seems that “settled law” is only good for their side of the ledger – everything else is fair game.  Which is, pretty much, going to look like anything that was done in the last session that allowed more power and authority to Individuals; you watch, the Democrats will re-start the Progressive philosophy of re-accruing that power back to Concord and back to the bureaucracies.

Oh wait!  It’s “settled law” (ok, go with me here, “settled rules”).

Item Number One: Committee of Redress of Grievances

Last session, the Constitutional value of individuals seeking justice from the NH House (their legislators) was reconstituted.  Certainly the cases that reached them seemed to be messy but the intent was achieved – individuals had the ability, when all other avenues of help were closed off, to seek assistance in one last court, the General Court of NH.

Well, it seems that it is the intent of the Democrats to get rid of both the Committee on Constitutional Review and Statutory and the Recodification and the Committee on Redress of Grievances.  It also seems that the rules governing the redress of grievances will have no final court of appeal either, the Dems are about to eliminate this Individual ability  to right wrongs.  I received this from Dan Itse:

The rules committee meeting is today at 2PM in Room 301 of the LOB.  Anyone who can show up to put pressure on the leadership will be greatly appreciated.

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The Discovery Channel isn’t going to help with the McNugent meal anymore

Yes, Steve’s passing thought was a new item on the Mickey D’s menu, supplied by uber-rocker and hunter, Ted Nugent:

Introducing the Ten Piece McNugent.

Made from the freshest venison, elk, caribou, mountain lion, wild turkey, or any number of other beasts.  There’s really no way to know.  The only guarantee we can give you is that Ted shot it.

Sadly, the Discovery Channel has submerged Ted’s show into the deep vat fryer forever due to “poor ratings”.  Well, I certainly did my part as I liked watching his absolute “living to the max” in everything he did – here is a man that wasn’t IN a reality show, he WAS the show!  And like him or not, like the constant verbiage or not, he seemed to be very good at what he does.

I’d actually half believe it but Discovery also has decided to no longer run “American Guns” as well – a show about a successful gun shop that dealt in higher end collectable guns as well as gunsmithing a lot of cool items for customers.  Look, all reality shows end up have some “drama” put in them, but it was a decent show to watch and the emphasis on hard work, pleasing the customer, attention to detail, and that when it is all said and done, results matter (not intentions).  I did read that last season (its second) had ratings 50% better than the first one – after all, who can resist a show that blows stuff up at the end?

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No, we are not turning into a gun blog…but hate the demogoguing the “guilt”

…even if it might look that way.  However, as the issue of guns go for us, while almost every Grokster shoots (some WAY more than others), we see it as yet another infringement by Statists in determining what is and isn’t good for you as in “Why do you need that” and “I can’t understand why anyone would want that”.  And none of these Progressives just don’t seem to understand the philosophy of Freedom.  They miss the fundamental pillar of Freedom:

“it doesn’t matter if you don’t understand it – that is for law abiding citizens to decide for themselves”.

Like all Progressives, they never seemed to learn the lesson of “Mind your business” – even if you are a lawmaker.  Guns seem to always be of this particular Progressive flaw – they cannot accept the idea that people want to do stuff with guns simply because they want to.  Simple as that.  In a free society, must there be more?  Have we now turned into a Society (at least, that part that is not yet been absorbed by the actions of Government) whereby we MUST explain our selves?  And does that mean that we are now automatically guilty (at least in the hot button Progressive issues) instead of innocent first?

Well, according the Chucky Schumer (D-Progressive Socialist of NY) and Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Progressive Socialist of TX):

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Notable Quote – Robert Heinlein

“The human race divides politically into those who want people to be controlled and those who have no such desire.”  – Robert A. Heinlein, science fiction author   “…those who want people to be controlled” – Those that wish to oblige them? They be called “Progressives”

Quick Thought – Role of the State; what about Liberties?

From Tim’s post:

the New Deal settlement has been reshaping Americans’ expectations about the nation-state’s reach and role. Consequently, the U.S. federal government will continue to provide a social safety net, regulate the economy, and shoulder a substantial share of responsibility for safeguarding the social and economic bases of political equality.

The State is responsible for two things:

  • Respecting and protecting our Rights and Freedom
  • Protecting individuals

Even with some of the most restrictive gun laws in the nation,

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Boffo! Boehner & Boys are really burnishing the Repub Brand!

And the Establishment wonders why the Republican approval rating in Congress is at an all time low?  And that’s with the general population – imagine what it is with HIGH-information Right of Center folks watching Boehner’s climbing a thousand foot ladder on his knees to get Obama’s and Reid’s approval?  Thus far, what has all that DC Republican groveling gotten them?  And us, the base, watching Obama’s smile get larger and larger??

  • Obama starts out wanting $800 Billion, then jumps to $1.3 Trillion over 10 years
  • Obama is willing to only $850 Billion in cuts
  • Obama want rates upped on the wealthy over $400K (he’s out to destroy the rich – you watch) and he can now pin this on those hated Republicans.
  • Obama wants $50 Billion more in stimulus (er, what, we already spent $1 Trillion – and other than fatter Govt employee wallets, what do we have to show for it?)
  • Obama wants to control the National Debt unilaterally.

You known, Boehner didn’t learn a thing from the Prez Primary, did he?  Each and every time someone came out swinging, stood their ground, and stood for Principle, their ratings improved (yes, sadly, then they imploded on other stuff, but that’s beside the point).  Republicans appreciated someone standing for up what they believed – and defended them against those that stood for everything they were against. Sure, it was a primary when you have to appeal to the base, but given that the grassroots doesn’t trust the Establishment to begin with, there is certainly much angst in the base when they see what appears to be a complete meltdown of backbone from a PR standpoint “Ew, what will the Media say about us NOW?  Waaaaa!”).  Every time Boehner gives in, Obama wants more and gets Reid and Pelosi to continue Operation Humiliation; their Lucy to to Boehner’s football.  Obama is just laughing and laughing.

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Add on thought from my previous post – whose really is kidding who?

The Fiscal Cliff – such a crisis.  A man-made crisis created by Politicians that had 10 years to defuse it (the expiration of the Bush era tax cuts).  It does have real consequences – and in the end, won’t solve the two biggest problems we have: a $16 Trillion debt and that we are adding to it at over $1 Trillion / year.  Are any of these clowns in DC actually serious about the real financial danger they are putting us into?  Here they are talking about a $1 Trillion revenue over 10 years – and about $85 Billion in less spending over the same time frame (ok, I’m being optimistic).  Put them together and what do you get?  About $200 Billion per year “saving” if we do “Washington style  rounding”.

Again, we are at what seems to be a constant $1.2 Trillion in deficit spending per year.  Do our “Leaders” ever take time out from politics, do the math AND check that some of us actually watch them?  For all of the ink and pixels being used over this issue, how often do we see our MSM Journalists go “er, that isn’t going to pay the bills, is it?”

Hardly – even if we avoid this Fiscal Cliff with what seems to be a  badly stitched together patchwork will still be spending the magic $1 Trillion per year that we don’t have.  We’ve had 4 years of it thus far, piling up almost $6 Trillion in additional debt – there is no telling how much additional debt we would have if Obama controls setting the new debt ceiling – or the one after that, and after that, and after that….you get the picture.

Thus, this whole Fiscal Cliff is just so much horsepuckey in comparison.

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Senator Joe “I don’t know anyone that needs 30 rounds in a clip to go hunting.” Manchin seemed to enjoy himself

That would be Senator Joe Manchin, Democrat.  Who famously used a rifle during a campaign commercial vowing to kill the EPA Cap N Trade bill.  He certainly has touted his NRA credentials.  However, just like most Liberal politicians, he’s stuck the wet pinkie in the air and pivoted so quick his feet are 6″ in the ground now that the Progressives have turned a sad tragedy into a political cause celebre.  Sure, he said “I don’t know anyone that needs 30 rounds in a clip to go hunting“, but he certainly seem to enjoy himself while shooting this tricked out semi-automatic AR-15 WITH AN EXTENDED MAGAZINE.  Throw in a red dot sight, and he’s ready to go hunting too.

Senator Joe Manchin shooting an AR-15

Senator Joe Manchin shooting an AR-15Once again, we see someone taking advantage when it benefits him and throwing it under the political bus when he realizes it would kill him politically.

Consistency?  Hardly ever when it comes to Democrats.  He knows that he’s become a poster child for gun control simply because he’s made a big deal of his NRA credentials – so if HE says so-called assault rifles with big mags should be banned, well, that should be the end of the discussion.

Tell me, if you are looking down the north end of a rifle, wouldn’t you be thinking that ALL rifles would be “assaulting” in that scenario regardless of what it looks like?

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This will drive the Greenies at TreeHugger nuts!

Over at Breitbart is a post with this headline:     “Coal Use Set To Surpass Oil In  A Decade: IEA“.  I used to go over and post comments over at TreeHugger, as regular readers of the ‘Grok know, and bring the Lefty Enviro-wacko stream of consciousness back here just so that you see what the mindset is (which is, pretty much, you all HAVE to get with our program to save GAIA from our destructive ways).  Smaller is better, and that less is best.  Pretty much, everyone needs to be shoved into tiny apartments into urban areas because, after all, we have to be conscious firstly and always with the energy we are using and the carbon footprint we are using to stomp on future generations lives.  And of course, “white European Developed Nation Guilt” plays a large role in their sackcloth living mantra.  Betcha there’s much wailing and rending of said sackcloth at this:

Coal is set to surpass oil as the world’s top fuel within a decade, driven by growth in emerging market giants China and India, with even Europe finding it hard to cut use despite pollution concerns, according to a report published Tuesday.

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Blogline of the Day – on socialism

Asking a socialist to embrace austerity is like asking a prostitute to embrace chastity: it’s simply not part of the business model. I still like Steve‘s, involving “eunuchs at a fertility festival.”   (H/T: Instapundit)

And so the “caving in” begins over Sandy Hook and Political Correctness and lack of a backbone

Cheaper Than Dirt LogoFirst it was private equity house,Cerebus, unloading its Bushmaster gun company – I merely noticed it knowing that the California Teachers Retirement fund was vested in Cerebus and therefore, a part owner in Bushmaster.  Such a PR faux pas was not going to last long – and it didn’t as it is now set for “divestiture”.  Then Dick’s, a major sporting goods retailer, decided to pull all of its “black rifle” inventory off the shelves nationwide after the news came out that kiddie murderer Adam Lanza had tried to purchase a rifle there (which failed as Dick’s personnel followed the law, started to do the background check, and Lanza didn’t complete the transaction when the seller behind the counter told him there was a 3 day wait via CT law).  What they should have done is spotlight the employee AND themselves for doing the right things according to the Law.

Well, I needed a few things, so before work this morning, I went to Cheaper Than Dirt, an internet retailer of firearms and lots of other stuff, to buy them.  I’ve used them in the recent past, bought quite a bit of stuff, and their shipping and accuracy was spot on.  Well, imagine my surprise to what I found and the email I dashed off to them:

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OK, let’s relax a tad….I found this highly amusing!

Yeah, this should go over well on a political site: “To break some of the office blues, I decided to tell the worst geek joke I know: ‘Why did the Comp. Engineer get X-mas and Halloween mixed up? A: Because Oct(31) == Dec(25)!’ I can count on at least 4 of the geeky Groksters getting … Read more

Notable Quote – – Daniel Webster

“There are men in all ages who mean to govern well, but they mean to govern. They promise to be good masters, but they mean to be masters.”  – Daniel Webster   “but they mean to be masters” – They be called “Progressives”

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