Quote Of The Day

"Our lives begin to end when we become silent about things that matter.

--Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Not everyone is a fan of Dr. King. But these words resonate with anyone who believes in the basic human right of self defense. As a stalwarts of civil rights, the pro self defense community is not sitting down quietly while we watch legislation be introduced to slowly starve access to firearms for personal protection, and all other lawful uses.

Finally, A Glimpse To The Past

For years now, I have been searching for some information on my father, one of those from the "Greatest Generation" era who came back from World War 2 and promptly put away most memories (as best they could) of the hell they experienced.

I have his uniform, and learned from some of the insignia that he was on initial beach landings at either (or both) the islands of Leyte Gulf and Okinawa in the Pacific Theater of operations. But the man, an extrovert (its where I get it I am sure), was one of those individuals who packed up his wartime experiences in a box and stowed them out of sight. He didn't talk about his time in the service, except on rare occasions. Even then, it was minimal. I have a few black and white poloroids taken when he was in-country.

Best of all, I have his Bronze Star medal.

But I have never known for what action or actions he was awarded this honor. To him, the war was something he had to endure. To make a difference. To save a nation. But when it was over he moved on. He had lost part of his youth, but at least he came back.

Inquiries to the U.S. Army found that his records, along with records of hundreds of thousands of other service men and women from various decades, were destroyed in a warehouse fire in Omaha, Neb. in the 1970s. These were carbon copies (will I need to define "carbon copy" to younger readers?) of service records. Before the government microfilmed or computerized records.

Last Friday, the Ohio Military Hall of Fame for Valor (OMHF) held its annual induction ceremony of Ohioans who have distinguished themselves on the field of battle. I was not able to make the Statehouse ceremony this year due to my needing to catch up on business after a month of being unavoidably distracted by matters that are too bizarre to discuss here. Still, on Saturday I watched the proceedings on tape, and remembered my friend Bob White, a colleague who was one of the founders of the OMHF. who passed away late last year after a short and courageous battle with cancer. Bob will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery later this month, and I hope to attend the ceremonies.

Anyway, Bob had encouraged me to keep looking for the records that I had thus far been denied. Though dad's Bronze Star did not include the "V" device for valor, the fact that he had been honored with such, Bob reminded me, meant something important. Even if he put it all away, Bob had said, never forget his sacrifice. And I haven't.

Earlier today, I found what I had been looking for. Stuck to other documents from my father's high school days was the citation for his Bronze Star. I found it by accident while looking for some other documents at my mom's place. Caught in the middle of otherwise non-descript photos and notes about high school achievements. A call to mom confirmed for me that she had no idea the papers were here all along.

Here is what it says:

HEADQUARTERS 96TH INFANTRY DIVISION
APO 96
GENERAL ORDERS NUMBER 1023
23 OCTOBER 1945

AWARD OF THE BRONZE STAR MEDAL

By direction of hte President, under the provisions of Executive Order No. 9419, 4 February 1944 (Section II, Bulletin No. 3, War Department 1944), and pursuant to authority contained in Ar 600-45 (Decorations), 22 September 1943, as amended by Change No. 3, 25 April 1944, a Bronze Star Medalis awarded by the Commanding General, 96th Infantry Division, to the following named military personnel:

Technician Fifth Grade Eldon S. Greer (military ID number ommitted), Medical Department, United States Army. for heroic service in connection with military operations against the enemy on Okinawa island on 21 April 1945. When one of hte rifle companies ofan attack Infantry battalion suffered several casualties as it was making an assault on an enemy held hill, two of the casualties were in a position that, to reach them, required crossing one hundred and fifty yards of open terrain under enemy fire. Receiving word that the men were seriously wounded and needed immediate evacuation, Technician Fifth Grade Eldon Greer and the other men of the squad crossed the area under extremely heavy enemy machine gun fire and gave the casualties immediate first aid and under the cover of a smoke screen laid down by the line company, succeeded in evacuating them back across the open terrain and hence to the aid station. These heroic actions, reflecting exemplary courage and coolness under fire, are a credit to himself and the military service.

That's him. working for the benefit of others. I saw it in my youth and as an adult. He was that way back in the day, too.

I guess I know where I get it from. Thanks Dad! Both for your service, and what you gave me.

Obama and Justice(s)

President Obama has an opportunity to name his first justice to the United States Supreme Court. Court watchers, and those of us involved with civil rights as it applies to the basic human right of self defense, wonder -- and worry -- who that nominee might be.

But Dave Kopel of the Independence Institute pondered this question back in October, shortly before the election that brought Barack obama to the White House.

Read it here.

It Begins

I am a few days behind with this news, but late last month Sen. Dianne Feinstein launched an all-out assault on gun shows.

Here is the link to the story at the home page of the United States Senate. A number of other senators are chiming in on their belief of the need to deny private sales of firearms between law abiding American citizens.

The legislation is cosponsored by Sens. Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Charles Schumer (D-NY), John Kerry (D-MA), Ted Kennedy (D-MA), Carl Levin (D-MI), Ben Cardin (D-MD) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Jack Reed (D-RI), and Robert Menendez (D-NJ).

Said Lautenberg in offering this draconian proposal for consideration: “There is no rational reason to oppose closing the loophole. The reason it’s still not closed is simple: the continuing power of the special interest gun lobby in Washington,” Senator Frank R. Lautenberg said. “My legislation would require background checks for every gun purchased at every gun show across America and would help keep guns out of the hands of criminals. Without this change in the law, anyone – from felons to terrorists to fugitives – can buy a gun at a gun show, no questions asked. That needs to change.”

The gun lobby? That would be the American people. Citizens, taxpayers, grandmothers, aunts, moms and dads. But living in DC, wearing the blinders that come with power, these opponents of self defense continue to deny what is staring them in the face.

Frankly, I am rather surprised Kirsten Gillibrand is joining this motley crew. She has been largely pro-gun, pro self defense in her legislative career.

I can't help but wonder what has been promised to her for her support, or how she has been "threatened" by her democrat colleagues . . .

Please pass on this important story.

Suit Filed Against California Over Meaningless Handgun Registration Program

The Second Amendment Foundation, The Calguns Foundation and four California residents have filed a lawsuit challenging a California state law and regulatory scheme that arbitrarily bans handguns based on a roster of “certified” handguns approved by the State.


According to SAF, this case parallels a similar case filed in Washington, DC, Hanson v. District of Columbia.California uses this list despite a ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court last summer that protects handguns that ordinary people traditionally use for self-defense, and a recent ruling by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals that the Second Amendment applies to state and local governments. The California scheme will eventually ban the purchase of almost all new handguns.


Attorney Alan Gura, representing the plaintiffs in this case, noted that California “tells Ivan Peña that his rights have an expiration date based on payment of a government fee. Americans are not limited to a government list of approved books, or approved religions,” he said. “A handgun protected by the Second Amendment does not need to appear on any government-approved list and cannot be banned because a manufacturer does not pay a special annual fee.”


For the full story, go here. Details on the case filings can be found by clicking here. Pass it on.

Justice Souter To Step Down

News reports tonight are stating that U.S. Supreme Court Justice David Souter plans to step down from the high court soon. This would give President Obama his first appointment to the Supreme Court.


Souter, appointed by President George H.W. Bush, has voted regularly with the liberal minority of the court, and was instrumental in the Kelo opinion that outraged Americans. The decision stated that governments can use eminent domain to seize property for economic development purposes, and not just for building off-ramps or expanding insfrastructure.


In the Heller decision in 2008, which affirmed what the U.S. Constitution and its Bill of Rights affirmed (the individual right to possess a firearm), Souter sided with the minority opinion. The minority opinion argued that the majority's broad interpretation of the Second Amendment is inconsistent with the Framers' original intent. IMHO, Souter's minority opinion, penned by Justice Stevens, is inconsistent with the Framers' original intent. This is borne out by reading historical documents of the time.


Nevertheless, Souter has not been a friend of lawful firearms ownership. It pretty much goes without saying that the president's appointment will be of the same mindset.

Carter Got It Wrong; His Beef Is With The Constitution, Not the NRA

A couple of posts ago, I linked to an op-ed piece by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, where he lamented that the Obama administration isn't doing enough about gun control.

Personally, until they have a filibuster proof majority in the U.S. Senate, I don't think most anti gun liberals have the stones to go there right now. Plus there is swine flu and an economic disaster that is the U.S. economy that should take priority over everything else. But then, true need rarely dissuades an anti-gunner from pushing pell-mell ahead with some emergency based on emotion. Some have suggested they are waiting until just after 2010, when all seats in the U.S. House of Representaties are up for grabs. If the anti's keep a majority of seats, they might strike then.

Anyway, John Longenecker, whose columns I have to from time to time posted on TRL, makes an excellent point in a response piece he wrote for Examiner.com. In the New York Times column, Carter makes the spurious claim that it is the NRA is insisting that everyone own a gun.

Not so fast, Longenecker replies.

Says Longenecker, it is the U.S. Constitution, in particular the Bill of Rights, that provides that United States citizens be sovereign, rather than servants.

Read his entire piece by clicking here. It is definitely worth passing along.

Spector Switches Sides In U.S. Senate; Gives Dems Potential Fillibuster Proof Majority

Arlen Spector, a long-time republican senator from Pennsylvania today switched political parties and now will caucus with the democrats.


The move by the mostly pro-gun political liberal gives the anti-gun liberal majority in the U.S. Senate the potential for a filibuster proof majority. Spector has voted against most gun control regs in the past, but has largely been a social liberal, often infuriating people within his own party. He was one of the few to support President Obama's economic stimulus package, which has done little to lift the U.S. economy.


While the firearms and self defense community likely will continue to receive Mr. Spector's vote, it may be harder to filibuster draconian legislation that would infringe on the basic human right to self defense should anti-gun lawmakers decide to push something like that through.


The move, says, The Politico newspaper, puts Obama "one step closer to unfettered power in Washington DC." Spector reportedly had been in secret negotiations with Senate democrats for months on a possible move.