But we need to ban drag shows?

Report details ‘staggering’ church sex abuse in Maryland

BALTIMORE (AP) — More than 150 Catholic priests and others associated with the Archdiocese of Baltimore sexually abused over 600 children and often escaped accountability, according to a long-awaited state report released Wednesday that revealed the scope of abuse spanning 80 years and accused church leaders of decades of coverups.

The report paints a damning picture of the archdiocese, which is the oldest Roman Catholic diocese in the country and spans much of Maryland. Some parishes, schools and congregations had more than one abuser at the same time — including St. Mark Parish in Catonsville, which had 11 abusers living and working there between 1964 and 2004. One deacon admitted to molesting over 100 children. Another priest was allowed to feign hepatitis treatment and make other excuses to avoid facing abuse allegations.

That’s only ONE Diocese out of 194 in the United States alone. Given the previous reporting of similar abuses in other Diocese, if we presume even 10% of the criminal and immoral acts were committed over the same time frame (likely a low estimate). we’re talking about almost 12,000 kids.

Not to mention that this is ONE sect in the broader Christian umbrella*; as we see near daily reporting of other clergy/pastors being arrested for sexual abuse and/or child porn.

But ‘drag shows’ are the problem? Transgenderism is the problem? We have some serious moral rot in our society….but the self-proclaimed exemplars are focusing on the wrong problems. I wonder why……..

• No, I’m not ignoring Islam. I’m very aware of the culture of pederasty that exists in predominantly Muslim nations.

We’re Animals

The human race. At our core, we’re smooth-brained savages. Allow me to recap last night on the University of Connecticut’s campus in Storrs, CN:

“Yay, the sports team that I root for won the National Championship game!”

“I literally contributed nothing to that victory, but every utterance of said team will be ‘WE‘!”

“I’m so excited about my (‘WE‘“‘) non-contribution to dropping a round ball into a net more times than the other team, that I’m going to drink to excess and run around screaming!”

“Hey, what are these uninvolved cars doing sitting on their 4 wheels? They must be completely turned over at once!”

“Why is there no fire in that campus building, where I take classes? This must be rectified immediately! I’ll not have unvandalized property that my tuition goes to maintain left unscarred. My love and adulation for my sports team demands it!”

“Wait, why are you arresting me? Don’t you know hat ‘WE‘ won the big game?”

Sigh…….

The Militia = The People

A Substack post over at Stark Realities, should be required reading for anyone pushing gun control legislation; but they’ve pretty consistently shown that they’re not interested in primary sources or factual information regarding firearms. So this piece will largely only be read by those who already know it’s truth. Such a shame.

It’s a long piece, and I’ll excerpt it here, but I recommend reading it in it’s entirety.

America’s latest episode of mass homicide has sparked renewed advocacy for restrictions on gun ownership. Once again, the accompanying debate has many gun control advocates claiming the Second Amendment’s reference to a “well regulated militia” narrows the amendment’s scope if not rendering it altogether moot.

Before we examine those claims, it’s important to ensure readers have a proper general understanding of the Bill of Rights. Contrary to common misperception, these amendments do not bestow privileges upon American citizens. Rather, they are primarily a set of prohibitions against the government infringing on pre-existing human rights all people have.

That’s evident in the language. For example, the First Amendment begins “Congress shall make no law…” This amendment isn’t awarding citizens the rights of religion, speech and assembly — it’s outlawing the government’s thwarting of those innate and universal human rights.

Similarly, the Fourth Amendment asserts that “the right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated.” Again, the authors are not granting those rights, they are protecting them.

When the Bill of Rights was proposed, some feared the enumeration of a handful of rights could be misinterpreted as providing a comprehensive catalogue — and thus empowering the government to infringe on human rights not specified. That’s why they included the Ninth Amendment, asserting that “the enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.”

“Amendment II. A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”

With that understanding of the Bill of Rights in mind, we see that, via the Second Amendment, the founders explicitly asserted that there is a “right of the people to keep and bear arms.”

What about that reference to “a well regulated militia”? As we set out to scrutinize the phrase, let’s first observe that the Second Amendment contains two distinct components serving two different purposes:

• An operative clause that sets out a specific prohibition against the government’s infringement on a right: …the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.
• A prefatory clause that announces a purpose: A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State…

Positioned in the prefatory clause, the “well regulated Militia” reference merely serves to provide a rationale — and not necessarily the only rationale — for the operative clause that follows.

While the Second Amendment stands apart from the others in the Bill of Rights by having a prefatory clause, such clauses were common in state constitutions of the era.

Prefatory clauses were used to help “sell” amendments to those being asked to approve them. In this case, the authors were pointing to the necessity of an armed populace as the well from which militias are drawn — militias seen as a vital safeguard against the federal government they were creating.

In particular, America’s founders were wary of the federal government’s potential to create a standing army that could be used to destroy state sovereignty and individual liberties. Seeking to “sell” the amendment to drafting committees and state ratifying conventions, it made sense for the authors to highlight the link between militias and the people’s right to bear arms.

The Bloody Shirt Continues to wave

Another shooting, this one a bit different in terms of the firearm used as well as shooter themself. But what doesn’t change?” The legion of witting liars and unwitting minions, continuing the industry of false narratives and absurd fantasies.

I feel like reposting an earlier offering, because the same idiocy deserves the same response. But before I do, allow me to present a foundation that everyone should be able to agree on, and go from there.

Doesn’t any legislation, regarding such a weighty matter – need to be meticulously defined and ‘suit-proofed’? Legislation that proposes to turn law-abiding Citizens into felons if they don’t abrogate their Constitutional and Natural Right via diktat of the State?

Who dares disagree with that?

No, onto the the required response to those who would fuel said diktat:

I invite any gun control proponents [as I long have] to define the following:

“Weapons of war” – Please identify a class of firearms that have NOT been used in armed conflict. And explain why the 2nd Amendment wouldn’t explicitly include ‘weapons of war’?

“Military Grade” – Define please.

“Military style” – Define please.

“High Capacity” – Define please. And while you’re at it, please justify an arbitrary number of a lawful item, where having that number is lawful, but having one more than that number is criminal.

“High powered” – Define please.

“Assault / offensive / defensive weapon” – Define please.

Hunting – Please define what firearms are suitable for hunting and which, in your opinion, are not….and why.

*For extra credit, define “arsenal” and why.

Sure, I know that nobody is likely to try and define the above, from the gun control perspective. They uniformly never do. Because either they are confused when asked to define simple terms that they employ……or they know that they’re lying to you. And they don’t care.

But my point is this, legislation that seeks to curtail, regulate or restrict a Citizens actions with regard to a Constitutional Right……it should be deliberate, thoughtful and based on definable metrics and endstates…..not emotion.

Now….if you employ the above terms, I hope you at conduct a bit of introspection about why you do, and are honest with yourself that you don’t understand what you’re saying….and that we’re laughing at you.

Music Truths

I’ll take this this to my grave, this is the best cover ever produced in the history of ever. Sorry, you can’t argue against this….you’d be wrong.

And for a heretical hot take (may the Metal Gods have mercy upon my soul)…….I actually like this version better than the original. It made me question everything I knew about music when I realized who sings it…..

Typical discourse with a gun control fan

Arguing logic, law and Constitutionality with a card-carrying member of the gun control camp, is usually about as productive as trying to piss up a rope, but I had some free time the other day.

Gun control fanboy:

So what can be done?

First, universal background checks must be strictly enforced, and connected to a nationwide database. Gun purchasers should be screened for prior convictions of violent crimes, especially domestic violence. Gun purchasers should be screened for mental health issues. Mental health providers should be required to flag patients with mental health issues that make them a danger to themselves or others. The U.S. military and the VA should be required to flag all soldiers who are being treated for PTSD or other mental disorders that make them a danger to themselves or others.

Second, all guns should be licensed. All new purchases should have a seven- to fourteen-day waiting period, allowing sufficient time for background checks to be performed. A database of those who purchased and those who own guns should be available to law enforcement.

Third, all open-carry and concealed-weapon laws should be repealed, putting an end to the Wild West mentality in many states and communities. Only law enforcement should be permitted to carry firearms in public.

Fourth, the manner in which the government and insurance companies handle mental health treatment must be changed in ways that make it possible for people to get prompt, ongoing, and comprehensive care.

Fifth, school leaders must address the ongoing bullying crisis in public schools. Teachers must be taught to be aware of bullying and to take steps to stop it when they see it happening.  While I suspect it is impossible to put an end to cliques, schools must do a better job of fostering inclusiveness. Perhaps it is time to put an end to the jocks-rule mentality that dominates most schools.

Sixth, semi-automatic firearms such as the AR-15 should be immediately banned. Any firearm capable of firing large-volume bursts should be banned. There is no legitimate reason for anyone to own military-style firearms.

Seventh, large (high) capacity magazines and clips should be immediately banned. There is no legitimate need for owning guns with large-capacity magazines, nor is there any reason for owning clips holding dozens of rounds of ammunition. It also goes without saying that bump stocks such as the ones used in the Las Vegas massacre should be outlawed.

Eighth, politicians should be banned from taking financial or in-kind donations from the NRA and the gun lobby. The NRA, along with the Ted Nugents of the world, are part of the problem. These promoters of the means of violence should not be given larger-than-life influence over the political process. (As my editor mentioned to me, this would surely not pass constitutional challenge. Fine. Let’s reverse the effects of Citizens United. Let’s make public the names of ALL campaign donors. Let’s ban corporate donations, soft money, and the other endless ways politicians hide who and where donations are coming from. In fact, let’s federally fund elections and limit campaigning as Great Britain does to a short time before time election day. In other words, GET THE FUCKING MONEY OUT OF POLITICS!)

My response:

I can appreciate the emotion after events where people have lost their lives, but we should always strive to be factually correct, no? Unless of course disinformation is the goal, which many in the gun control camp have proven themselves (in their own words) complicit in.

AR pattern rifles (of which their are many, many varieties of) don’t fire any faster than any other semi-automatic firearm, the rate of fire is how fast you pull the trigger…..as with any semi-automatic firearm. Semi-automatic firearms also don’t fire “large volume bursts”. Nor, if you’ve read some other media falsehoods recently, do they render hunted animals ‘destroyed’. As evidenced by the many thousands who hunt with AR pattern rifles. But I mean, hey…..if you want to ban the AR-15 and call it a day, I could almost get behind that. Since it wouldn’t affect my AK or Galil.

And “legitimate reason”? I can come up with a hundred. It’s beyond absurd to me that you would grant the State the power to dictate what a Citizen has a “legitimate reason” in owning something explicitly tied to a Constitutional Right.

Now, I largely agree with your statement on background checks. However, they are already tied to a national system (NICS). It’s the individual states and localities that have been failing to submit information to the DOJ, that would prevent many of these criminal shooters to legally acquire a firearm. The only means to enforce ‘universal’ background checks however, is a firearm registry….which aside from being a pipe dream, wouldn’t net nearly half of the legally owned firearms in this country. I have unkind words for anyone whop would deny a Veteran the Right to Keep and Bear Arms, due to a PTSD rating.

I think open carry is foolish, but open and concealed should be legal. Yes, bullying on school should be punished. Parents should also teach their kids to defend themselves. Bullying isn’t remotely new. People committing suicide pr conducting a mass shooting, is.

Magazines. Here we go again with “legitimate need”. Whatever number you’d offer as the top end would be arbitrary and undefendable other than the emotion behind the offer. Gun owners already have broad definition of standard capacity and high capacity. We’re good with that.

But….I’m perfectly fine with the gun control camp directing all of their ire against the NRA. That organization is corrupt and ineffective. State-based groups and national ones like SAF and GOA are far, far more effective in the legislative and judicial realm.

This nation is trying to put a band-aid on a problem that isn’t the guns (which are more difficult to acquire than at any time in our nations history). The problem is the self entitled, leisure pursing society that cares more about disposable consumer goods and social media distractions, than they do parenting or protecting their families.

And the expected response:

I don’t argue back and forth with gun nuts. Disparage me by calling me irrational or acting emotionally—who wouldn’t after countless mass shootings?— I don’t care. Guns are the problem. We must do whatever is necessary to regulate and control firearms. Until we do, the slaughter will continue.

And:

Yes, we are coming for your guns.

Facts and logic aren’t necessary when all you need is emotion, right?

Linguistic Demonization

The use of labels to shape culture away from fact based narratives…….and toward emotion based falsehoods.

With regard to the shooting and the weapon in Monterey Park……I’d already read multiple accounts of sock puppets stating that the firearm was capable of “rapid-fire” (!!!!!!).

This is what happens when information (“news”) is passed to the public sans facts. This firearm, like every other semi-automatic firearm, fires one round for each pull of the trigger. This, other than minor adjustments of trigger weight, no semi-automatic is capable of what they refer to as “rapid-fire”. Which of course, they’re trying to equate these extremely common firearms with “machine guns” to the gullible public.

This morning however, they’ve amped it up a notch. In a press conference aired this morning on CNN, I was treated to a law enforcement speaker calling the firearm in question an “assault pistol”. He even specified “not an ‘assault rifle’, but an “assault pistol”.

They’ll be coming after our handguns now, without a doubt. Stay frosty.

I may or may not have a problem……..Updated

And my family may or may not enable me…..

Late entry…….daughter #1 just returned from England & Scotland on a trip with her Honors College. She toured a distillery and brought me back a little Highlands souvenir. ❤️

So…..who won the war?

Maybe I’ve missed it, but this year I haven’t noticed the hours of cable news bloviating, endless tweets and posts, and general harrumphing from the seasonal Karens…..over other people’s choice of holiday salutations. Was there a cease-fire? Salvation Army peacekeepers enforcing no-greeting zones? Did both sides adopt an irregular warfare model, laying in wait to ambush soft targets with a short fusillade of dithyrambs?

More investigation from the front lines is required.

One issue that I will stand firm on, is that the ‘Elf on the Shelf’ is a deep state Trojan Horse, intended to groom our youth into accepting State surveillance even within our own homes. I will not be dissuaded from this theory.

I hope everybody had a fruitful Fetivus yesterday, and their list is now cleared for the new year…..and new grievances.

The Trump GOP

I usually check out The Strident Conservative most days, and found this gem today. For those who don’t know me well (via blogging that is)…..I left the ranks of reliable Republican voters in 2000. I’m a card carrying member of the Libertarian Party, though I have some significant differences with the national platform. While I consider myself a Conservative, the mainstream definition has been perverted…..so perhaps I should switch to Classical Liberal. The Libertarian Party most closely represents my politics (extreme fiscal conservatism/extreme social liberalism/extreme self sovereignty). No other party, and almost every candidate of those parties are remotely close to these ideals. So I work for change and choice. I vote, and sans an LP candidate, usually vote Republican….on the rare occasion, a Democrat. Though I will not cast a vote on a race if all candidates (usually a ‘both’) are equally awful. So, given the effect trump has had on the GOP, I’m interested in pushback by actual Conservatives. I’ve found The Strident Conservative to be one of them…..although I don’t come at Conservatism from a religious perspective.

In the summer of 2016, when the Republican National Committee hijacked the Republican Convention to ensure Trump’s nomination, I wrote an article declaring that as a conservative, I had moved from being “Never Trump” to also being “Never GOP.”

The reason I decided to make this move was twofold.

First, steamrolling conservatives who were opposed to Trump’s nomination solidified the GOP’s standing as an enemy to conservative values. Second, selecting Trump as the Republican Party’s standard bearer meant the destruction of the conservative movement was assured.

This wasn’t a surprise. The post-Ronald Reagan GOP has been working on getting rid of conservatives ever since The Gipper turned over the reins to George H.W. Bush and rode off into the California sunset. Their work culminated in 2012 when Republicans changed the rules to ensure conservatives could be weeded out of presidential primaries, and in 2014 when party control was handed over to Mitch McConnell to wage an all-out war against the TEA Party and other conservative groups.

Since the 2016 election, Trump and the GOP have confirmed my decision by proving there’s not a dime’s worth of difference between them and the Democrats. We’ve witnessed fundraising groups like the Senate Conservatives Fund sell out to Trump, and we’ve been betrayed by so-called conservatives in the House Freedom Caucus as they sold out first to Trump and then the Republican establishment.

Sadly, the Gospel of Jesus Christ has also been severely damaged by Trump as the Fellowship of the Pharisees have traded morality and Christian values for cheap grace and a seat at Herod’s table. Jerry Falwell, Jr., Robert Jeffress, Franklin Graham, and other members of the Fellowship have not only given Trump a “mulligan” for his immorality and lack of character, but they have also attacked Christians for not supporting him.

The completion of Trump’s trifecta of destruction is, of course, the so-called conservative media. Once the defenders of conservative values, media outlets like BlazeTV have become pro-Trump echo chambers.

There are those who continue searching for ways to rationalize their #NotHillary vote in 2016, despite every fear expressed about Trump being realized. Using the same double-speak and lying used by Trump himself, these cult-like followers of the NY liberal will heap unconditional praise on him while scolding — or worse — the nonbelievers.

Trump’s Republican party doesn’t represent conservative values, which is why I am “Never GOP.” And while some continue to file me away as an “Orange Man Bad” conservative for refusing to bow at Trump’s altar, I’m also “Never Trump.”

I’m a Constitutional conservative and a Christian, and that’s never going to change.