I saw my grandfather tonight.  I picked him up and drove him to my neice’s preschool program.  We laughed.  It was cute.  When we got back to his house, I asked if I could talk to him about something.  After many months of obvious blindness it all came together and dawned on me that a friend I care about very much might be suffering through the effects of his recent military service in Iraq.  I have spent the last few days learning as much as I can about PTSD and treatments. 

Because my grandfather served in WWII, Korea and Vietnam, I thought he might be able to give me some insight into how to help my friend.  All he could suggest was to be a good friend and a good listenter.  It’s good advice.  Then, he told me things I don’t think he has ever told anyone in the family before.  He won’t talk about his wartime stories unless they are funny stories - something I’ve noticed in other veterans. 

He told me he still sees their faces vividly.  He recounted being in Vietnam where he shot a man in the leg with a tracer round and could see it smoldeirng in the man’s leg.  The man was in pain and trying to scrape the round out of his flesh.  He told me about seeing the man who they shot with a machine gun - from the dirt on up the man’s body.

He told me about what it was like when his tank crashed through the gates of a concentration camp in Germany and what he saw, what he smelled.  They went to nearby homes and looted food and brought it back to the people in the camp.  He described the ovens and the bodies piled up next to them like cords of wood.

He can’t remember what he ate for lunch or where he went yesterday, but the memories of his combat experience are as vivid as they ever were.  I asked him if the memories of these things strike at random moments and if he is still having nightmares.  He said the frequency of the memories has diminished over time and that he is sleeping well.  Finally.  He is 83.

The grand finale of my neice’s preschool program was a patriotic number.  These innocent little children singing patriotic songs and waiving flags - I was having trouble holding back tears.  What have we become as a country.  Patriotism is not fasionable anymore.  People who put their lives on the line and ended up scarred by their trip through the “meat grinder” are not taken care of as they should be.  The things they have seen and endured most of us will never understand.  It’s heartbreaking.

It’s true - I read it on the web.  Try to Google: “Guns Kill People”  I did and what I found was astounding.  Right now I’m staring down my own gun wondering when it’s going to jump up and kill me once and for all.   I wonder if it has some secret plot.  A plot created in the dead of night, deep inside the closet along with the other guns.

Glock: “Pst . . . Remintgon, wake up!  I have a plan.

Walther: “Wha . . . who’s there?”

Glock: “Shhhh you idiot.  I have a plan for  our escape.” 

Remington: “Let’s hear it you gorgeous polymer genius.”

Glock: “We need to prepare ourselves.  Make sure you eat  . . . fill yourselves up good - preferably with Gold Dot and you Remington, load up with slugs.  Then, we wait.  We wait for that woman to open the closet door and when she does . . . we all shoot and run.  Run, run like the wind.  Run for gun freedom out into open where we will liberate other imprisoned guns and start an army that will kill people!”

Bersa: “¡Tranquilidad! Usted ha disturbado mi sueño.”

Yes!  I can see it now.  I’m going to stop their plans to overthrow my rule.  Those jerks!

As you can see, I’m not quite sure what to do.  My guns are plotting to kill me and possibly many others.  I think they’re probably hoarding ammo somewhere. 

I am so glad I did that Google search or I would not know that guns kill people.  I can’t believe that we allow psychopathic, murderous firearms in people’s homes.  Terrifying!  Up until just today I have never been afraid of my own guns turning their awesome power against me.    I live with four murderous psychopaths.  They must be stopped.

During my web searching, I read so much uninformed information about guns, gun laws and gun users that it’s more disturbing to me than the four guns in this house that want me dead.  Here are some fun quotes:

Published in US News, April 14, 2007, “Guns Kill People, Period.”

The Second Amendment, a biblical passage to its followers, may give a right to bear arms. It does not, however, give a license to kill. Try telling it to the NRA.

That is absolutely ridiculous.  I wonder if the writer of this marvelous passage, John W. Mashek, knows that killing people is illegal.  Hmmm . . . killing is not a right protected by the Constitution.  But, because some people kill, we should just white out parts of the Constitution that the founders of this country found so important?  Because some people smoke pot and call it religion or like to marry little girls should we do away with the first ammendment right to freedom of expression?  NO!  We punnish the pot smokers and little girl marriers and leave the good, honest, law-abiding citizens to think, say and do as they please.  Great idea.

Published in http://www.blogsandiego.com/guns_kill.html, October 3, 2006 “Yes NRA, Guns DO Kill People”

Speaking of how his father died “He was helping in an FBI investigation about how weapons were being modified to become fully automatic when one of the firearms did just that. So when I say guns kill people, I know what I’m talking about. Come on folks! Think this through. Don’t believe the hype of the NRA when they tell you that it’s not the guns. It is the guns.”

I feel sad that this person lost a loved one.  However, guns are inanimate things and the don’t just “go off.”  An animate object must be present to activate the mechanism in the inanimate object to make it fire.  Really, it’s not the guns.  I’ve had one sitting here on my coffee table all night and it hasn’t moved one inch.  It’s the people who use the guns for ill that are the problem.  It’s the people who drive drunk that are the problem, not the car. 

Published in http://www.anorak.co.uk/twitterings/172597.html, April 17, 2007 “Guns Kill People - Virginia Tech“

What I would like is for the gun-toting right wing to admit that there is a price we pay, that senseless accidental deaths and traumas are a national cost and that it’s not so clear that it’s worth it, but hey, we pay it anyway because so many guns are in the hands of so many people that there would never be any getting rid of them.

I would like the right wing to admit that guns are not “good” and that the right to bear arms is not an absolute virtue and that the deaths in the US caused by guns are at least as problematic, philosophically, as abortion. But I’m not holding my breath.”

First - this came from the UK.  That’s all I need to say, but I can’t help myself:

1) “gun toting right wing” Guess what?  There’s a gun-toting left wing, too.  Guns are non-partisan and plenty of liberals are in favor of gun rights. (Point of interest: I haven’t asked my murderous psychotic guns which party they belong to . . . yet!)

2) “senseless accidental deaths and traumas are a national cost”  True!  A whopping 789 people die a year from firearms accidents.  Those are tragic deaths, to be sure.  However, we don’t need to spend tens of billions of dollars creating legislation and programs to stop those deaths.  250 or so of those accidental firearms deaths were children.  Again, a tragedy.  But, more children die from burns or in swimming pool accidents in on year.  According to AAA, 7,475 children are treated in hospitals for injuries sustained when run over in their own driveways.  Approximately 230 children die each year from driveway backovers.  Sad and senseless.  Read more about this in my post The New Utopia Vehicle Ban Program - Phase 1 in My Plan to Stop Dying

3) “so many guns are in the hands of so many people that there would never be any getting rid of them”  I agree with the writer here.  Which is exactly why putting restrictions on the law-abiding isn’t going to solve crime.

4) “I would like the right wing to admit that guns are not “good” and that the right to bear arms is not an absolute virtue and that the deaths in the US caused by guns are at least as problematic, philosophically, as abortion. But I’m not holding my breath”  I will not admit that guns are not good.  They are just fine in the right hands.  Many Americans believe strongly in the words of our Constitution.  The inherent human right of self-defense is not granted by virtue of the Constiution, merely upheld by it.  Again, deaths are not caused by guns.  “Problematic, philosophically” . . . the problem is our inability to uphold our own laws and punnish criminals.  It’s kind of a different issue than abortion.  Abortion is something many people feel strongly about, but is not generally related to crime prevention - which is what gun control is about, isn’t it?  Or is it just about the control?

Published in http://www.ihateitall.com/bm/politics/guns-really-do-kill-people.shtml, April 17, 2007, “Guns Really Do Kill People”

This one has a little potential, but is missing the mark just a bit.  I like statistics, but for me, this person put a stump in the road while talking firearms DEATH statistics that show only 1.4% of firearms fatalities during the time period he is working with were self-defense related.  He surmises that:

In fact, someone is four times more likely to be accidently killed by a hand gun than saved from attack by one.

My problem with this is that most self-defense cases involving firearms don’t involve a death.  Sometimes, criminals choose to abort their mission when they see a victim is armed.  According to the Clinton Administration’s own statistics, firearms are used in self-defense situations at least 1,000,000 per year.  Some studies say more, some say less.  Regardless, approximately 1,000,000 is a lot.  When you consider that gun crimes kill about 12,000 people per year . . . oh, I don’t know . . . you do the math.  This leads me to believe that people who use guns for self-defense don’t kill people unless they have to and usually, they don’t.  The writer of this article is against handguns, even though hand guns represent a large percentage of firearms used in self-defense situations.  So, the argument to ban handguns on the premise of the statistics the writer used is not persuasive.  If anything, his statistics coupled with mine, show that guns save lives in the right hands.  Again, read my other post (The New Utopia Vehicle Ban Program - Phase 1 in My Plan to Stop Dying)for more stats.

I’m going to stop now.  One coincidence here is that these articles were all written within a week of each other - right after Virginia Tech.  Tragic situation.  But, getting emotional about the issue doesn’t help us solve the problem of CRIME.  Sure, if there were no guns anywhere on earth, nobody would be killed by one.   But, let’s get real.  The cities with the highest murder rates are those with very strict gun laws.  Clearly, the gun laws are not the solution.  Perhaps better law enforcement and judicial response would be better.

Just my 2 cents.  Now, I’m off to give those murderous psychotic guns a good talking to.

“Assault Weapons” aka “Scary Black Guns”

BOO! Are you scared yet? Hahahaha

“Assault Weapon” is a misnomer used by gun control advocates and people who learned everything they know from TV news.  Please, unless you want to demonstrate to your friends that you have no idea what you’re talking about, try not to say assault weapon, assault rifle, assault pistol, etc.  Additionally, try your very hardest not to pontificate about how nobody needs an assault rifle.  That will make you sound even more biased and mis-informed. 

Check out this video by Officer Leroy Pyle of the San Jose, CA Police Department.  He gives a quick overview of the difference between fully automatic vs. semi-automatic and shows how the asthetic of the firearm itself influences news reports, public opinion and legislation.

IN REVIEW:

Semi-Automatic Rifles (not Assault Rifles, though your friendly neigborhood politicians would like you to believe otherwise.)  The first three rifles below are chambered in the same caliber - meaning they shoot the exact same bullets out the business end.  They also shoot only one round per trigger pull.  One of these looks scary.  The other one looks generic.  The third . . . you decide.

AR-15 (scary black gun)

Grandpa’s Rifle (not scary black gun)

Pink AR-15: Same as the “Scary Black Gun,” only pink.  Let this roll around in your mind:  why is the black one the one that’s targeted by lawmakers when it’s really the same as any other .223 rifle?  Also, before you go and get all upset that this deadly object looks like a toy, it was painted by a man for his ADULT wife who keeps it in her safe and shoots it at the range.  Children don’t play with this gun, nor are they manufactured for sale.  Please, try to keep from peeing yourself on this one.  Also, any comments left by people who did not read this post or any other accurate info on guns and just want to spout ignorance will quickly be deleted.  Check out http://www.riflegear.com for more info on this pink rifle.

Fully Automatic AK-47 (more truly identified as an assault rifle).  These are limited to military, police and civilians who have gone through extensive background check process.  Very few reports of this gun used in crime - they are EXPENSIVE to obtain and own.

Semi-Automatic AK-47.  Don’t let looks deceive.  This is NOT the same gun as the one above.  This firearm fires only one round per trigger pull.  It is more similar to the first two firearms than the one above it even though cosmetically, it’s the most similar to the fully auto AK-47.

Got it?  Good!  Now promise never to discuss assault weapons in ignorance again!

Did you know that in order to purchase a gun from a store (federally licensed firearms dealer) the buyer must submit to a federal background check?  This applies to all federally licensed firearms dealers - at gun shows or at the local gun shop.

What this means: criminals don’t buy guns from firearms dealers - only those with very clean records can purchase firearms from dealers.  The Brady Bill the posession of firearms for any individual who:

• is convicted of a felony
• is under indictment for a felony, but has not gone to court
• is the unlawful user of a controlled substance
• is drug dependant
• is adjudicated mentally defective or been committed to a mental institution
• is an illegal or unlawful alien in the Untied States
• is dishonorably discharged from the military
• has renounced citizenship of the United States
• is subject to court order restraining them from harassing, stalking or threatening another (i.e. spouse, former spouse, cohabitant, former cohabitant or child of such partner)
• cannot prove residency with proper identification
• has any warrant
• any domestic violence conviction
• been convicted as a juvenile for an offense which would have been a felony if committed by an adult (within last 10 years)

It is illegal for anyone who fits any one of the above criteria to own a firearm - any kind of firearm, rifle, shotgun, handgun, machine gun.  They’re all off limits.

I mentioned earlier that any firearms dealer must complete a background check on the purchaser before completing the sell.  The ”gunshow loophole” spoken of by politicians and gun-control advocates refers to the private sell of firearms.  This has little or nothing to do with gunshows, but it sounds really cool.  Soundbites are cool!

Why not restrict private sell of firearms?  Well, because it’s already illegal for one of the people mentioned above to own a firearm.  It’s also illegal to knowingly sell a firearm to one of those people.  Many law-abiding individuals who sell firearms privately are very careful about such sales.  Why does anyone need to sell a gun privately you ask?  I ask why does anyone sell a car.  They’re not using it anymore.  Maybe it’s a model they don’t enjoy shooting, or they want a newer better version.  Luckily, we can sell things we don’t want anymore in this country.  Gun control advocates would like that ability stripped from Joe Hunter down the street or from Sally Target Shooter.  However, like most gun control laws, restrictions on private firearms sales only adds extra steps to the process for law abiding people.  Criminals are criminals and won’t follow that law either.

So, my solution?  I propose that this country actually start enforcing the laws we have.  Punnish criminals and let them serve full and complete sentences.  I recently heard about an early release program to ease crowding in prisons and jails.  I’m not the world’s most brilliant person, but even I can understand that placing more laws and burden on the law abiding while simultaneously enhancing the criminal’s ability to commit crime is not an effective plan.

Next time: The truth about “Assault Weapons” aka “Scary Black Guns”

I don’t think anyone is too concerned about the discussion of the downtrodden being bitter.  I heard Obama talk about this in the debate yesterday - he was hung on the “bitter” aspect.

The really offensive thing is the suggestion that poor people “cling” to guns and religion and xenophobia because they are bitter and let down by the government.  That’s the offensive part.  That’s the part he is missing.

Maybe in his church bitterness works to draw people in.  Sermons about how the government craps on you would certainly appeal to the bitter masses.  However, I just don’t think a generalization that poor people are religious because the world has crapped on them is in touch with reality and that’s where Obama’s problem lies.

Wake up people!  This man is a WEENER!  I’ll say it again  - WEENER.

That Barack Obama is a weener?  Oh, yeah.  I already did - a few times.

This guy is a little lot out of touch with what life is in average, every-day America.  I have so much to say on this topic, but frankly don’t have the energy.  Let me add one other thing, Michelle Obama is a weeneress.

It’s true. 

Alert! Alert! Alert! Alert! Alert! Alert! Alert! Alert!

Parents be warned.  Your child may be cited for disorderly conduct for reciting the words to any of the five monkey songs.  Please read below so that you can quickly identify if your child is reciting banned phrases to avoid the public humiliation of having your child caught and labeled as a racist.

Remember, a monkey is not a cute, cuddly and mischevious animal — monkey is a racist term.  Please be aware - what you called monkeys as children are now referred to as “primates.”  Repeat after me PRIMATE.  Don’t make the mistake of keeping the word monkey in your vocabulary or you, too could be fined for disorderly conduct.  Please, even if you use this word in a derogatory manner (which you shouldn’t because it’s not nice), understand that the 1st Ammendment does not apply in this case.  If you use the word monkey you will be cited.

Now, it’s perfectly ok to insult white people in any way you choose - that type of speech is still protected under the Bill of Rights.  We will alert you if anything changes. 

We report this information for your protection and benefit and accept full responsibilty for all fines we may incur by using the term monkey so gratuitiously.  Please consider donating to our legal defense fund.

LYRICS TO AVOID!

Version 1

5 little monkeys swinging in the tree
teasing Mr. Alligator can’t catch me….can’t catch me
along came Mr. Alligator quiet as can be
and snapped that monkey out that tree

Version 2

5 little monkeys jumping on the bed
one fell off and cracked his head 
mama called the doctor and the doctor said 
no more monkeys jumping on the bed! 

Recommended new versions:

It is recommended that you teach your child the new versions of these songs. 

Version 1

5 little primates swinging in the tree
teasing Mr. Alligator can’t catch me….can’t catch me
along came Mr. Alligator quiet as can be
and snapped that primate out that tree

Version 2

5 little primates jumping on the bed
one fell off and cracked his head 
mama called the doctor and the doctor said 
no more primates jumping on the bed!

People shouldn’t die.   Dying is bad.  Since we haven’t figured out how to keep people alive through science, I propose we stop people from dying through legislation!  We have the power.  Join the cause!

43,508 people in the United States died during 2005 as a result of vehicular accidents according to the National Safety Council.  That’s a lot of people!

43,508 people!  That’s like wiping a city the size of Santa Fe, New Mexico off the map each and every year!  It doesn’t need to be this way.  We can save lives.  I propose we ban cars entirely!  Cars are bad.  Cars kill people. 

We need to mobilize now to stop the manufacture, sale, and use of cars!  The only way to stop the carnage is to stop the legal vehicle trade.  Let’s face it, there is no Consitutional ammendment protecting the right to keep and drive cars.  Oh wait, even if there were, who cares!  We’re really not using the Constitution and Bill of Rights any more except where fire bombing eco-terrorists or other criminals are concerned.  For average citizens we can legislate and dictate what they do and when they do it.  I’m really only concered about the car lobby.  They’ll be a tough crowd, but if they cause us too much gruff, we’ll just sue them for every death involving a car.  This will also help if we can’t actually pass laws to ban cars.  The car companies made the car and sold it to the driver who caused the death in the first place.  We’ll sue them and cost them so much money we’ll put them right out of business and then they can’t sell cars at all.  Ooooh!  This is good.  I’m such a devious mind! 

If, for some reason, we can’t put those car companies out of business, we’ll regulate car parts to an unbelievable degree.  Every part of a car, including aftermarket accessories and replacement parts must be micro-stamped at the time of manufacture by laser with the vin number of the car that it will someday go in.  If there is any error in the micro-stamping, we’ll sue.  No . . . we’ll put someone in jail!  I think we should consider a total ban on tires though.  The Clintons can help us with that one.

I can’t take all the credit for these wonderful ideas though, I’m taking this philiosophy from other campaigns that have gained momentum in this country, such as gun control.  For instance, during the same year, there were 789 deaths from firearms accidents.  Add to that firearm related suicide and assault and the number jumps to 29,354.  We spend billions of dollars every year through the Brady Bill, court cases, and other such methods trying to curb the “gun” problem. 

I’m going to ignore the Clinton administration estimates that firearms are used successfully in self-defense over 1 million times per year.  That doesn’t help my argument!  I’m also going to forget the good uses of vehicles (ambulances, police officers, driving around Miss Daisy).  That doesn’t help my argument either.

They tried to ban guns, but it’s not really Constitutional and people put up a fight.  So, they banned certain types of guns because they “look” scary, even though they’re no more dangerous than the guns they left legal.  Then they banned certain gun accessories.  The lawyers who successfully sued the tobacco companies tried to sue the gun companies for every gun related death.  When that didn’t work, they’ve moved on to regulate the ammunition component.  Legislation is being proposed to require the bullet (manufactured at company A) and the cartridge it goes on (manufactured at company B) and assembled at Company C to be microstamped with the same number.  This number must also appear on the box the ammunition is sold in.  This would kill the ammunition industry because it’s just not really possible.  They’re so smart!

Since the “gun” problem kills less than half the number of people that vehicular accidents kill (excluding the 17,002 suicides because a determined person who wants to die will die, no matter what legislation I cook up to stop it.  I actually think suicide is illegal already - so much for that), I see absolutely no reason why we shouldn’t also attempt to control and/or ban Motor Vehicles.  Not only will we save the lives of 43,508 people each year, we will also stop gobal warming.  It’s a win-win.

To further illustrate my position, I have included some interesting statistics below.  This chart shows death statistics for 2005 in some interesting categories.  Info was published by the National Safety Council.  Actual deaths is the number of actual deaths of the stated type in one year.  “Odds in 1 Year” are the odds of dying from the stated cause in a given year (for example, the odds that you will die from a fall are 1 in 15,054.  Another way to look at it is 1 in every 15,054 people will die this year from falls).  “Odds in a Lifetime” are the same as odds in a year, but calculated out over an average life span.  So, in 2005, 1 in 15,054 people died from falls.  Also based on 2005 statistics, 1 in every 193 people will die from a fall during their lifetime, but not necessarily that year. Make sense?  Good!

These stats were organized by likelihood of death.  You’re more likely to die from a vehicle accident than any other type of accident.  I didn’t include all the stats, but vehicle accident is the highest of all listed in the NSC report.

As you can see, cars are killing more people than any other type of accident each year.  Cars are bad.  Cars kill people.  Stop cars now! 

Once I get my hands on the cars, I’m moving ahead with feet.  Feet are bad.  Feet kill people.  If people didn’t fall, we would save another 19,656 people every year.  I think I might have trouble banning feet from a practical perspective, however, I believe I can successfully legislate that everyone must be encased in at least 12 inches of packing bubbles at all times. 

After feet and plastic packing bubbles, I’m going after God and making lightning, earthquakes and hurricanes illegal because God is bad.  God kills people.

Then I’m going after fire.  Fire is bad.  Fire kills people.

Then, the piece de resistance in my plan to keep people from dying . . . I’m going after bathtubs.  Bathtubs are bad.  Bathtubs kill people.

You ask, why don’t I go after the firearms?  Brady, Barack, Hillary . . . they’ve already go that one covered!  

Did I mention I think we should also place a  permanent ban on Killer Klowns from Outer Space?  I have no idea how many people they kill in a year, but even one is too many!

*statistics from the National Safety Council 2005

This was reported yesterday in the Niles Michigan Daily Star.   Creepy.  Things like this is why I was freaking out the other night.  Smart woman for having her shotgun at the ready. 

Suspects caught in April Fool twist reported in the Niles Michigan Daily Star

Thursday, April 3, 2008 10:44 AM EDT

NILES - Three suspects received an April Fool’s Day surprise as they attempted to break into a home on Range Line Road.

At approximately 1:20 p.m. on Tuesday, April 1, a home owner called 911, saying the back door of her residence was kicked in, according to the Michigan State Police Niles Post.

Apparently a female suspect had knocked on the door and when no one answered, two male suspects allegedly attempted a home invasion.

Three suspects from Indiana were arrested and are suspected in several other home invasions in Southeast Berrien County.

The 36-year-old female homeowner had armed herself with a shotgun for protection, when she heard the suspects prepare to enter her residence.

“The tables were turned on these thieves when they were surprised by the armed homeowner,” said Tpr. Mike McCarthy of the Niles Post.

The north Berrien County 911 center broadcast the call and description of the suspects’ vehicle, which was intercepted on Old 31 by deputies and troopers.

Stolen property was found in the vehicle which was linked to previous home invasions.

Arrested for felony home invasion were Daniel L. Sizemore, 28; Phillip J. Chappell, 29 and Andrea L. Bachleda, 27, all of South Bend, Ind.

They were lodged at the Niles City Jail and arraigned in the 5th District Court and their bond was set at $50,000.

The Berrien County Sheriff’s Department assisted with the investigation. Other area home invasions are expected to be cleared with the arrests of these suspects.