BTL Update 2011 February 8
Proposed Restrictions on the 2nd Amendment
The animosity shown the Second Amendment by the media and many of our elected representatives sworn to uphold the Constitution and the Bill of Rights is never so apparent as when a particularly heinous criminal shooting occurs. These tragedies are immediately seized upon as a springboard for introducing more gun control measures, which are usually circumventions of the Second Amendment in intent and practice, and therefore unconstitutional.
Another misguided “close the loopholes” for guns measure has been introduced by Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D.-N.Y.) and 57 Democrat cosponsors. Her bill H. R. 308, “To prohibit the transfer or possession of large capacity ammunition feeding devices, and for other purposes,” is officially entitled the “Large Capacity Feeding Device Act.” H.R. 308 would restrict — criminalize, actually — the transfer and possession by law-abiding citizens of large capacity feeding devices, more commonly known as magazines, that accept more than 10 rounds of ammunition. There are frightening exceptions, however, regarding ownership; clearly the advantage in firepower — in terms of speed of firing and number of rounds delivered in a given time — is being reserved to the government, its officials and agents.
The provisions of H.R. 308 are said to be grandfathered, applying to devices purchased or transferred only from the date of enactment of the bill, if passed. However, according to some gun legislation analysts, the grandfathering is meaningless in this case because of other overriding language in the measure. Just for possessing a “large capacity ammunition feeding device,” one could be arrested and charged. The burden of proof that one owned the device prior to the ban would be forced upon the innocent citizen as he was dragged through the courts. Proving its manufacturing date would be useless. Any ruling in the matter would be at the discretion of the authorities. Penalties for infractions of H.R. 308 would be 10 years in a federal prison and an undesignated monetary fine. Basically, H.R. 308 would criminalize anyone in possession of a magazine holding 11 rounds or more.
It is unconstitutional to infringe on our natural right to bear arms guaranteed under the Second Amendment by incrementally restricting it, just as it would be unconstitutional to incrementally restrict the rights of free speech, religious belief and practice, and privacy. There is no authorization in the Constitution for incrementally restricting any of our rights as guaranteed by the Constitution.
H.R. 308 is but one more step toward eventual, total elimination of our right to keep and bear arms. Contact your Representative and Senators and insist that they support and defend our right to keep and bear arms, in toto.
The John Birch Society 2011 February 7
We Are Witnessing the Collapse of the Middle East
If Egypt should fall, it will mark the beginning of the end for what little remaining stability there is in the Middle East. Jordan is facing similar unrest, as are Algeria and Yemen. Lebanon and Tunisia fell in January. It is highly unlikely that these events are unrelated. A combination of leftist and Islamist forces provoked the protests, and we are likely looking at a ring of radical Islamic states rising up to surround Israel. Once their power is solidified, perhaps in a year or two, they will combine forces to attack Israel. If Israel falls, the United States will stand alone in a sea of virulent enemies and impotent allies.
American Thinker 2011 February 4
GOP joins campaign against TSA scanners
Members of the Travis, Texas, County Republican Party have joined a campaign against the federal Transportation Security Administration’s new invasive airport pat-down procedures and nude-imaging scanners at airports. “These scanners are a very personal invasion of privacy, exposing anatomically detailed images of airline passengers to strangers,” said chairman Rosemary Edwards. “These graphic scans and the intimate physical searches which are offered as the only alternative, are completely inappropriate and a violation of our Constitutionally protected right to privacy.”
WorldNetDaily 2011 February 4
Days of Rage, Oil Prices, and the Suez Canal
Bloomberg warns today that an act of sabotage or a decision by a new regime – possibly headed up by the Muslim Brotherhood – to close the canal and its oil pipeline to punish supporters of Egyptian dictator Hosni Mubarak could send oil prices through the stratosphere.
On January 28, Lindsey Williams told Alex Jones the situation unfolding in Egypt is a carefully engineered event instigated by the global elite as part of a plan to bankrupt the United States and send shock waves through the global economy.
INFOWARS.COM 2011 February 3
Viable Alternative to Real ID
The federal government is collecting, maintaining and sharing American’s information globally. The Real ID Act (along with a host of other ID proposals including Arizona’s SB 1070) facilitates the collecting, maintaining and sharing of our vital information globally. Americans are being enrolled into a Single Global Biometric Identifications System that Links A Person’s Body to their Ability to Buy Sell and Travel.
The Real ID Act , passed without debate as a rider on a military spending bill in 2005. Driver’s licenses are issued by the states not the federal government but the Real ID Act imposed federally mandated standards for state driver’s licenses.
Although 600 groups and organizations oppose the Real ID Act, 11 states are currently in compliance with the 18 Interim REAL ID Benchmarks with Arkansas and Connecticut soon to follow. Another thirteen states will likely achieve material compliance within the next six months, if not before.
See the following PowerPoint presentation.
