Monday, October 31, 2016

Allen Cogbill, In Memoriam

It is with a heavy heart that I must announce the passing of our beloved Treasurer, Allen Cogbill. Allen passed away unexpected on October 25 from a recently-contracted lung disease. Allen served the LPNM as Treasurer, doing a fabulously superb job of bookkeeping, for as long as I have been associated with the Party. He was a dedicated Libertarian who lived his principles, and was a good friend to us all.

Allen, thank you for having enriched our lives with your presence. We are going to miss you.

Marty Swinney
State Chair, Libertarian Party of New Mexico


Copyright © 2016 Libertarian Party of New Mexico, Libertarian Party of Los Alamos County, New Mexico, and Libertarian Party of Bernalillo County, New Mexico

Saturday, October 22, 2016

Why I Oppose the New Mexico Denial of Bail Measure, by Freddie Joe Nichols III

Why I Oppose the New Mexico Denial of Bail Measure

Coming up on the ballot on November 8th is a ballot measure called, New Mexico Denial of Bail Measure, Constitutional Amendment 1. The measure's goal is to allow police time to investigate dangerous crimes while keeping the defendant locked up by denying them bail. It definitely sounds good at face value, "to protect community safety."

To be fair, the measure attempts to fix a few issues that we have currently like removing the portion that requires people who were previously convicted of 2 or more felonies to automatically be denied bail of 60 days after incarceration if they are accused of another crime, and also ensuring that non-violent offenders can be released even if they don't have the financial means to post bail. These changes would definitely be great wins in terms of due process, but there's more.

The measure removes the limit on how long the state can deny an individual bail. So, if a judge deems someone who has been accused of a crime to be a "danger" they can deny them bail indefinitely. Let me say that a different way. If someone is accused of a crime and hasn't had a trial to prove their innocence or guilt, a judge can still decide that they are dangerous and keep them locked up forever. The idea that a judge, or any state agent for that matter, can decide to keep an individual imprisoned forever just because they think that individual is dangerous is a major violation of due process. I'm sure during the American Revolution, King George III would have claimed all of our Founding Fathers were dangerous and imprisoned them forever if he were given the chance.

This measure, as with most measures, has some good and some bad. In my opinion the bad outweighs the good, and we will have better opportunities to address these issues going forward. Anytime I see "to protect community safety" at the beginning of a bill I start looking for the rights they are trying to infringe on this time. I can't in good conscience vote for something that has the potential to allow the state to indefinitely detain a person who has not been tried by a jury of his / her peers and convicted of a crime. I will be opposing New Mexico Denial of Bail Measure, and I encourage each of you to do the same.

In Liberty,
Freddie "Joe" Nichols III
Candidate for NM State Representative District 54


FOR FURTHER REFERENCE

  1. Nichols' campaign site

  2. Nichols' candidate Facebook page

NOTES

  1. Approximate reading level – 14.2


Copyright © 2016 Libertarian Party of New Mexico, Libertarian Party of Chaves County, New Mexico, Libertarian Party of Eddy County, New Mexico, Libertarian Party of Otero County, New Mexico, and Freddie Joe Nichols III. All rights reserved.

Friday, October 7, 2016

Vote NO on the UNMH Mill Levy

Vote NO on this mill levy.

Tell UNM to get that 95 million from the legislators' pensions, the film subsidies, the Local Economic Devlopment Authority, oil and gas subsidies, NMHIX, the Obamacare Medicaid expansion, among other places.

The politicians love to load up the bond issues and mill levies with the popular stuff – buildings, infrastructure and "services" that "must" done by government, because "no one in the private sector can or will do them" – police, libraries, senior centers, community centers, sewers, storm drains, flood control, and so forth.

We all know that's hogwash, to put it delicately.

Once the politicians load up the bonds and levies with the popular stuff, that frees them to use more from the general budget for their pet projects, their legalized vote-buying schemes (each City Councilor in Albuquerque is allocated ∅1-2 million annually for "needed improvements in their district), making sure that someone in the inside loop gets the contract for the next "necessary" project.

And when was the last time that taxes in Bernalillo County actually went down? Between the City of Albuquerque and Bernalillo County, we're paying some of the highest gross receipt taxes in the state – currently at 7.3125 percent.

Now they expect us to pay even more?!

Tell the politicians that for every new tax they want to impose upon us, at the very least, get rid of an equivalent tax, so that the overall burden doesn't increase.

Or – and I know this will be taken as pure insanity by the Political Classholes – they could actually CUT taxes a bit. (AND cut some spending, too? Would that really be too much to ask?)


NOTES

  1. Approximate reading level – 12.5


Copyright © 2016 Libertarian Party of New Mexico, Libertarian Party of Bernalillo County, New Mexico and Mike Blessing. All rights reserved.
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Tuesday, October 4, 2016

Quote of the Day for Tuesday, 4 October 2016

"Firearms stand next in importance to the Constitution itself. They are the American people's Liberty teeth and keystone under Independence. The church, the plow, the prairie wagon, and citizens' firearms are indelibly related. From the hour the Pilgrims landed, to the present day, events, occurrences and tendencies prove that to insure peace, security and happiness, the rifle and pistol are equally indispensable. Every corner of this Land knows firearms and more than 99 99/100 per cent of them by their silence indicate they are in safe and sane hands. The very atmosphere of firearms anywhere and everywhere restrains evil interference and they deserve a place of honor with all that's good. When firearms go all goes, therefore we need them every hour."
~ C. S. Wheatley.


Copyright © 2016 Libertarian Party of New Mexico, Libertarian Party of Bernalillo County, New Mexico, CNM College Libertarian Club and Mike Blessing. All rights reserved.
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Monday, October 3, 2016

Frank Clinard, R.I.P. (1933-2016)

Frank Welch Clinard Jr.

Obituary

Frank Welch Clinard Jr. passed away peacefully at the age of 83 on August 30, 2016 at Sombrillo Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Los Alamos. The cause was complications of Alzheimer's Disease.

Frank was born and raised in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. He grew up enjoying hunting and fishing with his family in the mountains of North Carolina. He received his Bachelor's of Mechanical Engineering in 1955 and his Masters of Science in Metallurgical Engineering in 1957, both from North Carolina State University. He went on to earn a Doctor of Philosophy in Materials Science from Stanford University in 1964. Frank began his career at the Los Alamos National Laboratory in 1964 and retired in 1989. His works as a research scientist and materials expert were recognized around the world. After his retirement he consulted for private companies and taught Materials Engineering at New Mexico Tech.

Frank was preceded in death by his wife Elva Hyatt Clinard. Frank and Elva loved Beagles and since the 60's always had two, with the older Beagle "training" the younger one. They also shared a passion for race cars. They traveled all over the world and enjoyed spending time in their cabin in Colorado.

Frank was a member of the Libertarian Party since 1976 and ran for New Mexico State Senate on the Libertarian ticket in 1992. He served as the Public Relations Director for the LPNM after that.

Frank was preceded in death by his brother David M. Clinard and his parents Frank W. Clinard Sr. and Helen Hazel Hauser. He is survived by a niece and two nephews.

Memorial arrangements will be made at a later date. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Alzheimer's Association.

Published in Los Alamos Monitor on Sept. 27, 2016

– See more at: http://legacy.com/obituaries/lamonitor/obituary.aspx?n=frank-welch-clinard&pid=181604257

Please view or sign the memorial guestbook.



Copyright © 2016 Libertarian Party of New Mexico, Libertarian Party of Los Alamos County, New Mexico.

Friday, September 30, 2016

Web presence for CNM Libertarians

Central New Mexico Community College [CNM] Libertarians –

Blog

Facebook page

Facebook group


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Friday, August 19, 2016

Resolution: Right to Self-Defense and to Firearms

WHEREAS, Libertarians affirm that self-defense is an inherent and unalienable human right; and

WHEREAS, the Platforms of the National Libertarian Party (LNC) and the Libertarian Party of New Mexico oppose all laws at any level of government restricting, registering, or monitoring the ownership, manufacture, or transfer of firearms or ammunition; and

WHEREAS, the Platforms of the LNC and the Libertarian Party of New Mexico affirm the right of due process, and deny the legitimacy of “victimless crimes”; and

WHEREAS, the government has steadily encroached upon these rights by illegitimately regulating and restricting access for firearms and ammunition, and may further seek to deprive people, who have been convicted of no crime, of their inherent right to full self-defense by denying their civil and inherent rights to obtain firearms and ammunition; therefore

BE IT RESOLVED that the Libertarian Party of New Mexico opposes any policy which would deny access to any firearms or ammunition to any person solely for being placed on any government watch or no-fly list, and reaffirms its call to repeal and oppose any existing or proposed firearm and ammunition regulations.


Copyright © 2016 Libertarian Party of New Mexico, Libertarian Party of Bernalillo County, New Mexico and Mike Blessing. All rights reserved.
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Monday, July 18, 2016

Obama: "It's easier to get a Glock than a book . . . ."

When addressing the assembled mourners in Dallas, Barry Obama said the following[1]:

It's easier for a teenager to get his hands on a Glock than a computer . . . or even a book.

First, there's these places called libraries that will let you read books without going through any paperwork at all. Quite a few of these . . . libraries . . . will let you check out books and — wait for it — take them home without so much as a simple background check.

Nor do the librarians make you fill out federally-mandated paperwork asking you if you're a convicted felon, fugitve from justice, illegal immigrant, been dishonorably discharged from the military, have been adjudicated as mentally unfit to read, have any domestic violence convictions, or if you've renounced your U.S. citizenship.

And if you want to keep the book, you don't go to a library, but to another place called a bookstore, where you can hand over some of your cash and take the book home with you. No background check, no waiting period, just pay for your book, take it and go. Nor do you have to be at least 21 years old to purchase small, easily-carried books.

Why, they even let you buy or borrow multiple books without additional paperwork. WOW!

Nor do the feds require bookstore owners to get a federal license to sell books across state lines.

Now, what about prices?

Let's see:

A mass-market paperback of the kind that I bought most of my books as ran at 2.50 (plus tax) back in the early 1980s. Now they're up to ∅7.99-8.99.

Trade paperbacks in the 6" x 9" format usually run ∅9.99-19.99, depending on how many pages, the publisher, etc.

Hardbacks are pricier — they're usually over ∅20, most likely in the ∅22-27 range (it does pay at times to check the remainder tables!).

How about computers, then?

You can get a used desktop (such as the one I'm typing this article on) for about ∅100-200 (I paid ∅90 to a place that was going out of business).

Used laptops are in the same price range.

And as with books, there's no need to fill out any federally-mandated paperwork, no waiting periods, no required background check, no age requirement. You can get a computer, even a brand-new one, even if you're a convicted felon, messed up between the ears, been dishonorably discharged, etc., etc.

As for the Glock, though, that's a bit different. Brand-new, a Glock will run you about ∅500. Used, they can go for more or less, depending on condition and after-market modifications. A factory-model Glock in decent condition will cost you about ∅300.

On top of that, if you're a convicted felon, don't get caught possessing that Glock by the cops — the feds love to throw people in prison for ten-year stretches for that.

That federally-mandated paperwork and background check I linked to above? That's the sort of thing you have to go through to purchase a firearm from a federally-licensed dealer. In order to sell firearms across state lines and on any sort of commercial basis, the feds require that the dealer get a Federal Firearms License [FFL].

So much for Obama's comment in Dallas.

Here's the really bad part about Obama's comment:

He's got advisors from the Cabinet secretaries and agency directors on down who could have offered up the correct information for his Dallas speech. It's already bad taste to use a memorial service to score political points. On top of that, he used nonsensical comments to score those points? Come one, now.


FOR FURTHER REFERENCE

  1. Ixquick search / DuckDuckGo search / Startpage search / Qwant search / Encrypted Google search

NOTES

  1. Approximate reading level – 9.2


Copyright © 2016 Libertarian Party of New Mexico, Libertarian Party of Bernalillo County, New Mexico and Mike Blessing. All rights reserved.
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Monday, July 11, 2016

No TOR for the Masses?

Recently Techspot India reported that the NSA doesn't want us civilians using the TOR technology —

NSA classifies Linux Journal readers, Tor and Tails Linux users as "extremists"

Funny how TOR was originally developed by the Naval Research Laboratory and furthered by DARPA. Now that it's out of the bag, they want to put it back under their exclusive control. Sort of like the internet itself.

Of course, the govvies probably won't mind too much if political figures with ties to George Soros and the Saudi royal family use it. At least they didn't seem to mind when a certain former senator turned Secretary of State mishandled classified information on a private home-based server, so I'm guessing that they'll sign off on corrupt use of the TOR tech as well, just so long as it's the "right people" using it.

H/T Seth Anderson Bailey


FOR FURTHER REFERENCE

  1. Wikipedia page for Tor

  2. Wikipedia page for TAILS

  3. Wikipedia page for Dark web

NOTES

  1. Approximate reading level – 11.7


Copyright © 2016 Libertarian Party of New Mexico, Libertarian Party of Bernalillo County, New Mexico and Mike Blessing. All rights reserved.
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Monday, June 20, 2016

"No One Wants to Take Away Your Guns" [2]

Well, it's Hoplophobia Season again, as your friendly (in appearance only) politicians scramble to stand atop the fifty-some bodies of those killed at Pulse Orlando. As usual, their media friends will say "no one wants to take your guns," even as they say explicitly that they do want to disarm you. Here are some examples:

The first is an old one, from August of last year, from science fiction, fantasy and comic book writer Peter David, which is a shame, as David can be a good writer when he wants to be. Still, at least he's honest and up-front about his desire to disarm America's population, which is more than I can say for most hoplophobes and victim disarmers.

[Click on the picture to go the article]

Amitai Etzioni, a current proponent of what's called "communitarianism," wrote the next piece in The Huffington Post yesterday, and suggests that they probably will need to be sneaky about disarming the American population:

[Click on the picture to go the article]


FOR FURTHER REFERENCE

  1. Wikipedia page on Peter David

  2. Wikipedia page on Amitai Etzioni

  3. Wikipedia page on Communitarianism

NOTES

  1. Approximate reading level – 15.9


Copyright © 2016 Libertarian Party of New Mexico, Libertarian Party of Bernalillo County, New Mexico and Mike Blessing. All rights reserved.
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Sunday, June 12, 2016

Saturday, June 4, 2016

Quote of the Day for Saturday, 4 June 2016

"Governments can create the climate for economic growth . . . [but] only the private sector can produce a peace that will endure."

Former U.S. Secretary of State Warren Christopher,
(1 December 2004). Prosperity in the New Middle East: Building the Structures of Peace, remarks made at the 1994 MENA Economic Summit. Casablanca, Morocco.


Copyright © 2016 Libertarian Party of New Mexico, Libertarian Party of Bernalillo County, New Mexico and Mike Blessing. All rights reserved.
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Tuesday, May 3, 2016

So the Catholic Church Says "Spend More" ?

Today's Albuquerque Journal ran an article on page C1 ("Metro & New NM") — PullTogether kicks off, faces funding skepticism

From the article —

In a separate and somewhat dueling news conference, Archbishop of Santa Fe John C. Wester said he wants state leaders to do more than "sing a jingle," and to find new revenue sources to pay for programs such as state-assisted child care and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, or food stamps.

Now if the IRS were to yank the Archdiocese of Santa Fe's 501(c)(3) non-profit status so that donations are no longer deductible on the donors' 1040 (and PIT-1 ?) and the Church were subject to the same sorts of taxation as, say, the rest of us, how much could the State of New Mexico rake in from Wester and his buddies?

If Bishop Wester really cares about "the children" as much as he professes, why doesn't he cut the check to the State for whatever amount he deems necessary right now?

Or he could directly help those he claims to care about so much — which is preferable from my viewpoint, as that doesn't further increase the expenses and intrusiveness of Santa Fe, Washington DC, and One Civic Plaza.

Add to that the point that if those who profess to care about poor people so much would simply directly provide the help they say they is necessary instead of lobbying and agitating for a larger, more intrusive, more expensive welfare state, there wouldn't be as much of an underclass in America needing that help.

Finally, to paraphrase a friend from years ago:

Poverty in the Third World is when there are flies crawling on your kids as they go through a trash heap, looking for whatever.

Poverty in America is when you get that letter from Comcast or DirecTV with "FINAL NOTICE" printed across the top in big letters.


NOTES

  1. Approximate reading level – 18.5


Copyright © 2016 Libertarian Party of New Mexico and Mike Blessing. All rights reserved.
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Friday, April 15, 2016

China's "Sesame Credit" -- Coming to America Soon!

After watching that video clip, who can truthfully say that the DNC and a good bit of the RNC wouldn't want something along the lines of China's proposed "Social Credit System" for deployment here in the States?

Why, they might even make your health a part of your "personal score," thanks to Obama's federalized copy-and-paste job from Massachusetts Romneycare. So much for the "privacy guarantees" that were allegedly instituted with HIPAA.

If the Imperial District wants to know if you've made any financial transactions that they disapprove of, they can always check with the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), and add those to your score.

I'm sure I left some things out, but the Imperials from the District of Criminals will think of things to fill in any blanks I left here.

H/T L. Neil Smith at The Libertarian Enterprise


Copyright © 2016 Libertarian Party of New Mexico, Libertarian Party of Bernalillo County, New Mexico and Mike Blessing. All rights reserved.
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Saturday, March 19, 2016

2016 Annual Convention, Libertarian Party of New Mexico

Libertarian Party of New Mexico

2016 Annual State Convention

Saturday, 16 April 2015, 10 AM — 4:45 PM

Room 2406, UNM School of Law

Contact Marty Swinney – 575-648-4240 for details
Donations to defray the costs of the convention will be greatly appreciated.


Convention Schedule (Tentative)



10:00 – 10:30Registration
10:30 – 10:45Welcome and Introduction by Marty Swinney, Chair, LPNM
10:45 – 12:00Address and Q&A by Jay Carroll and David WalkerThe Convention of the States
12:00 – 1:30Lunch Break
1:30 – 2:30Keynote address by Lily Tang WilliamsMy Journey For Freedom — From Mao's Young Pioneer To Libertarian
2:30 – 2:45Q&A period for Lily Williams
2:45 – 4:45LPNM Business Meeting
• All who are registered to vote with the State of New Mexico as Libertarians ("LIB" on the voter registration card) can vote during nominations for public office.
• Only Caucus Members can vote during LPNM business and internal LPNM elections.
• Visitors do not vote in any actions or activities.
• Central Committee meeting after close of the LPNM Business Meeting.
4:45Convention Closes

Handouts for Distribution

The LPNM membership reserves the right to disavow any handouts (handbills, brochures, CDs, DVDs, etc.) offered for distribution to convention membership, as well as the person(s) doing the distributing.

Nominations for Candidates for Public Office

Anyone wanting to vote to nominate candidates for public office needs to make sure that they're registered to vote as "Libertarian" or "LIB" as the Secretary of State prints on the voter registration cards before they show up for the Convention.

So make sure to bring your voter registration card.

Participating in LPNM Internal Business

All you have to do to participate in the LPNM's internal business (changes to the Constitution and Bylaws, internal nominations, etc.) is to do the following (all steps are necessary, regardless of order completed):
  1. Register to vote as "Libertarian" so that your voter registration card reads "LIB" in the spot marked "PARTY" (lower right-hand corner).
  2. Sign up as what the LPNM refers to as a "Caucus Member." Basically, this means that you've signed the Non-Aggression Pledge and paid $25 in dues. You can do this at the Convention itself, as we'll have the necessary paperwork on hand.
  3. Pay the required amount for a convention membership.
Out-of-State Visitors
  1. All national-level candidates (for President, National Chair, LNC spots, etc.) are responsible for covering their own expenses, including but not limited to travel, meals, and lodging. They are, of course, free to solicit financial or other support from individual LPNM members, but the LPNM will not expend organizational resources for this purpose.
  2. The LPNM as an organization will NOT endorse candidates for any office until they have been officially nominated by an accredited affiliate of the Libertarian Party.


Thursday, January 21, 2016

Quote of the Day for Thursday, 21 January 2016

If the Constitution of the United States were written based on current policies and attitudes of those who govern us, its preamble would probably be something like this:

WE THE AUTHORITIES, of the State of America, in order to form the basis for societal perfection, establish social justice, insure domestic obedience, provide for the global defense, promote the welfare of special interests, and secure the bondage of national debt from ourselves to our posterity, do mandate and impose these executive orders upon the people of the Nation, formerly known as the United States of America.

— Arthur Berman

H/T Frank Ney


Copyright © 2016 Libertarian Party of New Mexico, Libertarian Party of Bernalillo County, New Mexico and Mike Blessing. All rights reserved.
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Monday, January 18, 2016

"Nobody wants to take your guns" v.1

Whenever I, or others, object to "registration" or bans on transfers, or other forms of "gun control" and firearms restrictions as steps toward an eventual complete prohibition and the confiscation that such would necessarily entail, we get told we're paranoid and "nobody wants to take your guns."

Well, perhaps we should consider these "nobodies":

"A gun-control movement worthy of the name would insist that President Clinton move beyond his proposals for controls . . . and immediately call on Congress to pass far-reaching industry regulation like the Firearms Safety and Consumer Protection Act . . . [which] would give the Treasury Department health and safety authority over the gun industry, and any rational regulator with that authority would ban handguns."
Josh Sugarmann (executive director of the Violence Policy Center)

"My view of guns is simple. I hate guns and I cannot imagine why anyone would want to own one. If I had my way, guns for sport would be registered, and all other guns would be banned."
Deborah Prothrow-Stith (Dean of Harvard School of Public Health)

"I don't care if you want to hunt, I don't care if you think it's your right. I say 'Sorry.' it's 1999. We have had enough as a nation. You are not allowed to own a gun, and if you do own a gun I think you should go to prison."
Rosie O'Donnell (At about the time she said this, Rosie engaged the services of a bodyguard who applied for a gun permit.)

Confiscation could be an option. Mandatory sale to the state could be an option. Permitting could be an option — keep your gun but permit it.”
Andrew Cuomo

"I do not believe in people owning guns. Guns should be owned only by [the] police and military. I am going to do everything I can to disarm this state."
Michael Dukakis

"If someone is so fearful that they are going to start using their weapons to protect their rights, it makes me very nervous that these people have weapons at all."
U.S. Rep. Henry Waxman

"In fact, the assault weapons ban will have no significant effect either on the crime rate or on personal security. Nonetheless, it is a good idea . . . Passing a law like the assault weapons ban is a symbolic – purely symbolic – move in that direction. Its only real justification is not to reduce crime but to desensitize the public to the regulation of weapons in preparation for their ultimate confiscation."
Charles Krauthammer, columnist, 4/5/96 Washington Post

"Ban the damn things. Ban them all. You want protection? Get a dog."
Molly Ivins, columnist, 7/19/94

"[To get a] permit to own a firearm, that person should undergo an exhaustive criminal background check. In addition, an applicant should give up his right to privacy and submit his medical records for review to see if the person has ever had a problem with alcohol, drugs or mental illness . . . The Constitution doesn't count!"
John Silber, former chancellor of Boston University and candidate for Governor of Massachusetts. Speech before the Quequechan Club of Fall River, MA. August 16, 1990

"I think you have to do it a step at a time and I think that is what the NRA is most concerned about. Is that it will happen one very small step at a time so that by the time, um, people have woken up, quote, to what's happened, it's gone farther than what they feel the consensus of American citizens would be. But it does have to go one step at a time and the banning of semiassault military weapons that are military weapons, not household weapons, is the first step."
Mayor Barbara Fass, Stockton, CA

"Handguns should be outlawed. Our organization will probably take this stand in time but we are not anxious to rouse the opposition before we get the other legislation passed."
Elliot Corbett, Secretary, National Council For A Responsible Firearms Policy (interview appeared in the Washington Evening Star on September 19, 1969)

"Banning guns addresses a fundamental right of all Americans to feel safe."
Senator Diane Feinstein, 1993

"If I could have gotten 51 votes in the Senate of the United States for an outright ban, picking up every one of them... 'Mr. and Mrs. America, turn 'em all in, I would have done it. I could not do that. The votes weren't here."
U.S. Senator Diane Feinstein (D-CA) CBS-TV's "60 Minutes," 2/5/95

"Banning guns is an idea whose time has come."
U.S. Senator Joseph Biden, 11/18/93, Associated Press interview

"Yes, I'm for an outright ban (on handguns)."
Pete Shields, Chairman emeritus, Handgun Control, Inc., during a 60 Minutes interview.

"We must be able to arrest people before they commit crimes. By registering guns and knowing who has them we can do that. If they have guns they are pretty likely to commit a crime."
Vermont State Senator Mary Ann Carlson

"I am one who believes that as a first step, the United States should move expeditiously to disarm the civilian population, other than police and security officers, of all handguns, pistols, and revolvers . . . No one should have the right to anonymous ownership or use of a gun."
Professor Dean Morris, Director of Law Enforcement Assistance Administration, stated to the U.S. Congress

"I feel very strongly about it [the Brady Bill]. I think – I also associate myself with the other remarks of the Attorney General. I think it's the beginning. It's not the end of the process by any means."
William J. Clinton, 8/11/93

"The Brady Bill is the minimum step Congress should take . . . we need much stricter gun control, and eventually should bar the ownership of handguns, except in a few cases."
U.S. Representative William Clay, quoted in the St. Louis Post Dispatch on May 6, 1991.

"I don't believe gun owners have rights."
Sarah Brady, Hearst Newspapers Special Report "Handguns in America", October 1997

"We must get rid of all the guns."
Sarah Brady, speaking on behalf of HCI with Sheriff Jay Printz & others on "The Phil Donahue Show" September 1994

"The House passage of our bill is a victory for this country! Common sense wins out. I'm just so thrilled and excited. The sale of guns must stop. Halfway measures are not enough."
Sarah Brady 7/1/88

"I don't care about crime, I just want to get the guns."
Senator Howard Metzenbaum, 1994

"We're here to tell the NRA their nightmare is true . . . "
U.S. Representative Charles Schumer, quoted on NBC, 11/30/93

"My bill . . . establishes a 6-month grace period for the turning in of all handguns."
U.S. Representative Major Owens, Congressional Record, 11/10/93

"We're going to have to take one step at a time, and the first step is necessarily, given political realities, going to be very modest. Our ultimate goal, total control of handguns in the United States, is going to take time. The first problem is to slow down the increasing number of handguns in this country. The second problem is to get handguns registered, and the final problem is to make the possession of all handguns, and all handgun ammunition illegal."
Nelson T. Shields of Hangun Control, Inc. as quoted in `New Yorker' magazine July 26, 1976. Page 53f

"Our goal is to not allow anybody to buy a handgun. In the meantime, we think there ought to be strict licensing and regulation. Ultimately, that may mean it would require court approval to buy a handgun."
President of the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence Michael K. Beard, Washington Times
12/6/93 p.A1

"Waiting periods are only a step. Registration is only a step. The prohibition of private firearms is the goal."
U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno, December 1993

"The sale, manufacture, and possession of handguns ought to be banned . . . We do not believe the 2nd Amendment guarantees an individual the right to keep them."
The Washington Post – "Legal Guns Kill Too" – November 5, 1999

"There is no reason for anyone in the country, for anyone except a police officer or a military person, to buy, to own, to have, to use, a handgun. The only way to control handgun use in this country is to prohibit the guns. And the only way to do that is to Change the Constitution."
USA Today – Michael Gartner – Former president of NBC News – "Glut of Guns: What Can We Do About Them?" – January 16, 1992

"I would personally just say to those who are listening, maybe you want to turn in your guns," Representative Sheila Jackson Lee, 2012

" 4. Any person who, prior to the effective date of this law, was legally in possession of an assault weapon or large capacity magazine shall have ninety days from such effective date to do any of the following without being subject to prosecution:
           (1) Remove the assault weapon or large capacity magazine from the state of Missouri;
           (2) Render the assault weapon permanently inoperable; or
           (3) Surrender the assault weapon or large capacity magazine to the appropriate law enforcement agency for destruction, subject to specific agency regulations."
Legislation introduced in Missouri. 2013

And you can repeat the exact same thing for Minnesota

"Since assault weapons are not a major contributor to US gun homicide and the existing stock of guns is large, an assault weapon ban is unlikely to have an impact on gun violence. If coupled with a gun buyback and no exemptions then it could be effective." NIJ Memo on a new "Assault Weapon" Ban. 2013

"The sheriff of the county may, no more than once per year, conduct an inspection to ensure compliance with this subsection" (Warrantless searches by law enforcement?) Washington State Senate Bill 5737 (2013)

“the state of Iowa should take semi-automatic weapons away from Iowans who have legally purchased them prior to any ban that is enacted if they don’t give their weapons up in a buy-back program.  Even if you have them, I think we need to start taking them,” Iowa state Rep. Dan Muhlbauer (D-Manilla) 2013

California Senate Bill 374 (Steinberg 2013) would expand the definition of “Assault Weapons” to include ALL semi-auto rifles (including rimfire calibers) that accept a detachable magazine. SB374 would ban on the sale and possession of ALL Semi-Auto rifles and require registration to retain legal possession in the future.

California Senate Bill 47 (Yee 2013) would expand the definition of “Assault Weapons” to include rifles that have been designed / sold and or equipped to use the “bullet button” or similar device. SB47 would ban on the sale and possession of ALL those Semi-Auto rifles and require registration to retain legal possession in the future.

California Assembly Bill 174 (Bonta 2013) would ban the possession of any firearms that were “grandfathered “ for possession if registered in previous “Assault Weapons” gun control schemes. Californians that trusted the State of California and registered their firearms will be required to surrender the firearms to the Government or face arrest. Passage of AB174 would make SB374/SB47 (above) into confiscation mandates.

California Senate Bill 396 (Hancock 2013) would ban the possession of any magazine with a capacity to accept more than 10 cartridges. ALL currently grandfathered “high-cap” magazines would become ILLEGAL to possess and the owners subject to arrest and the magazines confiscated. ("High-cap" means a capacity that has been standard, that the firearms were designed for, since the 40's--AK pattern rifles--or 60's--AR pattern rifles.)

We want everything on the table. This is a moment of opportunity. There’s no question about it . . . We’re on a roll now, and I think we’ve got to take the–you know, we’re gonna push as hard as we can and as far as we can.”
Illinois Rep Jan Schakowsky says assault rifle ban just the beginning, ‘moment of opportunity’ and seeks to ban handguns (2013).

"People who own guns are essentially a sickness in our souls who must be cleansed." Colorado Senator (Majority Leader) John Morse. 2013 (Cleansed?  "Final Solution" anyone?)
(Emphasis added in the above).

"We needed a bill that was going to confiscate, confiscate, confiscate.”  Discussion among Senator Loretta Weinberg (D37), Senator Sandra Cunningham (D31), Senator Linda Greenstein (D14) of New Jersey's State Legislature, May 9, 2013

“No one in this country should have guns.” Superior Court Judge, Robert C. Brunetti, Bristol, CT. September, 2013

Proposed Missouri Bill to ban "assault weapons":


4. Any person who, prior to the effective date of this law, was legally in possession of an assault weapon or large capacity magazine shall have ninety days from such effective date to do any of the following without being subject to prosecution:

(1) Remove the assault weapon or large capacity magazine from the state of Missouri;

(2) Render the assault weapon permanently inoperable; or

(3) Surrender the assault weapon or large capacity magazine to the appropriate law enforcement agency for destruction, subject to specific agency regulations.

New York sends out Confiscation letters.

But nobody wants to take our guns?


NOTES

  1. Approximate reading level – 10.9

  2. Original article


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