Y’know…

For as long as I can remember (and I have clear memories from about age 2 on) I was taught that what separated the United States of America from anywhere else was the list of rules that kept “the Government” in check.

There were lines that the State could not cross….in fact, with few exceptions, if a Government official was found to be doing something that crossed the line, like spying on citizens without a warrant or such, those people were tried and jailed and lost their happy pensions and other such punishment.

Then I read “1984” and realized what COULD happen without those checks on our Government and its minions.

Fast forward 30+ years.

We, as a nation, have become what we used to hold up as a bad example. We, as a nation, have let the minions of the State become the rulers. We, as a nation, have become what we detested in other nations and governments. .

That which separated us from the USSR and the Banana republics and the Chinese has blurred…has faded…has, in many cases, disappeared.

We, as a nation, are responsible for the change. We allowed the slow decline. The erosion of freedoms and privacy. Until we as a nation are no longer the shining beacon to which citizens of other nations looked. We are, for all intents and purposes, no better off than they are.

I am disgusted by the power grab that we allowed and are allowing. The erosion of that which made our nation great. The willful ignorance, the acceptance by my fellow citizens as inevitable, the reduction of ourselves…the destruction of what once was….the loss of that which separated this nation from others.

I don’t know how to fix it.

Actually, I do, but I don’t know how to accomplish it and cannot discuss it on the internet or via Email or telephone with like minded individuals except face to face in an area where no one can overhear.

For the minions of the State are watching.

A damned good day

My sister in law is a somewhat rabid devotee of the DNC, and she is fairly liberal in her ways. She is very anti gun/pro-gun control. While she admits that she doesn’t know much about firearms, she is still set in her beliefs that they are “bad”.

A year or so ago, my brother, who doesn’t own any firearms, asked if I would take the time to teach his daughter about gun safety and to teach her to shoot…..I asked if he had discussed this with his wife.

No.

So I broached the subject with my sister in law. Explained that I would be happy to teach, but not unless I had her blessing….She wasn’t happy that her husband had suggested it, but was happy that I wouldn’t do anything against her wishes. (hey, I may disagree with their decisions, but I am not gonna step on their toes as parents)

Imagine my surprise when a month or so ago she asked if I would teach their son, as the NRA course is qualification for a Merit Badge in the boy scouts.

Of course, I said yes.

As they live three hours away, it took a bit of scheduling, especially as I suggested that my brother come and take the course with his son. (he works in the restaurant business and his schedule seldom coincides with mine…)

Yesterday was the day.

We did the full rifle course. I had gotten the course materials to them a few weeks ago, and they were fully prepared.

Class time was, for a young boy, somewhat boring, but he paid attention and asked very intelligent questions and we went over the material.

Hours later, we went to the outdoor range for shooting.

Started off with a youth length single shot .22 bolt action that was one of the range classroom rifles ( I had taken it and given it a cleaning and tuning beforehand…this was, after all, my nephew).

The look of pure joy he had after the first 5 shots was only eclipsed a few shots later when he got his first bullseye. Then a few shots later when he got another…. then another. We went through shooting from kneeling, standing, sitting, prone. Worked on trigger squeeze, holding sight and follow through.

We moved the targets to the 25 yard range from the 21 foot range and began again.

It took a bit more work, but he began hitting at 25 yards.

We moved to the 50 yard range. Did well there too.

Then I opened up a rifle case from the back of the pickup. He LOVED shooting the Marlin lever action (still in .22). Then another rifle, and another until he had tried all 6.

Then the AR-15 with the .22 upper on it. Wow. He really liked that.

Then the 10-22 with a 4 power scope. The stock was a bit long for him, but he was THRILLED when he got 4 out of 5 not only in the X ring but all touching at 50 yards. (oh, to have 10 year old eyes again!)

Then we began shooting at steel plates. He liked the fact that he could hear the “ring” and know immediately when he hit.

A few hundred rounds later, he was hitting about 80 percent with any rifle. He went 20 for 20 with the AR at 50 yards on 3″ plates at least once. He knocked over a few bowling pins too. His dad was having a ball with my Ruger pistol. (There may or may not have been a few other pistols of various calibers involved but I can’t talk about that)

650+ (of .22) rounds later, he and dad were tired, sunburned, and happy.

I’m not sure if he had more fun that I did, but for all three of us, it was a damned fine day.

I think if/when his parents tell me it is OK, he has a rifle coming for a Christmas present…hopefully soon.

Now I gotta get them to let me teach my niece.

You should read this

Even if only to understand how it works.

Not the best use of grammar but it is still appropriate.

Opsec, you be needin’ it. Do you trust the others not to betray you….openly or through foolishness? 

Realize that the methods described here, especially location data, are in use today….and the data is already being collected.

But *they* have immunity

Another “Only Ones” story:


A deputy is now suing a woman who called for help during an emergency. It all stems from a deputy-involved shooting that happened in Katy last year. 

I actually condone this…

If they take a way that portion of property taxes which pay for the police salaries. Let the police charge homeowners for responding to calls for help. much like some fire districts do.

And if they get rid of professional immunity for policemen.

And if they allow people to deal with threats on their own. 

Until then though, this should not fly. 

The sky is falling!!!

No, wait, that is the temperature.

Near record lows  (and near record low high temps) her is NW Indiana.

Not that we are setting records, but we are getting close to doing so.

Only a few days this year over 90.

Yesterday was jacket weather. In August.

Someone go kick AlGore in the balls.

Yeah, I know, weather is not climate. But the weather this years has been very mild all year long.

Depending on how you read this

Under Obamacare it may be that your home is subject to searchinspection” at any time.

This breaks with the Fourth amendment in our Constitution.

And, it is a line that, for my household, shall stand firm.

“None shall pass”. Get a warrant. Or bring friends. Lots of ’em.

And lunch.

I just can’t wait until the regular type folks find out what is in this shitpile of a bill. Even then, I doubt that it will make them awaken, much less arise is rebellion.

Remember how the citizens of Boston fell all over themselves after the Tsarnev brothers made their bang.