More War

President Trump's order to attack Syria is taking us down the road to another war that we cannot win.  When will the DC powers learn that we CANNOT be the world's police force.  Nor, should we try to be.

What is happening in Syria is terrible but it is not our business.  We should stay out of it and let the Syrians decide the outcome.

Have we as Americans overreacted to Terrorism?

Since the attack of 9/11/2001, we have seen a huge upswing in in

Our loss of freedom and privacy. An expensive new government department called Homeland Security, Government monitoring our private communications, Cops who can apparently kill anyone with impunity.

Here are a couple of statistics:

1. 2,996 people (including the 19 hijackers) died in the 9/11 attack according to Wikipedia

2. 37,795 Traffic fatalities in 2001 according to NHTSA.

We killed more than 10 times the number of people as the terrorists in 2001. When it comes to killing Americans, the terrorists are no match for us Americans.

Did we need to take all of these actions in the wake of the attack?

End Daylight Savings Time

Once again we are tasked with resetting all of our clocks. The twice a year drill known as Daylight Savings Time is upon us. The reason for this idiocy has long since faded. The policy should fade as well. There is no logical reason to set our clocks ahead 1 hour in the spring, only to set them back 1 hour in the fall. The entire concept should be abolished. Already, Arizona, Hawaii, and a few other states have discontinued this arcane practice. California should end it as well.

The Futility of Banning Something

Recently a bill banning “Assault Weapons” was introduced in congress.  Setting aside the merits of the proposed bill for a minute, when you ban something you are telling people they cannot have it.  Americans by their nature resent anyone telling them they can’t have anything.  They may not want it, but resent being told they cannot have it.

This was proved in the prohibition failure.  The Government banned alcohol and what happened, a black market in alcohol sprung up almost overnight.  Organized crime appeared to control the market and the level of crime in the country went up.

Look at the Drug War.  A number of drugs are banned and anyone who wants them can get them with little trouble.  Again criminal gangs control the market and the level of crime associated with drugs is up and rising.

As long as there is a demand, someone will step up to supply it.  So here is the question; do you want the criminal element controlling the gun market?  Think about that while you are debating this or any other ban.

Sandy Hook.

There has been much debate both in the media and online about what the response to the Sandy Hook Massacre should be. While I was initially tempted about the possibility of a ban on Assault Weapons, the definition of what is an assault weapon makes this a questionable solution. After reading the details of New York’s new law I believe they have gone too far.

The other part of New York’s law makes much more sense. That is requiring a background check for all sales and transfers of firearms. This can go a long way to keeping guns out of the hands of those that should not have them. You know felons, the mentally unstable, domestic abusers, etc…

I was impressed with an interview I saw of Cory Booker, the mayor of Newark, NJ. In that interview he said that of all the gun crimes investigated in his city, only one had been committed by an individual who had passed a background check to get the weapon. The others had all been obtained through what he called the secondary market. This is gun shows and private sales. For most states, background checks are not required for these secondary market sales. That is something that should be corrected.

One thing about the Sandy Hook shooting that has not received much public discussion was the personal responsibility. Now I don’t like to speak ill of the dead, but, the mother of the shooter was irresponsible in not securing her guns so that her mentally unstable son could not get access to them. She paid with her life for that mistake.

So, what should be done?

1. Require background checks on ALL sales and transfers of firearms.

2. Make the registered owner responsible for their weapons. If a gun you own is used in a crime, because you did not properly secure it, it’s on you. If it’s stolen, report it immediately.

3. Take the time to learn how to safely use and handle your guns. The lamest excuse I have ever heard is “I was cleaning my gun and it went off” If you don’t know enough to unload the gun before cleaning; you have no business owning a gun.

Off The Cliff

The Fiscal Cliff is approaching. Let it happen.

If Congress does nothing, then Income tax withholding for all Americans will go up starting Jan. 1, Estate Taxes, taxes on capital Gains and FICA taxes all go up. Also, some much needed spending cuts take effect. These are much needed changes that will show Americans the true cost of government.

This also will force a national discussion on how much government we actually want and are willing to pay for.

　

Some Observations

After the massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown CT there have been and will continue to be calls for more Gun Control Laws. Here are some observations.


1. Cnnecticut has some of the most severs gun control laws in the country.
2. The two weapons used in the attack were purchased by the shooter’s mother with the requisite background checks and waiting periods.

3. The shooter was at best mentally disturbed.

4. The Gun owner used poor judgment in allowing a mentally disturbed individual access to firearms.

From these observations it is reasonable to assume that the only law that could have prevented this tragedy would be the outright ban on private ownership of firearms or the mandatory incarceration of mentally disturbed individuals.

The first is plainly unconstitutional

The second would be roundly opposed by the disabled right advocates.

There are some things that laws just cannot prevent.