Monday, March 18, 2013

Yeah, that will get interesting...

Some of the unintended(we think) consequences of the gun grabs in Californicated, big excerpt:
So all this works in pretty neatly with another bit of news that, for now is unrelated, and the good people of the Golden State had better pray to Gaia Almighty it stays that way.
Because there was a 4.7magnitude earthquake in Anza the other day – one feared to be a “foreshock.”
And understanding that devastating earthquakes are often paired with devastating tsunamis, “Residents were urged to prepare for a number of disaster scenarios, including how to cope for being at least ‘two weeks on your own.’”
At least two weeks. Depending on how bad things are, perhaps longer. Perhaps a lot longer.
Can you imagine living in urban California, around LA or Frisco (where they had the progressive foresight to “unanimously approve” a “military style” ammo ban!) and the Big One hits? And civil authority, the part of it that shows up for duty anyway, is triaged protecting Tony Villaraigosa at his impregnable command center, or the SF Board of Supes at wherever they hang out (be nice)? And that’s assuming you don’t live in one of those cities that have gone belly up, thanks to public servants living large. You know, like San Bernardino, where they had to lay off 80 cops, and where the best advice the city attorney could give was to lock your doors and load your guns.
Now understand that in Los Angeles alone, there were estimated to be 120,000 gang members (that's what, about 80 percent of the combined Allied strength at Normandy?) compared to 10,000 sworn LAPD officers and about the same number of Sheriff’s deputies and reserves, and then recall the last time they deployed, after a lot of destruction had already been done, the National Guard had to wait on ammo. Perhaps some of Janet Napolitano’s crack Imperial Sardaukar can spare some of those 1.6 billion rounds or however many they’re said to be saving for a rainy day …
So here you are, hamstrung by all those existing California gun laws, and assuming you aren’t pancaked into the rubble and can make it back (probably on foot) from wherever you are to your home (sans a gun, by the way, since concealed carry permits in these areas inhabited by millions are rarer than Westboro Baptists in West Hollywood), you’re now told you’re on your own for at least two weeks. Probably without utilities and with a very limited stock of basic supplies, including drinking water, and surrounded by neighbors in the same fix. And you’re all bordered on, or just a quick ride from, other neighborhoods that may not be as ... bourgeois ... as yours. How will you -- and they -- react when it turns out millions aren’t prepared to go even two days, and besides that, there are all kinds of opportunities to add to material happiness, now that the store registers aren’t working anyway, nor are any credit, debit and wealth transfer cards, and the only thing standing between those who would take and those who have are … those who have.


Fits right in with the way Colorado Democrats stacked the deck in hearings, doesn't it?
Historically, any citizen would be allowed to speak if they arrived at the Capitol early and signed up on testimony records. Although sign up sheets were in place and citizens including myself signed up, we were completely disregarded. Minutes after I signed up to testify, I learned a different process would be utilized and testimony was based on three categories: experts, preferred witnesses, and public witnesses. No explanation was provided to define expert or preferred witness. I was told this decision was made by the senate president and the chairperson of the hearing committee. Additionally, experts would have no time constraints and all others would be restricted to three minutes. I was completely disheartened at what I was witnessing and this was exacerbated when I learned experts included an individual that was not a resident of Colorado who had no credentials to qualify as an expert except his spouse was a victim of the Tuscan Arizona shooting. He admitted he had not read the proposed bill and could not speak to any specifics regarding this bill. He encouraged Colorado to adopt universal background checks and close the gun show loophole, both of which already exist. Sadly, he testified with unlimited restriction as voters and taxpayers of this state sat helplessly as they were denied the right to testify during committee hearings. 

My colleague, Sheriff John Cooke, testified in opposition of the “Universal Background Check” bill on behalf of most sheriffs while staying within the three minute constraint. Fortunately, I was allowed to testify because a member of the legislature listed me as an expert witness. I was honored and brought statistics and facts as it related to the national insta-check system (NICS); the probable criminalization of law abiding citizens and the unenforceability of this particular bill. I offered other options knowing we all share the common goal of reducing violence. I was proud to represent my constituents and the majority of our sheriffs. That pride was quickly diminished as I departed the hearing room and witnessed hundreds of citizens who would not be given the opportunity to testify. Although they expressed their sincere appreciation for my comments, I recognized the injustice that was unfolding before my eyes. Citizens of Colorado were prevented from participating in the legislative process. Their rights had been overridden by the agenda of a few members of the State Senate.


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