Category: Anti Civil Rights ideas & “Friends”
Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard has a “pretty obvious” solution for addressing gun-related violence, but “nobody wants to go there.”
Ballard believes that if we upped the mandatory minimum sentence for gun crimes society would drastically reduce gun violence.
The mayor told News 8 that based on the city’s tracking of cases, “homicides in 2014 would have been dramatically less, dramatically less,” because many of those arrested had previous arrests for gun crimes.
Ballard would like to see the mandatory minimum raised to 20 years, but said that even 10 years would make a significant difference in the number of homicides year to year.
In addition to strengthening penalties for gun crimes, Ballard said that youth intervention programs can also make a difference.
“You’re not going to turn the tide unless we start at an earlier age — to make sure these young men and women don’t go down the wrong path,” he said.
Given that it would take time, 15 or 20 years, to see the results of such programs, Ballard said that we need to do a better job “of differentiating between people who need help and a hand up — and the people who are truly violent and need to go away for a long, long time.”
Random Fact
I read somewhere recently that about a quarter of the world’s prisoners are incarcerated in America.
Non-Americans are going to draw all sorts of conclusions about this, and most of them will be wrong. Here are the facts.
All the stupid surveys apart, the United States is one of the most free countries in the world — which by the way is why so many inhabitants of shithole countries (to quote some famous guy) want to come and live here.
We take our freedoms seriously, and one of the freedoms we cherish is the freedom to fuck up. Fucking up can be the result of larceny, or failed experimentation, or any such human endeavor which falls outside the usual norms and conventions. This is why we are a leader of innovation in the world — pick an industry, and we’re in there kicking ass — and it’s also why we throw more people in jail: because we are a nation of laws. (Too many laws for my liking, but that’s a rant for another occasion.)
Here’s the best example. Want a gun? Go ahead and get one: there’s a special on S&W revolvers at Academy Surplus. Use it in any way you want: self-defense, plinking at tin cans, target competition, whatever. You’re free to do all that, and except in Euro-style shitholes like New York and California, you don’t have to be licensed or belong to a club or any of that jive. Go ahead and enjoy your gun; it’s your individual right, the second-most important right in our Constitution.
However: use your gun to commit a crime, and it’s to jail you’ll be going. And we Americans don’t issue sentences of just a few years for that kind of crime either (unlike some countries I could name). No, we slam you in a cell for decades or the rest of your life (sometimes we even shorten your life if you shortened somebody else’s).
That’s why we have so many people in jail. They were all free to choose, and they chose poorly. On the whole, it’s a better system than all the others, unless of course you’re a control freak who wants to do what’s best for people because you know what’s good for them, better than they do. (These assholes we call “Democrats”, and this is why they’re trying to turn the U.S. into Europe. But that too is a rant for another time.)
Non-Americans are going to draw all sorts of conclusions about this, and most of them will be wrong. Here are the facts.
All the stupid surveys apart, the United States is one of the most free countries in the world — which by the way is why so many inhabitants of shithole countries (to quote some famous guy) want to come and live here.
We take our freedoms seriously, and one of the freedoms we cherish is the freedom to fuck up. Fucking up can be the result of larceny, or failed experimentation, or any such human endeavor which falls outside the usual norms and conventions. This is why we are a leader of innovation in the world — pick an industry, and we’re in there kicking ass — and it’s also why we throw more people in jail: because we are a nation of laws. (Too many laws for my liking, but that’s a rant for another occasion.)
Here’s the best example. Want a gun? Go ahead and get one: there’s a special on S&W revolvers at Academy Surplus. Use it in any way you want: self-defense, plinking at tin cans, target competition, whatever. You’re free to do all that, and except in Euro-style shitholes like New York and California, you don’t have to be licensed or belong to a club or any of that jive. Go ahead and enjoy your gun; it’s your individual right, the second-most important right in our Constitution.
However: use your gun to commit a crime, and it’s to jail you’ll be going. And we Americans don’t issue sentences of just a few years for that kind of crime either (unlike some countries I could name). No, we slam you in a cell for decades or the rest of your life (sometimes we even shorten your life if you shortened somebody else’s).
That’s why we have so many people in jail. They were all free to choose, and they chose poorly. On the whole, it’s a better system than all the others, unless of course you’re a control freak who wants to do what’s best for people because you know what’s good for them, better than they do. (These assholes we call “Democrats”, and this is why they’re trying to turn the U.S. into Europe. But that too is a rant for another time.)
By the way: the reason that China, with its enormous population, doesn’t have as many people in jail as we do is that their people aren’t free. Another reason is that the Chinese summarily execute more people than we do, thus helping their incarceration numbers. Ditto North Korea, a shithole to beat all shitholes.
(Reuters) – Remington Outdoor Company Inc, one of the largest U.S. makers of firearms, has reached out to banks and credit investment funds in search of financing that will allow it to file for bankruptcy, people familiar with the matter said on Thursday.
The move comes as Remington reached a forbearance agreement with its creditors this week following a missed coupon payment on its debt, the sources said. The company has been working with investment bank Lazard Ltd (LAZ.N) on options to restructure its $950 million debt pile, Reuters reported last month.
Remington is seeking debtor-in-possession financing that will allow it to fund is operations once it files for bankruptcy, the sources said. The size of the financing and timing of Remington’s bankruptcy plans could not be learned.
FILE PHOTO: People look over Remington rifles and shotguns during the annual SHOT (Shooting, Hunting, Outdoor Trade) Show in Las Vegas January 15, 2013. REUTERS/Las Vegas Sun/Steve Marcus
The move comes as Remington reached a forbearance agreement with its creditors this week following a missed coupon payment on its debt, the sources said. The company has been working with investment bank Lazard Ltd (LAZ.N) on options to restructure its $950 million debt pile, Reuters reported last month.
Remington is seeking debtor-in-possession financing that will allow it to fund is operations once it files for bankruptcy, the sources said. The size of the financing and timing of Remington’s bankruptcy plans could not be learned.
Some potential financing sources, including credit funds and banks, have balked at coming to Remington’s aid because of the reputation risk associated with such a move, according to the sources.
Remington, which is controlled by buyout firm Cerberus Capital Management LP, was abandoned by some of Cerberus’ private equity fund investors after one of its Bushmaster rifles was used in the Sandy Hook elementary school shooting in Connecticut in 2012 that killed 20 children and six adults.
The sources asked not to be identified because the deliberations are confidential. Remington did not respond to several requests for comment. Cerberus declined to comment.
Credit rating agencies have warned that Remington’s capital structure is unsustainable given its weak operating performance and significant volatility in the demand for firearms and ammunition.
Lazard Ltd53.82
LAZ.NNEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE
-0.41(-0.76%)
Remington’s sales have declined in part because of receding fears that guns will become more heavily regulated by the U.S. government, according to credit ratings agencies. President Donald Trump has said he will “never, ever infringe on the right of the people to keep and bear arms.”
The Madison, North Carolina-based gun manufacturer faces a maturity of an approximately $550 million term loan in 2019. Remington also has $250 million of bonds that come due in 2020 and are trading at a significant discount to their face value at around 16 cents on the dollar, according to Thomson Reuters data, indicating investor concerns about repayment.
The term loan maturing next year is also trading at a significant discount to full value, at around 50 cents on the dollar, the sources said.
Remington’s sales plunged 27 percent in the first nine months of 2017, resulting in a $28 million operating loss.
Reporting by Andrew Berlin in New York and Jessica DiNapoli in Las Vegas; Editing by Cynthia Osterman
Our Standards:The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
Granted it is a homogeneous country with a great police department. But every man has been issued an assault rifle and a lot of ammo. For the day somebody is stupid enough to pick a fight with the Swiss.
So I am just saying, something to think about!
Haley Leach has a valid Colorado concealed carry permit. But that doesn’t matter in the land of Bloomberg. (Photo: Twitter)
Another day, another reason to pass the Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act.
Local media outlets reported earlier this month that a Colorado woman had been arrested at the Albany International Airport after trying to check in a handgun with airport security.
The woman, Haley Leach, 28, had been vacationing in Hunter, New York, since November and was attempting to fly home. When she tried to declare her handgun to Southwest Airlines representatives, they telephoned the police because she didn’t possess a New York pistol permit.
Despite holding a valid Colorado concealed carry permit, Leach was charged with criminal possession of a weapon and released on bail. She must return to New York in February to appear in court.
The New York legislature has imposed some of the strictest gun laws in the nation. But as anyone from the state will say, big-city politicians don’t speak for every Empire State resident.
“We’re taking so many law abiding citizens and basically making them criminals,” Albany County Sheriff Craig Apple told News10 ABC.
“These are people that are professionals,” he said. “They are doctors, pilots, lawyers, cops, firemen, whatever the case may be, and then when they go to fly out they get arrested.”
SEE ALSO: Meet the Face of National Concealed Carry Reciprocity: Shaneen Allen
Apple said the Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act would keep people from ending up like Leach. But until then he’ll be forced to arrest out-of-state residents who have no criminal intent.
“This is sad because it’s happening more and more,” he said.
Apple’s isn’t the only one frustrated with the patchwork of state gun laws.
Leslie McDermott runs an indoor shooting range and gun store in New York. He says that out-of-state customers come in daily who do not realize they might be breaking the law.
“Traveling through, see our sign, and stop in,” McDermott told News10 ABC. “They can’t shoot here because they don’t have a New York State pistol permit.”
“It’s frustrating for people who don’t know the law,” he said.
The National Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2017 would force state officials to treat concealed carry permits much like drivers’ licenses. If the legislation passes, Leach’s Colorado permit will be valid in New York and vice versa.
The House of Representatives passed the bill in December with a bipartisan vote of 231 to 198. The bill now faces a much more difficult fight in the Senate, where Republicans hold a razor-thin 51-49 majority.
Don’t get me wrong as Upstate New York is a very beautiful and friendly place. BUT…….
Good Morning! 81,000 New York Gun Owners Are Now Felons
In New York, Gun Owners Balk At New Handgun Database the headline at npr.org reports. Seems a large number of Empire State gun owners chose not to/forgot to/didn’t know to register or re-register themselves and their handguns with the state government by January 31 as per a new law. After the usual political posturing, the article’s “money shot” arrives in paragraph 16 . . .
As of the deadline, more than 81,000 people – or 20 percent of affected handgunowners in New York – haven’t responded to the state’s request.
But New York State Police spokesman Beau Duffy argues that concern about this gundatabase has been overblown. He said felony charges are off the table for now. “We’re not going to take criminal enforcement action, particularly with those people who were unaware of this re-certification process,” Duffy said.
In other words, the liberty of 81k Americans exercising their natural, civil and Constitutionally protected right to keep and bear arms (without government infringement) now depends on the whims of a bureaucrat. And the police. And the politicians who pull their strings.
To be clear, as HP points out in the comments below, “The state government already has all of the pistol permit information at it’s disposal. The difference here is that while the information was retained at the county level, the record keeping has still been spotty, so the State Police were ordered to update the records and create a clean database. Or try to, looks like 81,000 problems came up.”
In the video above, NY Governor Cuomo promises “periodic” checks” on these problematic [sic] gun owners to “check for issues.” And so it begins . . .
Needless to say, if the New York State police go there, if they begin arresting gun owners for the simple crime of not registering or re-registering their handguns with the state, the cops run the risk of starting something very dangerous for all concerned.
Also needless to say, the civilian disarmament industrial complex is on board with the idea of enforcing this new law.
The next big question is how this registry is going to be used and who’s going to follow up with gun owners. Laura Cutilletta, legal director for the Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence [above], believes it could be a game-changer for police.
“This kind of tool seems like something law enforcement would really welcome and would make a priority if they can,” Cutilletta said. “Because to know who is determined to be dangerous already and has a gun — I mean, what better information could you give law enforcement than something like that?”
How do the police know who is “determined to be dangerous?” What exactly does thatmean?
I suspect that Ms. Cutilletta would argue — perhaps privately — that anyone who failed to register themselves and their guns with New York state is, de facto, “determined to be dangerous.”
Folks, this could get ugly. In terms of government overreach, it already is.
On Thursday of this week, more than 70,000 New York pistol permit holders woke up as felons. Law-breakers.
What was their crime? They didn’t register their handguns with the state. Now, why on God’s green earth would they have to do that?
Emperor Gov. Andrew Cuomo rammed through the NY Secure Ammunition and Firearms Enforcement Act in 2013. This insidious law requires pistol permit holders to register their handguns and recertify their licenses every five years. Failure to do so is a Class E felony.
The objective was clear. Build a massive central database of every handgun owner in New York. Not only who they are and where they live, but what handguns they have in their possession. Hmmm. Why would a government want to know which citizens are armed? I’ll leave you to answer that.
“We’ll have for the first time a statewide handgun database that will allow the state, allow local officials to check periodically,” Cuomo said while pitching the SAFE Act, adding, “You don’t want criminals and people who are mentally ill to have guns.”
Just to be clear, the trooper in the video above says that criminal possession of a firearm is “a misdemeanor,” not a felony. Well, according to this screenshot from the SAFE Act, it is a Class E Felony. Goes to show you that even law enforcement is confused about what is what. I also like how he said there’s a “good chance” if you missed the deadline that your permit will be revoked. Contradicts the messaging that you won’t be penalized for late registration. Right. You’ll just lose your permit altogether.
Right, because violent criminals and murderous madmen register their firearms. And to catch these evildoers, all police are going to have to do is consult this handy-dandy database. Crime fighting at its finest.
For over 370,000 New Yorkers, all of whom were issued a permit before the rollout of the SAFE Act, the deadline to recertify was Jan. 31, 2018. This past Wednesday. Estimates suggest that only 300,000 followed through with the mandate. Meaning, approximately 70,000 or more did not.
SEE ALSO: This New York Senator Has Vowed to Kill the Hearing Protection Act
To calm the nerves of worried gun owners, state police have said they will not prosecute those who “unknowingly” missed the deadline.
“The state police are not going to penalize those people who fail to recertify unknowingly by the deadline,” saidBeau Duffy, Director of Public Information for New York State Police.
“What we’re going to do is continue to accept recertifications past the deadline,” he added. “We want to make sure everyone is aware and has the opportunity to recertify so we can have the best records possible.”
Okay, so the state police aren’t going to punish people for “unknowingly” missing the deadline — at least for now. But what about the county judges and officers in charge of issuing permits? Don’t forget, New York is a May-Issue state. Permits are issued at the discretion of county judges – not state police. How will these county officials respond to those who missed the deadline? Will they start pulling permits?
“It’s in the law but I don’t want to speculate how they’re going to move forward on it,” Duffy said. “It would be up to each office to make that decision.”
Let’s unpack that. Duffy has no idea how your local county official is going to respond. That judge may revoke your permit. He may not. Glad we cleared that up.
To state the obvious. This is a disaster. The whole thing. And I didn’t even say how much it’s costing taxpayers. You ready for this? $28 million, according to NPR. Wow! Talk about a giant waste of money.
My favorite aspect of this whole SNAFU is this answer on the Q&A page of SafeAct.NY.Gov. The question reads: Will permit holders’ guns be confiscated if they can’t prove they recertified?
The Answer:
To be clear, the State Police will not be confiscating weapons from those permit holders who fail to recertify by January 31st. This provision was never intended to be a “Gotcha” for pistol permit holders. It was included in the law that was passed by the legislature and signed by the Governor in order to update the accuracy of both state and local records. To that end, the State Police will continue to accept recertifications throughout 2018 while we continue to update the database.
What a lie! This whole system is a “gotcha” scheme. As Cuomo said, it’s for police to “check periodically…” What are they checking for if not to confiscate guns from those who shouldn’t have them?
Watch what happens down the road. Two or three years from now. State police will be checking the list regularly for people with expired licenses. Why? Because they’re felons under the law. They are guilty of criminal possession of a firearm. Consequently, their guns will have to be seized.
