Second Amendment News and American Aid Worker Confirmed Dead

Passing Thought ... Is it not odd that massacres involving firearms occurs only in “Gun-Free Zones” … it is a testament that gun control enthusiasts pay more attention to emotion than logic and their laws that is supposed to make our country “safer” only harasses those that are law-abiding citizens who have the right to “keep and bear” arms.

Switchblades – Why they were banned …

In 1958, the United States congress passed a law that banned the manufacture of switchblade knives for interstate commerce. Most states followed the federal example.  It was a stupid and pointless law that had no serious effect on criminals, but which ensnared tens if not hundreds of thousands of innocent people. Fortunately, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (BATF) did not exist at the time, or we might have had the BATFK. The history of this law, the yellow journalism which promoted it, and the corrupt politicians who brought it into being, were recorded by Bernard Levine in 1990.

Attorney General, William P. Rodgers stated:

Switchblade knives in the hands of criminals are, of course, potentially dangerous weapons. However, since they serve useful and even essential purposes in the hands of persons such as sportsmen, shipping clerks, and others engaged in lawful pursuits, the committee may deem it preferable that they be regulated at the State rather than the Federal level.

It is documented how the politicians did an excellent job describing the lies and distortions that pushed and eventually enacted the ban.

And, just like today, the principle influence in pushing for the switchblade ban was Rep. James J. Delaney of New York City; New York state being infamous in producing draconian and tyrannical laws that defy the US Constitution and its amendments. Unfortunately, the US Supreme Court has a track record of not upholding the Constitution, which is their oath of office, and ensuring that ALL states of the Union comply.

Just like today, fiction portrayal in the cinema and publishing circles played an important part in encouraging the vote for the ban; specifically the play, West Side Story, which was also produced in a Hollywood film starring Natalie Wood. It was nominated for six Tony awards in 1957 and ran for 732 performances (the play) in NY City before going on a nationwide tour. The switchblade ban bill passed the congressional committee and was passed in 1958. The media frenzy also helped pass the bill …

During the 1950s, established U.S. newspapers as well as the sensationalist tabloid press joined forces in promoting the image of a young delinquent with a stiletto switchblade or flick knife. While the press focused on the switchblade as a symbol of youthful evil intent, the American public's attention was attracted by lurid stories of urban youth gang warfare and the fact that many gangs were composed of lower class youth and/or racial minorities.[4] The purported offensive nature of the stiletto switchblade combined with reports of knife fights, robberies, and stabbings by youth gangs and other criminal elements in urban areas of the United States generated continuing demands from newspaper editorial rooms and the public for new laws restricting the lawful possession and/or use of switchblade knives.[4] In 1954, the state of New York passed the first law banning the sale or distribution of switchblade knives in hopes of reducing gang violence. That same year, Democratic Rep. James J. Delaney of New York authored the first bill submitted to the U.S. Congress banning the manufacture and sale of switchblades.

One of my favorite philosophers, who also was a Roman Emperor, Marcus Aurelius (121-190 AD), wrote:

The object in life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane.

And in respect to firearms or any implement used for self-defense …

We are advised to NOT judge ALL Muslims by the actions of a few lunatics, but we are encouraged to judge ALL gun owners by the actions of a few lunatics.

Jeff Cooper (1920-2006) …

The rifle itself has no moral stature, since it has no will of its own. Naturally, it may be used by evil men for evil purposes, but there are more good men than evil, and while the latter cannot be persuaded to the path of righteousness by propaganda, they can certainly be corrected by good men with rifles.

In Washington state, lawmakers are considering changes to the new law that requires background checks on gun transfers. Last year, Washington state voters ...

...approved Initiative 594 which requires background checks on all firearm transfers, including purchases between private individuals and loans.

Tom Cordi, Can You Handle the Truth? …

It has been said that the discovery of truth is the sole purpose of philosophy. The truth is sometimes hard to accept, especially if we are considering absolute truth versus relative truth. Few of us are able to deal in absolute truth, especially when it applies to controversial and divisive topics such as gun control and the true roots and causes of gun violence in America. Once bias and emotion enter into our reasoning, we lose objectivity and the truth is thus clouded and murky.

Missouri: Armed Teachers Train to Protect Students …

In this drill, it took about 10 minutes for the closest law enforcement to arrive– enough time for multiple casualties and a hostage situation to take place. … Ozark County Sheriff Darrin Reed says in reality, it would take 30-40 minutes for deputies to arrive at the campus. He says having armed teachers is crucial for rural counties. “It gives them a first line of defense until law enforcement can get here to the scene.” … The difference between a ten second response and a ten minute response could easily be twenty or more less. So kudos to the Dora School District for doing something every school in the world should do. Arming teachers and staff against both active killers, and the lovelorn and rejected who commit a slim majority of killings on campus.

My sincere condolences to the parents, family, and friends of Kayla Jean Mueller, 26-years-old, murdered by Islamic State militants. She worked providing humanitarian assistance to refugees, first working from Turkey and then in a hospital in Aleppo, Syria. She was kidnapped leaving the hospital in August of 2013. Islamic State officials claim she was killed when Jordanian fighter jets bombed a building where she was held outside of Raqqa, a militant stronghold. In recent months, three other Americans, two British, and two Japanese hostages, most either aid workers or journalists, have been beheaded. Obama claims that they will be brought to justice.

Flags should be flown half-staff.