Doc

I'm really not going to deal in "what-ifs". I am looking at the world as it exists without letting my imagination get me off into a land of fiction. I hear all this whining (sorry about using that term) about how bad we have got it and how we have joined the ranks of the oppressed, and all I hear being offered as a solution is a bunch of Rambo talk. It appears that if things were as dire as is being painted by those like Early, we should already have taken up arms and joined the nearest militia ... lol. But no, the fact is that just like the rest of us he is contentedly heading out to work everyday, going about his business conducting life in a very contended fashion, just like we have always done since the inception of this country. So, tell me people, just what are you proposing as a solution to all this horrible inhuman oppression? Are you all packing to head off to whatever country you picture now as utopia? By the way where is that? Are you planning to organize and tear down this oppressive government and then worry about what you are going to replace it with later? Any of you have any idea just what this new government will look like? How will it differ from what we already have? Or have you even thought past your Rambo fantasies as to what might be implemented if this government came down? You have absolutely no ideas of what to replace it with, or you would be doing at least the bare minimums to change the system by using the system. I realize that isn't as flashy as all the "movie script" revolutionary talk, but that is what's required for real change. It is activity that may actually take some real effort .... certainly more than just idly sitting around complaining about how bad things are and how we are going to take up arms against our country. By the way, there are a few Arab countries that might offer to help you out in that effort. So, seriously, what is your vision of how we should proceed? Really, I would like to hear it. This question is open to anyone that thinks they have the answer to all the supposed inhumane oppression that we are forced to live under. Try to keep the discussion out of the realm of fantasy and imagination and thoughts of conjured up pretend scenarios that will "maybe" happen. Given the world as it is today, what are your solutions? Armed open rebellion? Murder all the politicians? Move to another country? Maybe just tear down the country and leave it available for whoever wants to take it over? The Islam nations have some ideas to help you along with the re-forming of America. Or maybe you would like a little more of a free-form type of government. Maybe a society of anarchy .... you know kind of a "Mad Max" scenario.....lol. Since so many have given up on even trying to use the systems of reform that are already in place, what realistically is your next move?

Actually this is a story of an event that happened on a hunt for the biggest member of the deer family ...... a moose. Back in the mid 80’s, 4 of us from work planned a moose hunt in Ontario, Canada. We drove way north past Sudbury to an outfitter’s camp in Shining Tree. In order to get farther in, we drove about another 40 miles on dirt road, parked at a lake put our canoes into the lake, went to the end of that lake, portaged for about 150 yards to another lake and went to the end of that lake. That put us much deeper into the Canadian bush than any of us had ever experienced. There were absolutely no humans other than ourselves and no signs that humans had ever been there. We carved out a campsite along the lake edge and set up the tents. The isolation was complete. Not even the sound of airplanes. So now a bit of a flashback to before trip. I had a dog that enjoyed a good game of tug-of-war with an old towel. While playing at this, she would always make loud, gosh-awful snarling and growling noises. The sounds actually were like some huge crazed animal of some sort. Well, that’s when I got the idea. I had a small portable tape recorder/player, and I made a special tape that had about 15 minutes of total silence in the beginning and then this real loud growling and snarling noises from my dog playing tug-of-war. I packed this in my sleeping bag. Now back to the hunt: On the first night we were all sitting around the campfire talking about the next morning’s hunt when I pretended that I was heading off to take a leak. I went out and planted the tape player and turned it on. Then I came back to the campfire and resumed all the yak-yak B.S. that was going on. The empty 15 minute leader of silence played, and time went by so everyone had forgotten that I had even gone out there. All of a sudden, there was this hideous loud sound of growling and snarling from some unknown beast out in the darkness. Immediately, there was instant chaos as everyone dove for their bows, knives, and anything that could be used as a weapon. Meanwhile this vicious animal continued the aggressive sounds of a crazed maniacal animal ready to attack. It was obvious that this creature was not going away so naturally, I hammed it up and bravely volunteered to head out to see what it was. So brandishing only my bow and a flashlight, I headed out. The other guys decided to go with me. Off we went stalking this “thing”, all armed to the teeth with me out in the lead. When I finally got to the tape player, I set down my bow and dove onto it, wrestling around on the ground in the dark with this tape player. Finally, holding it up in the air I victoriously claimed, “I got it”. When everybody saw what I had, it took a few seconds for it all to register, and then they finally realized that they had been had. There was some talk about throwing me in the lake, but eventually we all settled down back at the fire. Those guys still remember that trick, and we all have a pretty good laugh every time we think back to that moose hunt.

First of all the whole scenario is flawed because they would have to eliminate the 2nd amendment first, and that is simply not going to happen. But let me give you an idea of where I draw the line. Any law that has been passed and survives the test of constitutionality and all court tests by the judicial branch (yes, we have courts to deal with that sort of thing), is a legitimate law that should be abided by the citizens. Further, I expect the police to do the job they are paid to do without throwing their personal opinions and biases into it. They too are charged with upholding the laws of the land and the dictates of the Constitution. They have no business interpreting anything. That is the role of the judicial branch. My God people do you believe in this country or not? I mean our system of government is what I believe in. Do you all want to trash it? This discussion is beginning to sound like some banana republic or third world country that has their annual uprising and stays forever in a state of internal revolution. Is that what you are all looking for? Hey leave me out of that nonsense. Like I said, I believe in this country and it's system of checks and balances, and it seems to work a lot better than anything the internal terrorists and militias might come up with. I am seriously wondering why I would even have to say that.

I will not become a felon. I am a believer that there is a judicial solution (courts), or applying pressure on legislators to reverse their position. In case nobody has realized it or not, we do have some of those activities in motion all ready. And we have the appropriate elections that will eventually get here. Don't you think it is a tad premature to be talking armed insurrection or other felonious activities? At the very least, these legal activities are the things that I will exhaust before slipping over to the side of lawlessness. I guess I just have a whole lot more respect for the law than some. I know it is fun to talk the Rambo talk, but before anyone thinks it such a piece of cake to become a felon, you maybe want to learn a bit about the process and the consequences. There is a huge difference between talk and actually facing the situation. So, what is the master plan if confiscation does become a reality? Do we wall up our guns behind the drywall and in-between the uprights? Bury them in an iron box out in the yard somewhere? Do we wait to get caught and give them an excuse to forcibly remove all our guns because we now have a felony conviction? How do you feel about meeting Ben Dover as your cell-mate? Do we break out our house windows and commence an armed stand-off. I mean, let's get serious here. You all know how those things end. I'll tell you one thing, you had better find more reasonable alternatives instead of just relying on lawless behavior, or kindly cops who will refuse to enforce the law, because I really don't think either of those choices are going to work out well for you. It really is time to contemplate some serious and realistic ways to fight these encroachments instead of cultivating Rambo fantasies. It's time to rein in our fictional views of the world and start concentrating on responsible ways to turn this nonsense around. I listed a bunch of things a few replies back that apparently didn't catch much attention of the gung-ho Rambo fantasizers. I find that most of the people that are eager to cop the law-breaker scenario are not even serious enough to send out a simple e-mail when these bills are proposed. And judging from the low percentage of gun owners that are members of the NRA, my guess is that damned few even support any of the gun advocacy (lobby) groups. The point is that all this law breaking and revolutionary talk and nonsense about cops not enforcing felony laws, are just the lazy man's way of doing nothing. At least that's the way I see it. I know that sounds awful hard-core, but those who are serious about the issue are already planning and scheming about the next election and how to send a permanent message to any would-be politicians about how they should vote on these kinds of laws. They are supporting some of the gun advocacy groups that have the real resources to fight this nonsense and seeing to it that they are counted in the struggle for gun owner's rights. People who are seriously concerned about the direction of gun laws are busy doing something, anything, about it, not sitting back and spouting all these movie themes and dooms-day scenarios.

Oh crap! That dark spot grabbed my attention and didn't notice the missing stuff ..... lol. I suppose that could have been done by just about anything. Auto, coyote, bear, dog, old hunting wound, etc. Doesn't seem to bother the way that she walks or anything.

I will guess that it is the shedding of her summer coat. The infra-red kind of accentuates the look of it. The under-hair is a dark brown instead of the lighter reddish color, and the black and white of the IR makes it all a bit exaggerated.

So, let's say I were to buy into all this doom and gloom stuff. How about I even go along with VJP's call to arms. I decide I am going to become a felon and disobey every law I can figure out an excuse to disobey. I guess I kind of become the lowlife scumbag criminal that I currently have no use for. Why not since I now believe the cops will side with me and not arrest me since they obviously have the power to set their own agenda apart from the other branches of government. So I guess the next logical "patriotic" thing to do is to go join some militia and live in a bunker on some compound. Start gathering up as much diesel fuel and fertilizer as I can steal. And since my aim is now to overturn the government, the great revolution begins. I'm still wondering about my new band of friends and felons and why I would trust them to come up with a new form of government that isn't worse than the former. Oh damn .... Wait a minute, this stuff is so stupid and ridiculous that I can't even pretend it. What makes people entertain themselves with such rubbish? Does anybody even bother to think through with these wacko imaginations? What is the fascination with all these conspiratorial fantasies? I can't even work myself into that kind of mentality using my wildest powers of imagination. I guess I just haven't seen enough Vin Diesel or Rambo movies yet .... lol.

We always like to tell the stories about that big buck that we got. But How about experiences where you didn't get anything? deer hunting is about a lot more than just the shooting a big buck. How about those times when the deer never gave you a shot, or some other critter made the hunt memorable or maybe some other weird but memorable thing happened? How about fessing up to a severe case of buck fever that totally screwed you out of a kill. I have a few recollections of watching other hunters do some screwy things. Also some situations where I could hear a buck but never saw him. I have also had some close encounters with squirrels, chipmunks, and raccoons. And then there were the weird noises heard on the way home in the dark. And then the two times I almost got ran over by a deer. There has to be a million stories that could serve as warm-ups for the coming season. How about a few.

Somewhere I heard about that torture procedure ...... Yuck! ...... pretty gross.

I'm a bit behind the curve in terms of wising up as to how much real crap there is on the internet that is passing for news these days. I have no problems with people stirring up the emotions of gun owners in an effort to spur action, but just to maintain a position of credibility, it only works when honesty and integrity is used. Now I am not saying that this lady is lying, or that she is mistaken. The fact is that I simply don't know. But I get real doubtful when all those that are reporting this info all use a single un-verified source as the center of their news item.

Here's what bothers me about a lot of this thread. It really sounds like a lot of guys are engaging in wishful thinking. Seriously, it does sound like there is an underlying thought that believes that we have no action required because there are no law enforcement people who would or should enforce anti-gun laws. I'm here to tell you that there will be law enforcement people who will do their duty. If by chance one of them decides to turn their head, there are plenty of others that won't. And we should not be banking on the hope that they will not do the job they are being paid to do. Instead of hoping for the impossible, we need to approach all this in a very serious way and rely on our own resources to make these laws go away. Further we need to do our best to make those legislators who voted for the so-called Safe Act, very, very, sorry that they did. We need to make a political statement on election day that is remembered by all future successfully elected legislators. We need to support those candidates that did vote against the Safe Act to ensure their re-election. We need to send follow-up letters and emails explaining why we voted the way we did. We need to support those organizations that are carrying on lobbying efforts on our behalf (with both our membership and any other forms of support) . We need to support those organizations that are bank-rolling and conducting the legal battles against the Safe Act. We also need to make reasonable, and logical and well thought out public statements in the editorial pages of our local newspapers and any other public media explaining the positions of gun owners. What we do not need to do is to start pinning our hopes on the law enforcement people spearheading some kind of revolt for us by refusing to do their duty to enforce the law. They are working men and women who take their jobs seriously and are not in any position that requires them to make more sacrifices than any of us. I for one, do not expect them to sacrifice their jobs or their duties to uphold the law. I don't think any of us have the right to demand that. Especially since most of us have not even scratched the surface on things that we as individuals can do.

Oh my gosh ..... not another "the sky is falling" guy.....lol. The world is getting filled with conspiracy fanatics. You know that sort of thing is fun to fantasize about as long as you don't get to tangled up in actually believing it all.

So I went looking for independent verification of this story and found a lot of them. And in each one, they all refer to the book by Emily Miller as their source ..... that was without exception. I have a real problem with that. I will not say that the story is completely bogus, but I am beginning to suspect that. It points up that the news (particularly internet news) cannot be trusted because they all grab unsubstantiated news sources and print it as fact. What kind of journalism is that? I have no idea where this Emily Miller got her version and for all I know it could be something that is being taken completely out of context, or even just a flat lie. At any rate, this whole thread is not really anything that anyone should take as something to get terribly excited over.

That does not make it right. Imagine a legal system where cops answered a call if they felt like it..... Or broke up a fight only if they were in the right neighborhood..... Or stopped a burglary only when they felt in the mood....or let a criminal walk if they happen to like the guys story. Yeah, all these things do happen, but that doesn't make it right. When it comes to our protection, I think we would rather not have their actions based on how they felt about what was going on. The fact is that if there is a law on the books and they witness a violation of that law, and they ignore it, they are not doing their job. And of course this stuff gets even more important when we are talking about felonies......like we are.

I believe that all people should do the job they are being paid for. If a time comes that they don't like the job they are being paid to do, the thing to do is to resign. It really is no more complicated than that for a law enforcement officer in this country. What really makes me uncomfortable is a LEO picking and choosing what laws they wish to enforce and who they pick and choose to enforce them against. This is where some real abuses can occur and where some real needed enforcement can conveniently slip through the cracks. We have a legal system that relies on each member doing a specific duty. That system does not rely on LEOs taking on the responsibilities of the judicial branches of our government. That is not their job or their right. If they encounter a conflict, they have the option of getting another job. Also, as you mentioned there is absolutely no comparison in scale or content between any U.S. law that is likely to ever be passed, and the Holocaust. So your hypothetical is not even in the realm of this discussion. Our LEOs are never faced with that kind of decision and if they ever are, I would expect them to take their complaint to a higher level. If that doesn't resolve their conflict, they simply resign. Nobody is holding a gun to their head.

Private land vs. public land........ I wonder how many guys on private land get bored to death because there is no one to boot the deer in the butt to get them moving? We have a 300 acre parcel adjacent to some state land that used to be crazy with activity and shooting and deer running everywhere before it got posted up. Well, a guy bought the land, posted the hell out of it, put in all kind of food plots and everything and hunts it by himself with a couple of other guys. I haven't heard a shot out of that land in 4 years.

Squirrels have been known to migrate. There are historical accounts of several massive squirrel migrations as a result of food source failures. What they are describing are huge migrations, where large numbers of squirrels just picked up and moved long distances. Apparently, these massive migrations are an extremely rare event, but it does show that they are not really comp[lately residential in nature. It would not surprise me if mini-migrations don't occur on a regular basis as a result of food sources. So it is very possible that you might find jillions of them one year and hardly any the next.

Yeah I know, it is open revolt or nothing. legal routes be damned! I have to say that if all you can do is fold your tent and flee, I am guessing it's not a great loss. But the antis will not drive me out.

If they are doing their job, they have to enforce it. If they can't do their job, they need to find some other line of work. I don't applaud anyone for doing what they are paid to do. And if they are going to accept a wage for enforcing the law then I expect them to do what they have contracted to do ..... or resign. If I don't like it then it's up to me to get involved in changing it.

I've had days like that, but it sounds like you have settled into a regular lifestyle of bad luck. You have my condolences.

What is it about that picture that just seems so damned wrong ..... lol. Talk about seeing something that makes you "pucker-up". Yuck!

Oh for crying out loud, what is all this concern about what other hunters are seeing/getting. Who the heck am I trying to impress .... lol. If somebody else is telling me about their deer, I simply nod my head, slap them on the back and congratulate them for getting a great deer (regardless of what it looks like). And I want to hear the entire story in as much detail as they want to supply. What business do I have doing otherwise. Man, I do miss the days before scoring became such a big deal. Now-a-days when you tell somebody you got a deer, the first words out of their mouth is "what did it score". If you don't come back with a number that they are impressed with, they will do there best to wreck the whole experience for you. And if your answer is that it was a doe, they immediately walk away or change the subject .... lol. The whole hunting experience has been reduced to numbers. I really don't get it. I really don't have any need to impress anybody by listing some numerical value that serves as my goal. And by the same token, I am not really all that impressed by anyone else's numerical goals.

That's it!!! But I never seen it used with a power drill. That looks like it works real slick. But Paula is right. Those things used to be sold everywhere and were dirt cheap. Maybe what ever he's selling for a drill bit (probably just a long wood screw...lol) and the shipping is why he's asking so much for it. Also, it has been a long time since I have seen them so I have to allow for inflation. I'll check with the wife and see if she wants to get one. We didn't put any corn in this year, but might grow a bit next year as long as there is a decent way of getting recognizable kernels off the cob.

Is there really anybody other than myself who is truly interested in what I consider to be a big buck? I doubt it. It really is a personal decision and boils down to, "I'll know it when I see it". I'm not going to try to impress everyone by listing my qualifications for a shootable buck. Nobody really cares.

Rain gear ...... always a problem. The soft stuff is exactly like you say, it isn't as waterproof as it is advertised. The hard, plasticy sort of stuff crinkles and makes all kinds of noise. And none of it is suitable for bow shooting as far as being interference-free. Sorry .... in all my years, I have not come across anything that serves all my purposes. I either get wet, or go home, or both.