Mr VJP

This is an editorial from The Shooting Wire. To whom do you turn when the chief law enforcement officer of the land ignores you? That's the question being asked across the firearms industry as Attorney General Eric Holder continues to turn a blind eye to BATFE disaster increasingly being referred to as "Project Gunwalker". As facts emerge, it appears that ATF agents actually let firearms "walk" into Mexico as part of some screwball operation designed to see where the guns turned up. The idea they would let this number of guns (some are now saying up to 2,500) "walk" into what is basically a combat zone (Mexico), is screwball enough; the truly crazy thing now the Justice Department continuing to call for crackdowns on legal gun dealers while ignoring a half-baked scheme to go investigated. Increasingly, evidence says that murdered Border Patrol agent Brian Terry was killed by one of those walking firearms. And the Justice Department refuses to comment. Fortunately, National Gun Rights Examiner David Codrea and blogger Mike Vanderboegh got onto the story early and refused to let it die - or be swept under the bureaucratic carpet. Now, it's getting major national attention. In fact, CBS News has called it a story bigger than Ruby Ridge or Waco - not what an administration that wants to crackdown on private firearms rights wants to hear. Now, Senator Charles Grassley of Iowa-who just so happens to be ranking minority member of the Senate Judiciary Committee - is calling for a full investigation of the ATF and Justice Department actions. ATF and Justice have stonewalled to this point, but organizations like the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms (CCRKBA) have started calling for more than an investigation- they want the immediate firing of acting ATF Director Kenneth Melson, a new director from outside the agency, and a full and open investigation of the whole sorry mess. And CCRKBA head Alan Gottlieb has said that, should Attorney General Holder remain reluctant to investigate ATF and "gunwalker" he, too, should be shown the door. After roiling across the internet via discussion boards, forums and all the social media much the same way democracy has shaken up the middle east and given Colonel Khadafy and other despots fits, it looks like mainstream media -or at least CBS News - has found a hot story to ride. Here, in the crucible where the idea of democracy was formed, it remains to be seen if our current leadership is even paying attention. Unfortunately, the administration's idea of policing firearms is much like the old saw about the NCAA's unwillingness to punish marquee schools. "The NCAA's so angry at Kentucky," the old saw used to go, "that they've given Slippery Rock three more years of probation." In this sad scenario, anyone who is a law-abiding gun owner is being cast as Slippery Rock. Hopefully, Senator Grassley will stick to his proverbial guns and get to the bottom of "gunwalker" - no matter how distasteful the findings. Should the administration not toss the old cloak of "national security" over the whole thing, we'll likely find that once again, we've set our lowered expectations not nearly low enough. The Justice Department has already started their crab-walk away from the whole affair, saying ATF - an agency under their ultimate responsibility- would never "knowingly" allow such a thing to happen. Unfortunately, we've become so numbed to poor conduct from our government that it's not going to be hard to predict the way the administration would like to see this play out. If- the Senate gets its investigation, top officials will disavow any knowledge of the event - or be unable to determine who gave the ultimate permission for it to happen. A few lower-level administrators will be ceremonially tossed to the wolves in a bit of misdirection that would make a Las Vegas magician proud. I realize that's cynical; but it has been allowed to happen innumerable times before. This time, we need to let our "elite leadership" know they're neither following nor above the law. A housecleaning is still essential to clean up the mess, even if there is an honest investigation. --Jim Shepherd

An old retired sailor puts on his old uniform and heads for the docks once more for old time's sake. He engages a prostitute and takes her up to a room. He's soon going at it as well as he can for a guy his age, but needing some reassurance, he asks, "How am I doing?" The prostitute replies, "Well old sailor, you're doing about three knots." "Three knots?" he asks, "What's that supposed to mean?" She says, "You're knot hard, you're knot in, and you're knot getting your money-back!

I suspect it won't bother them, because they are also of the opinion that all opinions are valid and no one is ever responsible for anything. Except, fifty years from now you will still hear them claiming it's all Bush's fault! :

True Dat Joe!! Live face to face debate required skill and knowledge, as well as the ability to think fast and speak forcefully. Texting and twittering has killed intelligent verbal banter in the young today.

Wrong again fool. I'm well aware of the ideology of some of the student body. That doesn't mean it shouldn't be exposed when ever such disgraceful actions occur. I assume you are of like mind since you took offense to the post, but not to the disrespect of the soldier.

It took you a whole month to compose that thought?? I can tolerate another man's opinion if he can back it up with an intelligent reason for having it. At least that leaves open the possibility of informed debate, as opposed to mindless insults from a fool.

What?

Saudi Citizen in Texas Charged in Suspected Bombing Plot Published February 24, 2011 http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/02/24/saudi-citizen-texas-charged-suspected-bombing-plot/ Lubbock Sheriff's Office Khalid Aldawsari, a 20-year-old college student near Lubbock, Texas, allegedly targeted the Dallas home of former President George W. Bush. A Saudi Arabian citizen suspected of planning a terrorist attack using explosive chemicals has been arrested by the FBI. Khalid Aldawsari, a 20-year-old college student near Lubbock, Texas, allegedly targeted the Dallas home of former President George W. Bush. He was arrested late Tuesday on a federal charge of attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction. “Yesterday’s arrest demonstrates the need for and the importance of vigilance and the willingness of private individuals and companies to ask questions and contact the authorities when confronted with suspicious activities,” said James T. Jacks, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas. Federal prosecutors say Aldawsari had been researching online how to construct an improvised explosive device using several chemicals as ingredients. Authorities say Aldawsari's diary indicated the young man had been plotting an attack for years and obtained a scholarship so he could come directly to the United State to carry out jihad. “As alleged in the complaint, Aldawsari purchased ingredients to construct an explosive device and was actively researching potential targets in the United States. Thanks to the efforts of many agents, analysts and prosecutors, this plot was thwarted before it could advance further,” said Assistant Attorney General Kris. “This case serves as another reminder of the need for continued vigilance both at home and abroad.” Aldawsari is expected to appear in federal court in Lubbock on Friday morning. He faces a maximum sentence of life in prison and a $250,000 fine if convicted of attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction.

Columbia University students heckled a war hero during a town-hall meeting on whether ROTC should be allowed back on campus. "Racist!" some students yelled at Anthony Maschek, a Columbia freshman and former Army staff sergeant awarded the Purple Heart after being shot 11 times in a firefight in northern Iraq in February 2008. Others hissed and booed the veteran. Maschek, 28, had bravely stepped up to the mike Tuesday at the meeting to issue an impassioned challenge to fellow students on their perceptions of the military. "It doesn't matter how you feel about the war. It doesn't matter how you feel about fighting," said Maschek. "There are bad men out there plotting to kill you." Several students laughed and jeered the Idaho native, a 10th Mountain Division infantryman who spent two years at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington recovering from grievous wounds. Maschek, who is studying economics, miraculously survived the insurgent attack in Kirkuk. In the hail of gunfire, he broke both legs and suffered wounds to his abdomen, arm and chest. He enrolled last August at the Ivy League school, where an increasingly ugly battle is unfolding over the 42-year military ban there. More than half of the students who spoke at the meeting -- the second of three hearings on the subject -- expressed opposition to ROTC's return. Many of the 200 students in the audience held anti-military placards with slogans such as, "1 in 3 female soldiers experiences sexual assault in the military." The university has created a task force polling 10,000 students on the issue, but would not release the vote tally of the 1,300 who have already responded. In 2005, when the university last voted to reject ROTC's return, it cited the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy. That policy was overturned in December, but resistance remains.

AHH, a reply from the other member of the Three Stooges. Boys, I feel sorry for you. No one should have to go through life they way you guys will. Suit yourselves.

Lee Greenwood - god bless the USA is actually playing right now! Too funny! Itunes country station. AH HA! Thats no coincedence my freind! And every time you post, one can hear the theme from "Looney Tunes".

I do not like people speaking badly about my country or its citizens. Please stop doing that. > I'm speaking about MY country here, and I'm speaking from my 55 year old point of view. I've seen America in decline since 1970 and have watched itself corrode from within. I've seen the left change it into what it is today, a mere shell of what it once was. Because I love America and it's greatness, I get very depressed with it's current state of affairs and the mindset of some of it's citizens. I am not bad mouthing this country or all of it's citizens. I am speaking out against it's possible demise caused by some of it's less than informed, oblivious citizens. "Experience should teach us to be most on guard to protect Liberty when the Government's purposes are beneficent. Men born to freedom are naturally alert to repel invasion of their liberty by evil minded rulers. The greatest dangers to liberty lurk in insidious encroachment by men of zeal, well-meaning, but without understanding." Louis Brandeis

You're wrong about that. Because many American's are so clueless, it will be a lot worse.

I'm starting to believe you two must be plants from anti-hunting, anti-gun, left wing liberal lunacy groups. You don't support any of the rights hunters and gun owners need for their pursuit of happiness. :

Some of us can research history as well as read though. Arrowflinger, they teach an incorrect version of history in schools today, at all levels, if they are able to get away with it. If not, they avoid teaching it at all.

There are stacks of original documents from the founding fathers that go into great detail regarding their thoughts on the Constitution as well as the Bill of Rights. They reside in the Library of Congress as do the original Federalist's Papers. That is how we know what the founders intended, they actually wrote volumes on their thoughts at the time. Your response is also how I know they don't teach history in American schools anymore. Do you think historians don't have evidence, in writing, of all of the historical American documents and their rough drafts? They do. You may want to look into them. You may be very surprised they prove liberal bashing of the US Constitution is a lie.

I use 4064 in my .30-06 and 7mm-08 loads, but I'd have to check the book to see if it works in the .223. Being that it is a stick powder rather than ball, I think it would be a little harder to work with in the .223 case.

I called the taxidermist for an update on my bear rug and skull. Looks like I won't see the skull until May and the rug until July. The tannery, bug box guy and the taxidermist are all very busy. I guess they need to make a year's worth of income all at once, so it doesn't surprise me.

Virgil, all of the infringements that have been placed on the right to bear arms since 1776 may be in violation of the 2nd Amendment and unconstitutional. Without the SCOTUS ruling on every one of these oppressive laws, they continue to stand on the books to harass gun owners. I believe many of these laws would be declared unconstitutional if they were in front of the SCOTUS. The US government works very hard, with great expense to taxpayers, to keep these laws from SCOTUS scrutiny though. It took 40 years to get the handgun ban in Washington D.C. before the court and it was lifted. But for 40 years D.C. residents suffered under an unconstitutional law that cost many innocent lives. Gun ownership in America is a direct check on the power of the government. That is exactly what the founders had in mind when they wrote the 2nd Amendment. That is exactly why the government tries everything in it's power to nullify that right.

Welcome aboard DeerStalker.

Isn't that the parents job? You can't possibly entrust your children's future and way of thinking in some one else. I know its easier to stand and point fingers but really it is all in how a child is raised to begin with. Actually, it is the parents job to instruct their children in the ways of society. Morals, religion, culture, family values, work ethic, abortion, adoption, freedom, patriotism, hunting, gun ownership and even fishing are all solely the parents area of instruction. Educators are needed to teach Math, Science, English, Spelling, analytical thinking, etc. All things that are required to turn out a well educated American. Factual things that are necessary skills to survive in the world. Things that require a practiced system of problem solving and conclusions. What happens in college, and even high school today is, educators encroach on the parents area of teaching and tell the students their parents are wrong, they are stupid, they lied to you, and we are smarter than they are. We are superior in our views. Since the students look up to teachers as leaders, they will often adopt their views to emulate them and get a good grade. They may also turn against their parents and all of their family's values, causing a breakdown there and psychological confusion for the youth well into their years. This was the process practiced by the Communists during the Cold War years. It was so effective, children even turned their own parents over to the secret police to gain approval from the state. Observe the massive rise in Charter schools, private schools and home schooling in America now. All signs of parents not being happy with state educators. We see a lot of graduates in America with degrees in Sociology, Psychology, English Literature and various Liberal Arts areas. These areas of study leave lots of room for indoctrination into the Leftist manifesto. One degree that is very lacking from colleges today, and has a high demand in the teaching profession is History. It's not the realm of the Liberals that were raised in the 60's, lived a totally bohemian lifestyle and eventually moved into and dominated higher education in America. They always seemed to have an aversion to capitalism, free enterprise and hard work anyway. Now they are passing their beliefs on to our children and grandchildren with total disregard to their upbringing and their parents wishes. So I guess it boils down to, parents should teach their children what to think. Educators should teach their students how to think. And that is how it should be.

Teachers should be monitored to insure they are teaching students HOW to think, not WHAT to think! If they are into brainwashing, they should get washed out of the profession so they can join a cult that pushes that agenda. Part of this country's economic and political problems stem from misinformation planted in the minds of college graduates who bring socialist and communist ideas into the work place when they get hired. They believe they need to force change on everything. They have no idea how many problems change can create if it isn't productive change for the good of all. They never see the failure of a bad change implemented and prefer to find a reason to blame someone else for it's failure. Either that, or they want the failed change to be even more forceful and oppressive, claiming the one implemented wasn't severe enough to work right!

Lawsuits Impact Wildlife Funding, Taxpayer Dollars MISSOULA, Montana-Legal defense costs are an increasing drain on conservation funding today. Alarmed by the trend, the Boone and Crockett Club has launched a new examination of federal statutes that enable ongoing litigation at a high cost to wildlife and the American taxpayer. The Club's primary concern is the Equal Access to Justice Act (EAJA), which reimburses organizations that successfully sue federal agencies for non-compliance with federal law. Although well intended, abuses of EAJA are escalating into a modern conservation issue with potentially severe long-term consequences. "The Club was and is deeply involved in designing and now protecting the economic engines that drive conservation in America," said Ben Wallace, president of Boone and Crockett Club, "Since the 1880s, we've been the guardian of the most successful wildlife conservation system in the world. It's a system that depends on funding, and we take very seriously the fact that money and other resources intended to support conservation are being diverted elsewhere." Past Club President Lowell E. Baier is leading the ongoing investigation and his preliminary findings were reported in a two-article series published in Boone and Crockett's magazine, "Fair Chase." The articles, complete with detailed background and statistics, are now available free to the public at www.boone-crockett.org EAJA was written to reimburse legal costs incurred by small nonprofit organizations along with for-profit organizations with net worth of less than $7 million. However, America's two largest animal rights groups have filed numerous cases under EAJA even though their 2009 combined net assets exceeded $209.6 million and cash balances exceeded $44.5 million. Another abuse uncovered by Baier: In 2008, an animal rights group won a legal ruling regarding wolves and petitioned a federal court in Missoula, Mont., for $388,370 in attorney fees. The judge awarded $263,099, which was based on an hourly rate of $300-even though the federal limit is $125 per hour. In 2007, the same litigant was awarded $280,000 following a similar case in the Great Lakes area. The defendant in both cases was the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, whose budget-regardless of whether it's spent on wildlife or lawyers-is financed by a combination of sportsmen fees and tax dollars. Taxpayers bear all EAJA reimbursements to plaintiffs. Indirect costs are considerable, too. Nearly all resource management proposals are now subject to ever-higher hidden fees as federal agencies spend more and more time and resources on elaborate environmental impact statements and other attempts to "suit proof" their decision-making processes. In some cases, where the intent of the lawsuit is to stop a proposed federal action, the delays and costs to a federal agency can derail time sensitive projects even if the eventual court ruling goes against the plaintiffs. Along with wildlife, other public land- and water-based resource agencies that deal with energy, timber, agriculture, livestock and fisheries also are increasingly impacted by legal actions taken under the provisions of EAJA. EAJA clearly encourages frequent legal challenges by some nonprofits that are, in reality, "big business." These organizations are literally making their living by suing a variety of government agencies. Does EAJA, especially its payments to successful litigants with no reciprocal penalties for losses in court, still make sense today? Baier's preliminary study finds that EAJA needs intensive review. Appropriate modifications could help make laws that are more effective, efficient and resistant to courts deciding wildlife management policies via taxpayer subsidized lawsuits.

Welcome aboard