ISRA Statement on Chicago Schools CEO Arne Duncan

ISRA Press Release: ISRA Statement on Chicago Schools CEO Arne Duncan

CHICAGO, April 2, 2008 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following was released today by the Illinois State Rifle Association (ISRA): On Tuesday, April 1, 2008, Chicago Schools CEO Arne Duncan stood at a lectern in the Thompson Center Plaza and essentially blamed the state's hunters and sportsmen for the murders of 20 Chicago school children. Duncan made his appearance during a gun control rally sponsored by Rev. Michael Pfleger of St. Sabina's Catholic Church. Pfleger is best remembered for his speech at an earlier gun control rally during which he called for the murder of gun shop owners and state legislators who oppose gun control laws. Interestingly enough, at about the same time that Duncan was delivering his rant against the state's law abiding firearm owners, a report was released in "Catalyst Magazine" that indicates that just 51% of freshmen enrolled in Chicago public high schools stick it out to graduate. "Studies by the Chicago Police Department indicate that 88% of murders are committed by people with previous criminal records," commented ISRA Executive Director Richard Pearson. "Likewise, those same reports show that about 76% of murder victims had records as well. Nonetheless, opportunists like Pfleger and Duncan persist in shifting the blame away from failed public policies and towards law-abiding hunters and sportsmen. The gun control measures these people advocate will never succeed in thwarting crime because they totally ignore the criminal element." "It's ironic that the truth about Duncan's administration was being released just as he was damning the state's law-abiding gun owners," continued Pearson. "Maybe if Duncan did a better job keeping his charges in school, they wouldn't be out on the streets beating, knifing and shooting one another to death. If Duncan had any sense of responsibility at all, he would have been at the microphone apologizing to the people of Illinois for wasting their time and tax dollars. By all rights, Arne Duncan should be returning 49% of his $200,000 annual salary to the Chicago treasury. He's doing half a job -- so he deserves half his pay." The ISRA is the state's leading advocate of safe, lawful and responsible firearms ownership. Since 1903, the ISRA has represented the interests of over 1.5 million law-abiding Illinois firearm owners.

AEI - Events - The Obama Challenge - What Is the Right Change to Help All Americans Pursue Happiness and Create Prosperity?

Here's a video worth watching: http://www.aei.org/events/eventID.1701,filter.all,type.past/event_detail.asp (click on "Video" on the upper right hand side of the page).

Newt Gingrich talks about the right changes required to turn around this country and best equip Americans to pursue happiness and create prosperity.

This is probably the best quote in the whole speech:

"You don't have a community that creates wealth that ends up prosperous and safe and gives kids a better future if everyone is taught to stand around demanding that somebody else pay for everything. And this is a core challenge. Should this be a country in which every person learns to work, every person learns to save, every person learns to have a better future, and, by the way, is therefore responsible for working, saving, and creating a better future? Or is this a country where you shouldn't have to do all those things because it's too hard, and someone should take care of you? In which case, the question becomes: who's the someone, and why do you think they'll stay here? It's a fundamental question..."

-Bob

Privacy gone bad - Librarian fired for reporting child porn

Here is what happens when you take "privacy" too far:

Mathew Staver, Founder and Chairman
Liberty Counsel

Robert,

Brenda Biesterfeld needs your help.

Brenda did something I hope all of us would have the courage to do...

She blew the whistle on a man at her local library who was viewing child porn on the public library computers. The police caught him in the act and arrested him. The authorities then searched his home and found more child pornography.

Two days after she reported the man, Brenda was fired! In fact, within hours of when she reported the man to the police, she was reprimanded by her boss for invading his "privacy." And then, without warning, she was fired.   
I am asking you to sign a Petition calling for Brenda’s immediate reinstatement -- along with a formal apology from Lindsay, California library officials. Go here: http://www.libertyaction.org/r.asp?u=5623&RID=14677738

Liberty Counsel has taken up Brenda's case and we have already sent a Demand Letter to Lindsay library officials. But now I need your help to show those officials and the national media that we will not tolerate this outrageous firing -- and we will not sit by quietly when local officials take the side of child pornographers!

Please sign the petition today. I have posted more information on the petition site. The more you learn about this case, the more outraged you will be.

Thank you for your immediate action.
Mathew Staver, Founder and Chairman
Liberty Counsel

P.S. It took great courage for Brenda to take such a strong stand against child porn in her library. We need more citizens like Brenda! That’s why we cannot allow this library to get away with punishing her. Thank you for standing with Brenda:  http://www.libertyaction.org/r.asp?u=5623&RID=14677738   

It appears that the keys words here are "public library". Notice that "public library" starts with "public"? Since when is what you do in a public place an issue of privacy? It must be that viewing child porn is only legal in a public library, as we all know, it's illegal everywhere else.

Roger Hedgecock (http://worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=60042) had this to say:

"Let's be clear. Child porn is not protected free speech, not protected by either the federal Constitution or the California Constitution and violates California criminal law. When librarians witness this crime, they are right to call the police."

I'm with Roger on this one! Have you signed the petition yet? How about we get rid of the ACLU?

-Bob

DHS's bogus border fence claims

Isn't it great when a government agency who's explicit purpose is to
protect our country, is working hard to be prevent it? Here is an
e-mail I receive to today about the border fence issue:

From the Desk of:
Steve Elliott, President, Grassfire.org Alliance

3/27/2008

Dear Robert,

Thank you so much for signing Grassfire's petition to
Restore the Secure Fence Act.

Our research staff just uncovered another reason why your petition
is so vital. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is once
again inflating its numbers of the amount of border fence that
has been built. They claim over 300 miles. Reality check:
less than 10 miles of double-layer fencing has been built
since the Secure Fence Act was passed 18 months ago.

It's basically another border fence hoax. See our full report here
of how DHS inflates its numbers to claim over 300 miles of fencing:

http://www.grassfire.net/r.asp?U=5626&RID=15635887

And progress has slowed to a crawl. Since last September, DHS
has only built 6 miles of pedestrian fence and 35 miles of vehicle
barriers. And their "virtual" fence test was a total failure.

So with the "sunset" clause set to go into effect in just nine
months, it is clear that DHS is doing nothing more than playing
games and juggling numbers. Even worse, DHS is counting so-called
"vehicle barriers" for half of its claimed progress. Just one
problem -- illegal aliens can walk right through the vehicle barriers!

The clock is ticking and you and I must do all we can to restore
the Secure Fence Act.

++ Please forward this message to your friends

We still are far short of our goal to rally 250,000 signers of
our "Restore The Fence Act" petition before next month's delivery
on Capitol Hill.

We need your help.

Please forward this message to your friends
and ask them to sign the petition to restore the
Secure Fence Act:

http://www.grassfire.net/r.asp?u=5630&PID=15635887

Again, please read our special report on the games DHS is playing
with the border fence, and with our nation's security! Go here:

http://www.grassfire.net/r.asp?U=5627&RID=15635887

And thanks in advance for taking action with us to spread the word

Steve Elliott, President
Grassfire.org

Exactly how is the DHS providing "Homeland Security" by lying to US?

-Bob

Capitol Commentary on DC v Heller - a light at the end of the tunnel?

Here's the lastest from the ISRA:

Capitol Commentary By Todd Vandermyde

This edition will focus on the oral arguments in the DC gun ban. Headlines across the country are screaming that a majority of the court appears to back the individual right to bear arms. This revelation came on page 13 in reading the transcripts of the hearing. There Justice Kennedy often a swing vote on the Court referenced Article 1 Section 8 in dealing with militias and said this: “And my question is, the question before us, is how and to what extent did it supplement it (Article 1 Section 8). And in my view it supplemented it by saying there's a general right to bear arms quite without reference to the militia either way.” Reports from the hearing say no gasp was heard by those in attendance, but after reading those words in light of the peppering the DC lawyer was taking, you have to imaging the hearts of anti-gunners just sank like the Titanic. That would explain the shift in comments made by anti-gunners where they discarded the militia reading and now attempt to salvage their cause by hoping the Court will allow local communities and states to make their own laws, based upon their own political leanings. For months we have been hearing and reading on blogs arguments within the anti-gun community about letting the DC case go and taking the hit from the appellate court. The damage would be limited to DC and other laws around the country would be left intact and unchallenged. They saw the chance to lose and lose big. IF the questions and tone of the hearing are any indication they were right in their fears. Reading further in to the 90 pages other issues come up. At the very end limits on the number of guns comes up. On page 88 Justice Scalia shows his understanding of guns by rattling off what one might consider those in his collection of wish list. Going to the question of if the government could limit the number firearms a person could own. Kennedy again jumps in and presses the DC lawyer for an answer on that hypothetical question. Again DC tries to cast aspersions on the notion that of a standard test for which gun laws would be measured would be fair. Attempting to play on regional and political lines down playing a one size fits all ruling from the Court. This line of questions from Justice Scalia and Kennedy would appear to cast doubt on the validity of one-gun per month laws and other rationing schemes. There also was a fair amount of time in parsing the amendment, with several of the Justices looking at the wording as providing two or maybe even three rights. First that of States’ having a militia. Second, pun intended, that of the individual to possess and “keep” arms. Then with debate and discussion turning towards the word “bear”. As you read the transcripts it hints at carry laws, but never quite gets there. Could they find a third right in the carrying of firearms for self defense? Dunno but on two occasions they dance around the issue with the talk of bearing a gun for hunting on page 36. You can almost hear the concern in Justice Souter’s voice over the interpretation and parsing of the words. This strikes me as poetic justice. For years the anti-gun crowd have argued no right existed and parse commas and demand the militia be all controlling. Yet what took place at the Court was anything but. With justices saying that the militia was one of at least two parts of the Amendment, and parsing out the individual words of keep and bear. Framing it in distinct individual rights for each. The antis’ hearts had to sink lower as the debate wore on. An almost comical exchange takes place with Chief Justice Roberts attempting to describe the process of awakening to a burglar breaking into ones’ home and trying to get a trigger lock off of a firearm. If Justice Roberts’ line of thinking and questioning would prevail, then laws that prevent people from having firearms available for self defense in their homes would be struck down. Laws that hold a gun owner civilly liable for kids that get a hold of firearms and injure someone could be legal. But the overriding thought of the day is probably best summed up by Justice Roberts question “What is reasonable about a total ban on possession?” With that, it appears that whole sale gun bans will not stand the scrutiny of the court. The court also dove into the issue of machine guns and licensing. My layman’s view is that the court may well say that the regulation of certain specific guns, like full autos is permissible. This may have been an attempt to keep Justice Kennedy on the side of the individual rights interpretation and not push him over to the other side. It would also appear that the court is leaning towards a ruling, or at least hinting that laws aimed and discouraging citizens from exercising their rights may find a dim view with the court. An example might be that the FOID card at $10 is acceptable to the court, but the $500 FOID card is not. One thing is certain, that with a ruling due out in June, more litigation is sure to follow. But that sound you hear isn’t just Spring, it sounds like freedom.

Maybe a light at the end of the tunnel?

-Bob

ISRA Alert - Cook County Gun Ban

ISRA URGENT ALERT – YOUR IMMEDIATE ATTENTION REQUIRED

Larry Suffredin and his cohorts on the Cook County Board are up to their old tricks again.

In order to justify passage of gun control ordinances designed to close all gun shops and ban and confiscate most guns owned by citizens of the county, the Cook County Board is conducting a telephone poll where callers can vote for or against the gun control ordinances.

Like everything else in Cook County, this poll is probably rigged. So, it’s very important that you do the following:

1. Call 1-312 -603-6400 and select Option #1 when prompted. At the next prompt, select Option #1 again. Then, when prompted to vote on the gun control ordinance, press #2.
2. You should also forward this alert on to all your gun owning friends and have them vote too.
3. You should also post this alert to any and all Internet bulletin boards or blogs to which you belong.

YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BE A RESIDENT OF COOK COUNTY TO VOTE!


Let’s beat Suffredin at his own game! And, save your guns.

I've expressed my opinion to oppose this from all of my phones.  Now, it's your turn to do your part!

-Bob

Tax breaks for terrorists

To make matters worse, the house just passed H.R. 5351 which would give tax breaks to the Venezuela President (Dictator, more accurately) Hugo Chavez. Exactly how does that make sense?

-Bob

Chavez Dares US on Terror List Proposal

Here's a good one:

President Hugo Chavez dared the U.S. on Friday to put Venezuela on a list of countries accused of supporting terrorism

Since the supporter of terrorism has offered, then why not? I'm surprised that they're not already on the list.

-Bob

Democrats Pre-Iraq War View on WMD's and Terrorism

THIS COUNTRY NEEDS TO RUN THIS VIDEO OVER AND OVER UNTIL ALL OF US FULLY UNDERSTAND WHAT IS GOING ON!!!

The most despicable acts of deceit ongoing in this country are the lies and hypocrisy perpetrated by the democrats seen in this short video.

They are so blinded by their hate for our President and the necessities of their party they have betrayed their own consciences.

This should be seen by everyone in America! Please pass it on.

Here's a video compilation you definitely won't see on main stream media.



The next time you hear the expression 'Bush's war' remember this note that there's no 'opinion', just direct video which deserves wide distribution.

-Bob

Everyone Shouldn't Go To College

Michael Robertson asks the question, " Is college really a good financial choice for everyone regardless of sex or race?". College Board thinks so, but, there's always more to it...

Read the full story: http://www.michaelrobertson.com/archive.php?minute_id=257

-Bob

How the Democrats encourage foreign oil...

See: http://www.grouchyoldcripple.com/archives/005312.html

-Bob

The Movie our Lawmakers Don't Want You to See

Here's a movie unlike any other in recent memory. It's called "Border", and it's the one movie the open-bordered leadership in our nation doesn''t want you--or anyone else to see.

Why?

Because it tells a true story. It's not Hollywood fiction with a happy ending. "Borders" is a raw firsthand video record of one man's journey to our borders and the unspeakable horrors that he found.

"Get off the sofa and do something about it!"

Those were the words that started the life-changing journey for Southern California resident Chris Burgard. Tired of hearing his complaints about the immigration crisis, Chris's wife challenged him to take action.

He did, and the result of his year-long journey is "Border".

Here you'll discover the true level of lawlessness at our borders-- the rape trees, and the death. You'll experience the frustration being felt by ranchers, farmers and citizens who are desperately trying to hang on to their land being overrun by vicious gangs and drug smugglers.

And most shocking of all, you'll witness drug mules being escorted across the border into the U.S. by Mexican military!

Our leaders don't want you to know how serious this situation has become. They prefer we all remain ignorant to the real truth--the truth that Chris Burgard captured on film--the truth that I guarantee will make your blood boil!

Click here to witness the truth about our borders: http://www.bordermovie.com/

-Bob

ISRA Alert - Two Anti-Gun Bills Pass Committee

ISRA Alert: VOICE YOUR OPPOSITION TO TWO GUN CONTROL BILLS

A pair of gun control bills passed out of the Executive Committee today: The first bill, HB4357, would prohibit the ownership most of the rifles, shotguns and pistols now on the market. The second bill, HB4393 would prohibit the purchasing of more than one firearm per month. HERE IS WHAT YOU MUST DO TO SAVE YOUR GUNS 1. Contact your State Representative and politely tell him/her that you are opposed to HB4357 and HB4393 and that you would like for him/her to vote against the bill when it comes up. If you do not know who your State Representative is, then go to www.ilga.gov and follow the "Legislator Lookup" link. 2. Pass this alert along to all your gun-owning friends and ask them to follow the instructions above. 3. Please post this alert to any and all Internet bulletin boards to which you belong.

Message to Congress: Build the Fence!

I just signed a petition demanding our leaders in Congress to build the
border fence--as it was promised to us. I'm asking you to join me in
signing.

Click here:

http://www.grassfire.org/242/petition.asp?PID=15635887&NID=1

After passing the Secure Fence Act last year, certain members of
Congress "gutted" the legislation and along with it any hope that a real
fence would be constructed.

A double-layered fence was promised to the American people, and I am
holding leadership accountable and demanding they make good on their
promise.

Two bills are currently in Congress that seek to reform and reinstate
the Secure Fence Act. I support these bills, and urge you to do so as
well by clicking here:

http://www.grassfire.org/242/petition.asp?PID=15635887&NID=1

Thanks for joining with me.

-Bob

The Revenge Candidate?

By Monica Crowley:

Here are five semi-counterintuitive reasons why McCain will be giving the Big Speech in Minneapolis on Labor Day:

1. While conservatives were off flirting with every Rudy, Fred, and Huck, the Nice Guy, Mitt, waited patiently, holding a bouquet. By the time we realized the Flash in the Pan Guys weren't the ones to bring home to mom, it was too late for the Nice Guy. And the Bad Boy already had the ticket to the Big Dance.

... http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=25082

-Bob

Earmarks special on PBS tonight (2/22/08)

Here is an update on the "earmarks" issue

-Bob

From the Desk of:
Steve Elliott, President, Grassfire.org Alliance

2/22/2008

Dear Robert,

I want to thank you for adding your name to our latest petition calling for an end to earmarking in Congress.

My IT staff reports that citizens are signing the petition at a rate of nearly 250 signatures per hour!

Robert, without question this is a critical issue for the American people. That's why I wanted to alert all those who have signed the petition to a program that is airing on PBS tonight (February 22) focusing on "earmarking."

Bill Moyers Journal and the PBS series Expose, profiles Seattle Times reporters as they "follow the money," the flow of billions of dollars siphoned from DC to fund "pet projects."

When: Friday, February 22, 2008
Time: 9 p.m. on PBS (check your local listings)

Click here to check the times in your area:

http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/about/airdates.html.

To watch a special preview, click here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8SYhonCtpP4.

++Action Item--Alert your friends

Regardless of political affiliation, earmarks affect us all. That's why we are urging members of our team to forward this important update to 25-30 friends and family. Encourage them to watch the Moyers special and sign our petition to end earmarks by clicking here:

http://www.grassfire.org/96/petition.asp?PID=15588536

Earmarks have become a symbol of the culture of the widespread corruption on Capitol Hill, and as citizens, we must work diligently to bring a close to this era of dishonesty.

Thanks again for taking quick action with us. Help us spread the word by forwarding this message today.

Steve

P.S: Grassfire has learned that following the broadcast, Seattle Times reporters will answer questions from viewers at the Moyers Blog at:

http://www.pbs.org/moyers.

+ + Sign Grassfire's petition calling for an end to Earmarks:

http://www.grassfire.org/96/petition.asp?PID=15588536

The Unilateral Disarmament Democrats: Putting Trial Lawyers Ahead of Your Family's Safety

From: http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=25105

Newt Gingrich writes:

It's hard to think of an action that has put as many lives at risk as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's (D.-Calif.) declaration of unilateral disarmament in the War on Terror last week.

The rest (and the comments) are well worth reading. Another example of the damage done to our security by the "friendly" democrats...

-Bob

How to Keep Reagan Out of Office

From: http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=25115

Ann Coulter writes:

How did we end up with the mainstream media picking the Republican candidate for president?

It isn't the early primaries, it isn't that we allow Democrats to vote in many of our primaries, and it isn't that the voters are stupid. All of that was true or partially true in 1980 -- and we still got Ronald Reagan.

We didn't get Ronald Reagan this year not just because there's never going to be another Reagan. We will never again get another Reagan because Reagan wouldn't run for office under the current campaign-finance regime.

The rest (and the comments) are well worth reading. Another example of the damage done by McCain...

-Bob

Help End Government Earmarks

I have just signed a national grassroots-led petition to end government
earmarks, and I'm inviting you to join with me and thousands of other
Americans who want this corrupt system brought to an end.

Click here to add your name:

http://www.grassfire.org/96/petition.asp?PID=15588536&NID=1

-Bob

Help Me De-fund Planned Parenthood

I have just signed a national petition to terminate federal funding for
Planned Parenthood and other organizations promoting abortion.

This is a crucial issue that truly needs your immediate attention.
Please click below for more information:

http://grassfire.org/121/petition.asp?PID=15561450&NID=1

-Bob