Name:	MrHodja -	Reply
Subject:	The Elephant In the Room
Date:	6/22/2022 4:23:55 PM (updated 6/22/2022 4:26:08 PM)

So I posted a while back that an actor was given the pulpit in the White House and spouted some common sense.  At least he tried to forge some sort of compromise, albeit not one that would make a l0t of difference.  

I was uninformed about the downside of red flag laws, and now see that their success and fainess depend on how they are implemented and the metrics used for their enforcement.  Jury is definitely still out on that one.  That leaves more restrictive laws to be enforced on law abiding citizens.  Nice thought, but take a look at the following list of persons captured in a sting operation in Central Alabama.  Now mind you, these are only the ones facing Federal charges and there is a group more who were arrested on state charges.  As you read down through the list you will se that laws don't make a whit of a difference to criminals, so what will more and/or more strict laws accomplish?

From the WSFA web site:

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, a total of 18 individuals have been indicted from the Montgomery area on federal charges. Those suspects include:

• Mario Aguilera, 38, for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon;
• Antonio Bailey, 39, for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of a controlled substance;
• Christopher Shay Barron, 45, for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of an unregistered firearm;
• Patrick Bass, 42, for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense;
• Julius Calhoun, 27, for possession of a stolen firearm;
• Rodricko Davis, 30, for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon;
• Christopher Duncan, 39, for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon;
• Antwon Fisher, 38, for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon;
• Arthur Hamilton, 34, on three counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon;
• Deshunquez Harris, 27, for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon;
• Eric Hoskins, 27, for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute;
• Willie Thomas Luckie, Jr., 56, for possession of ammunition by a convicted felon;
• Kendarius Powell, 23, for possession of a stolen firearm;
• Marcus Salter, 26, for possession of a stolen firearm;
• Tadarius Salter, 22, for possession of a stolen firearm;
• Adrian Fitzgerald Talley, III, 29, for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon;
• Jeremiah Trammer, 32, for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of a controlled substance; and
• Christopher Washington, 41, for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

Name:	phil -	Reply
Subject:	The Elephant In the Room
Date:	6/22/2022 4:36:26 PM (updated 6/22/2022 4:37:31 PM)

How is this possible?  I was assured that a background check would stop criminials from getting guns.  Oh right, we do not have that universal background check for all guns yet that criminals are going to use before getting their stolen guns or break another law before the criminal breaks additional laws....   

Name:	Talullahhound -	Reply
Subject:	The Elephant In the Room
Date:	6/22/2022 4:41:06 PM

I think the Red Laws are only "feel good" legislation. It sounds good, but it still involves someone going to court and getting a judgement from the Court that says that they pose a threat and shouldn't be allowed to buy a firearm.  

that's the problem with most gun laws - they won't stop criminals from having guns.  They won't care that it is against the law for them to have them.  A lot of the guns have the serial number filed off, which is why they just drop them after a shooting and don't keep them in their posession.  they are not ghost guns that are made by 3D printing or made from kits.  

As sad as these school shootings are, they are still a rare occurence in the overall population.  What they really need to do is clean up the streets from drug dealers and gang bangers in the inner city.  I also think they need to take a less permissive role in kid that they can see are truly troubled and parents can't or won't do anything about it.  

Name:	phil -	Reply
Subject:	The Elephant In the Room
Date:	6/22/2022 4:56:41 PM

https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/los-angeles-da-gascon-defends-record-denies-double-cop-killer

If only someone could stop criminals from committing crimes... I know it is hard to imagine a DA actually doing something like that.... but lets side with the criminals!!!!!

How about if our Vpotus raises bail funds for criminals who were burning and looting?!?!?

Two quick examples of what is wrong with our prison system, its no longer a punishment to those who deserve it or it has been invaded with politics of diversity/racism to not punish people who commit crimes.  Did they commit the crime Yes or No?  It does not matter if more people of one race/religion/sex is in jail for criminal acts, what matters is did they do it or not!!!

Name:	MrHodja -	Reply
Subject:	The Elephant In the Room
Date:	6/22/2022 5:23:13 PM

If the politicians really wanted to protect the kids they could use some of the billions they waste on green and woke projects and put it into armed security guards at each school.  As it is now the schools are ripe to be killing fields much as Robb was in Uvalde.  Even advertising that some teachers are armed (whether they are or not), and even rotating "pistol duty" among the teachers so a potential attacker could be sure that SOMEONE is armed but not sure which one(s) might thwart them, would deter the cowards from launchung their quest for infamy. 

Speaking of wasted money, the Montgomery Council finally has decided how to use 89 MILLION dollars of COVID money that came from DC.  Free money, and so much it took them this long to figure out how to spend it.  Heaven forbid that they might say "ah, COVID is over and we don't need it" and send it back.

Name:	MartiniMan -	Reply
Subject:	The Elephant In the Room
Date:	6/22/2022 9:55:14 PM

Hodja, I think your original response to this was genuine and on its face reasonable. I objected to the messenger and the message because I doubted red flag laws would solve anything. Bit your point about how they will be implemented is spot on.  How can we trust the government to not abuse them?  We can't.  And how can we trust that vindictive people people will not abuse them?  We can't. And how can we trust that ideologically motivated people will not abuse them?  We can't. But what we can count on is that evil people will circumvent them and cause mayhem like they always do.  More laws that criminals will violate will do nothing and only when we confront the societal rot will things change. I don't believe that we are ready to do that and may never be ready given we live in a post-Christian society.  I like McConoughy but he is wrong messenger with the wrong message. 

Name:	lakngulf -	Reply
Subject:	The Elephant In the Room
Date:	6/23/2022 7:33:52 AM

All you have to do is take a look at Lois Lerner and how she weaponized the IRS.  You think the implementation of "Who can we take guns away from?" will be Justice is Blind.   Hardly.   Bottom line in all fronts these days:  The Government CANNOT be trusted.  

Ronald Reagan:  "Government is not the solution to the problem.  Government is the Problem"

Name:	MartiniMan -	Reply
Subject:	The Elephant In the Room
Date:	6/23/2022 12:43:02 PM (updated 6/23/2022 12:45:49 PM)

Oh, I think there is zero chance this will not be used as a political weapon against conservatives.  I am also 100% certain it will do nothing to solve the problem of why these events are occurring.  All in the name of "doing something".....when in reality they are doing nothing to address the real problem and when shootings continue they will go back to the altar of more laws that abdridge the rights of law-abiding citizens to defend themselves against a tyrranical government.  That is their goal and it makes me sick that so many GOP Senators went along with it.  They are useful idiots.

And your bottom line about not being able to trust government is not a new problem....it is an essential element of government.  That's why the Constitution and Bill of Rights aren't about granting us rights, something that I believe are God given, but about preventing the government from taking those rights away.  I would estimate that 99% of leftists do not understand that because they were indoctrinated in their govt school and cannot read plain English or think critically.

Name:	MrHodja -	Reply
Subject:	Oklahoma Moving in the Right Direction
Date:	6/23/2022 1:14:59 PM

Governor of Oklahoma just signed an EO requiring all state troopers and others who are responsible for school safety to undergo active shooter training.  Also (from Fox News): "The executive order also requires the Oklahoma School Security Institute (OSSI) to coordinate with the DPS to provide annual risk and vulnerability assessments to "every public and private primary and secondary school," and to provide recommendations to increase school security, at no cost to the school or school district."

That doesn't require armed guards in schools but is closer than anything the Dems or even the bipartisan bill in Congress have come up with.  And yes, Oklahoma is a red state.  The Governor went on to say ""We're going to protect our constitutional rights as Oklahomans, and as governor, I represent all 4 million Oklahomans, and we overwhelmingly support gun ownership and the Second Amendment."

Name:	Talullahhound -	Reply
Subject:	Oklahoma Moving in the Right Direction
Date:	6/23/2022 7:24:46 PM

I think it is a good idea.  And the various law enforcement need to take the training togetgher.  It looks like the Texas school situation was chaos and no one was charge to make decisions.  When there is a crisis is not the time for confusion.