tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post8865145840468853879..comments2023-11-10T04:17:00.492-05:00Comments on View From The Porch: And now it has come to pass...Tamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07285540310465422476noreply@blogger.comBlogger51125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-65955343739653686972009-02-11T19:13:00.000-05:002009-02-11T19:13:00.000-05:00I'd pay good money to the first well hung switch h...I'd pay good money to the first well hung switch hitter that reams this guys ass until he bleeds so bad he can't walk for a month.<BR/><BR/>Some folks just ask for it. I don't swing that way or I'd take care of it myself.<BR/><BR/>Any takers?<BR/><BR/>JoeAssrothttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14093506505019819353noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-79698876864697874632009-02-09T20:07:00.000-05:002009-02-09T20:07:00.000-05:00it's a stretch to correlate extraordinary wartime ...it's a stretch to correlate extraordinary wartime powers with the existence, duties and abuses of a domestic agency, except to the extent that those duties may have been expanded by homeland security...and the abuses that you find with your google search have little connection to that. <BR/><BR/>so citing the atf as an example in this particular discussion is tenuous. while national defense is arguably the only reason for fedgov to exist, federal regulation of Constitutionally protected domestic rights will find no cover with me; to the degree that it is necessary at all, i believe it is the purview of the states to "control" the behavior of private American citizens.<BR/><BR/>so this may come as a bit of a surprise. while all (or most) of the horror stories of "jackbooted thugs" wearing batfe jackets running roughshod over law-abiding gun owners and sellers may be true, my contact with their agents and agency, while only anecdotal, was never anything but cordial and respectful. not only that, but in thirty years of ffl status, logging about three hundred firearms per year in and out of my boundbooks...nearly ten thousand transfers in all...i had exactly four in-person audits of my books and inventory. in addition, i would have maybe two or three trace calls per year, and every three years a telephone interview when it was time to renew the license. so maybe a hundred total contacts in all with this "evil" agency. maybe my experience was unusual, maybe it was because i took the requirements seriously and responded fully and quickly to inquiries. and granted, i decided not to renew my ffl in '03 when things in the world had changed, and grasping at straws meant that renewal was a lot more involved than it had been before, and in trying to justify their own existence, invariably the eagle eyes of inspectors would find a missed block of info on a 4473 or renewal app and require a "promise of future compliance", just to save face. but all in all, i never experienced any threat or disrespect from anyone related to that agency.<BR/><BR/>but make no mistake; i am no apologist for the atf, a federal agency whose sole purpose is to control commerce in a legal, Constitutionally-protected tool. for that matter, i believe the USA would be better off without any of its myriad federal agencies of "domestic control"...atf, irs, ssa, doe, and on and on. but neither i nor any dealer i personally knew ever had any serious run-in with them.<BR/><BR/>funny thing about this awesome information tool we call the internets...it can make it seem as if darkness is at the door of us all, and although the abuses of the power of the atf are unquestionably real and deadly serious, with its very existence to be questioned as far as i'm concerned, i'm not at all sure the abuses are as pervasive as it may seem. just like it's easy to feel that everyone is being robbed and rolled when you read the newspaper and watch the teevee, we know that controlling our environment and our behavior can almost, but not completely, keep us safe from that risk.<BR/><BR/>so most of those doomsdayers, (real) anarchists, survivalists, and especially those "three percenters" among us, who so anxiously, preparedly -and sometimes it seems impatiently- await the dark forces to come ramming down their door, are likely, thank God, to be disappointed.<BR/><BR/>jtcthe pawnbrokerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16643081755036536592noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-4098086197602822502009-02-09T20:00:00.000-05:002009-02-09T20:00:00.000-05:00Thanks for the hat tip! I surely appreciate it.Thanks for the hat tip! I surely appreciate it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-55904608644600896712009-02-09T15:54:00.000-05:002009-02-09T15:54:00.000-05:00are any increases in security measures justified? ...<B>are any increases in security measures justified? If so, which ones? If not, then what?</B><BR/><BR/>I don't really know; it's a good question, and you raise a good point for discussion. All I'm saying really, is that I think the additional powers would be a lot easier to justify if government officials weren't so prone to using those powers against their political opponents (as we see the current administration planning to do), or if those powers could be more easily revoked, reworked or curtailed — and that we shouldn't just assume we CAN take those powers away. Just as a recently cited example, I'd like to think that if those in charge at the time of the formation of the ATF had seen what it's turned into and what it's gotten away with doing, they might have had second thoughts about the formation of such an agency.the pistolerohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07921719381072311001noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-18148346736152101072009-02-09T15:30:00.000-05:002009-02-09T15:30:00.000-05:00Which leads back into my question: we are at war w...Which leads back into my question: we are at war with an enemy whose ideology and methods are tailored to defeating our particular civil society. How do we fight this war, especially inside the US? Pistolero, are any increases in security measures justified? If so, which ones? If not, then what?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-50129137447314234332009-02-09T13:35:00.000-05:002009-02-09T13:35:00.000-05:00No, but that in no way justifies those powers bein...No, but that in no way justifies those powers being given to government, or the opinion that said measures aren't harmful in the long run. Just because you haven't been affected yet doesn't mean you won't ever be. And something tells me we gunnies are gonna find that one out the hard way before President Urkel and his administration are out. In the words of Adm. Josh Painter, "This business will get out of hand. It will get out of hand and we'll be lucky to live through it." And we're not going to have anyone but ourselves to blame for assuming all those shiny new tools could be taken away before those who wielded them decided to go apeshit.the pistolerohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07921719381072311001noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-29748398108577054122009-02-09T13:18:00.000-05:002009-02-09T13:18:00.000-05:00and so you make my point regarding the differentia...and so you make my point regarding the differentiation between misuse and abuse quite well, there, t.p...<BR/><BR/>but let's finish this one out:<BR/><BR/>in the context of extraordinary measures implemented in the last eight years, "...have yours?"<BR/><BR/>and please be specific.<BR/><BR/>jtcthe pawnbrokerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16643081755036536592noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-15535653487757300132009-02-09T11:13:00.000-05:002009-02-09T11:13:00.000-05:00but my life and comings and goings have not been m...<B>but my life and comings and goings have not been majorly impacted</B><BR/><BR/>"Well you know, an assault weapon ban won't seriously affect my deer hunting, and we really need to get those guns off the streets and out of gangbangers' hands..."the pistolerohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07921719381072311001noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-63911880696170293932009-02-09T09:19:00.000-05:002009-02-09T09:19:00.000-05:00"Part of the problem is the centralization of secu..."Part of the problem is the centralization of security and decision-making. From the disarming of civilians to the federalizing of every aspect of security and the complete removal of judgment from the process."<BR/><BR/>as noah alluded to above, that is both the problem and the inescapable answer in dealing with the big t.<BR/><BR/>the centralized federal handling of security as it relates to foreign threat is the correct role of fed...but in a country with open arms, porous borders and transparent security how do you differentiate foreign from domestic? you don't, using conventional tools. and so supertools are employed...and ultimately misused (there's that lack of judgement you mentioned) and abused...but there's a big difference, and like all matters of law, it goes to intent.<BR/><BR/>the question is, have most of us joe blows really been the victim of the misuse (and downright dumb use in some cases) of the extraordinary measures employed in the last eight years in dealing with potential terrorism? i hate that airport shit, and i surely don't want my phone calls monitored...but my life and comings and goings have not been majorly impacted...have yours?<BR/><BR/>i've said this before and i'll say it again because i believe it...the war was taken to iraq to distract the attention, forces, assets, and abilities of those who would otherwise use them to attack within our borders. if that's right or wrong i can't say, but i can say further major attack has not happened. to the degree that the extraordinary powers and tools were employed in that effort, it was a success and it was worth it. misuse? no doubt. but abuse? we will soon find out. <BR/><BR/>we say that once granted, expanded powers cannot be rescinded, but once the abuses go beyond theory and become real to the average joe, hitting him where he lives, usurping what he believes, and taking what he will defend with his life...<BR/><BR/>yes, we will find out then.<BR/><BR/>jtcthe pawnbrokerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16643081755036536592noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-37942350245413049812009-02-08T23:00:00.000-05:002009-02-08T23:00:00.000-05:00Tam,Thanks - that's a question that's been botheri...Tam,<BR/><BR/>Thanks - that's a question that's been bothering me for a while.<BR/><BR/><I>Part of the problem is the centralization of security and decision-making [and] federalizing of every aspect of security...</I><BR/><BR/>We might be talking across each other here, but isn't the lack of information-sharing between security services one of the problems? The 'wall' between CIA and FBI (thanks, Ms. Gorelick!), the inability of some local PDs to communicate effectively with the FBI (through tech or personnel issues on either/both sides), it goes on.<BR/><BR/>But the DHS doesn't appear to be a good solution. Er, to put it mildly. '<I>A</I>' DHS might be a good solution, but this specific one that we have isn't.<BR/><BR/>To effectively combat enemy infiltration, you have to run intelligence operations (civilian and/or military) <I>inside</I> your own country - which means that the whole 'sources and methods' issue comes screaming to the forefront, especially as the enemy isn't stupid, and looks for just that sort of disclosure.<BR/><BR/>I'm not sure I see a way of doing this that doesn't turn into the Feds (potentially) looking over everyone's shoulders - and they're willing to mis-use these tools, both the people that I like and that I don't.<BR/><BR/>It'd be one heck of a lot easier, relatively, if we were willing to say, 'Yep, we're at war with radical Islam, and we're not so sure about you moderates, either.' A specific, named enemy puts at least the idea of limits on government actions by defining the targets: surveillance and raids on suspect mosques and 'retreats', yes; Joe Blow with the 15-gun 'arsenal', no. Which I think speaks (in agreement) to the 'removal of judgement' part of your response.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-28282189117674204642009-02-08T22:09:00.000-05:002009-02-08T22:09:00.000-05:00Noah D,"My question is this: ... how do we go abou...Noah D,<BR/><BR/>"<I>My question is this: ... how do we go about prosecuting the Long War - especially inside the US?</I>"<BR/><BR/>Part of the problem is the centralization of security and decision-making. From the disarming of civilians to the federalizing of every aspect of security and the complete removal of judgment from the process.Tamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07285540310465422476noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-18595512574700447232009-02-08T20:19:00.000-05:002009-02-08T20:19:00.000-05:00Come to think of it, back in the halcyon days of c...Come to think of it, back in the halcyon days of college, I remember Kenneth Street, our staunch ol' Texas Democrat professor, telling us how shocked he was when Richard Nixon ran on a law and order platform.<BR/><BR/>"What," Dr. Street said, "was he running for? County sheriff?"<BR/><BR/>Of course, as Jeff Cooper used to note, the past is another country, and they do things differently there.Hunsdonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05188706369004532171noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-30808179556372896222009-02-08T20:03:00.000-05:002009-02-08T20:03:00.000-05:00It would take a man of superhuman powers to take a...It would take a man of superhuman powers to take all the shiny toys that Messieurs Bush and Cheney built for themselves and put them back in the toy-locker. I don't think Obama's a superhuman.<BR/><BR/>*blows a smoke-ring at the monitor*<BR/><BR/>We build our own hell, brick by brick, and as long as we continue to blame someone else for it, it will continue to grow.Markhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05730143528740977761noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-58160499040092706272009-02-08T13:09:00.000-05:002009-02-08T13:09:00.000-05:00I'm not a terribly big fan of the PATRIOT Act, on ...I'm not a terribly big fan of the PATRIOT Act, on the 'we must pass this immediately!', in addition to some of the content.<BR/><BR/>My question is this: given the nature and tactics of the enemy (dispersed networks, deniable assistance/support through inaction from allied states, an ideology that exploits Western civil and military ethics) and the nature of the United States (open/hostile press, lack of communication/co-operation between external and internal intelligence services (bug or feature), some civilian distaste for internal intelligence operations, a conflict in belief in the nature of the Long War (law enforcement vs. military camapign, let alone the need for/existence of a war at all), a popular resistance to identification of the enemy), how do we go about prosecuting the Long War - especially <I>inside</I> the US?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-9318486661049241632009-02-08T13:07:00.000-05:002009-02-08T13:07:00.000-05:00you might scare the white peopleAssuming, of cours...<B>you might scare the white people</B><BR/><BR/>Assuming, of course, that they can <A HREF="http://smallestminority.blogspot.com/2009/02/thomas-sowell-illustrated.html" REL="nofollow">understand</A> what Bradbury's writing...the pistolerohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07921719381072311001noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-12574594364885532542009-02-08T12:09:00.000-05:002009-02-08T12:09:00.000-05:00"Fahrenheit 451.Read it, if you haven't. Srsly."Ca..."Fahrenheit 451.<BR/><BR/>Read it, if you haven't. Srsly."<BR/><BR/>Careful, you might scare the white people, as Kevin Baker likes to say.<BR/><BR/>They need it, however.theirritablearchitecthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04105315709746689270noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-23661588805555978252009-02-08T08:49:00.000-05:002009-02-08T08:49:00.000-05:00Fahrenheit 451.Read it, if you haven't. Srsly.<I>Fahrenheit 451</I>.<BR/><BR/>Read it, if you haven't. Srsly.Tamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07285540310465422476noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-53747925933893724792009-02-08T08:46:00.000-05:002009-02-08T08:46:00.000-05:00Jay-What are you talking about? I am a fireman, an...Jay-<BR/><BR/>What are you talking about? I am a fireman, and not once have I been instructed, nor do I care, what books you have in your house.Divemedichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14583007051962299381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-62191515490622782962009-02-07T23:40:00.000-05:002009-02-07T23:40:00.000-05:00crankylitprof--I also, but somehow don't think "th...crankylitprof--<BR/><BR/>I also, but somehow don't think "they" will let more than two of us congregate.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-84947219530249199872009-02-07T23:13:00.000-05:002009-02-07T23:13:00.000-05:00We need to start planting books in their houses an...We need to start planting books in their houses and calling the firemen...Jay Ghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11085873775096542015noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-88712230271623923922009-02-07T22:43:00.000-05:002009-02-07T22:43:00.000-05:00Well we need to start by getting all politicians, ...Well we need to start by getting all politicians, lawyers, and police officers on the "NO FLY LIST".Don Mhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06057058763094040058noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-40239928100727650552009-02-07T22:02:00.000-05:002009-02-07T22:02:00.000-05:00I don't know about y'all, but I am really looking ...I don't know about y'all, but I am <I>really</I> looking forward to meeting all my blog friends in real life, when we're all shipped to the reeducation camps.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-23690407390900266352009-02-07T22:01:00.000-05:002009-02-07T22:01:00.000-05:00"...it's only "intrusive" and "unConstitutional" w..."...it's only "intrusive" and "unConstitutional" when it's the other team asking for it...<BR/>"<BR/><BR/>now there's a twofer...abuse of specific gov power and infringement of private rights all in one, and i can't disagree...and a good example of "misuse it and lose it", though it's still quite a leap from there to using it to disarm mainstream Americans, with the results of that yet to be determined.<BR/><BR/>jtcthe pawnbrokerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16643081755036536592noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-88198284398825757972009-02-07T21:44:00.000-05:002009-02-07T21:44:00.000-05:00Roberta,I use the term Gulag as applied in the Sov...Roberta,<BR/><BR/>I use the term Gulag as applied in the Soviet Union - a chain of penal camps where people could be sent for indefinite terms of imprisonment after a bogus trial, or no trial at all, for vague unsubstantiated crimes like being an "enemy of the people." Kind of like being on a "terrorist watch list." Once in the Gulag, inmates could be treated pretty much however the local authorities wanted to treat them. They were often used as slave labor, sometimes for quasi-suicidal projects.<BR/><BR/>The Gulag system was operated by the Soviet secret police, which officially went by a number of idealistic, protective-sounding euphemisms like "administration for protecting the public," "extraordinary commission for combating threats to the people" and "the department of homeland security." Oh, wait, that last one's ours.<BR/><BR/>I don't remember exactly what the acronym GULAG stood for, but like a lot of ominous Soviet agencies the GU stands for "glavnoe upravlenie" which is usually translated as "main administration".alathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07774862634576632497noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-29703336529975698732009-02-07T21:41:00.000-05:002009-02-07T21:41:00.000-05:00And as for the ATF, well, just google ATF abuse so...And as for the ATF, well, just google ATF abuse sometime. Intelligent adult discourse? Considering your conduct at certain other blogs, I'd have to say that coming from you that's downright laughable.the pistolerohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07921719381072311001noreply@blogger.com