Yearly Archives: 2013

D.C. Prosecutor: A Gun Ban That Misfired

"The gun ban had an unintended effect: It emboldened criminals because they knew that law-abiding District residents were unarmed and powerless to defend themselves. Violent crime increased after the law was enacted, with homicides rising to 369 in 1988, from 188 in 1976 when the ban started. By 1993, annual homicides had reached 454. The Washington, D.C., Metropolitan Police Department also waged a war on firearms by creating a special Gun Recovery Unit in 1995. The campaign meant that officers were obliged to spend time searching otherwise law-abiding citizens." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingD.C. Prosecutor: A Gun Ban That Misfired

D.C. Prosecutor: A Gun Ban That Misfired

"The gun ban had an unintended effect: It emboldened criminals because they knew that law-abiding District residents were unarmed and powerless to defend themselves. Violent crime increased after the law was enacted, with homicides rising to 369 in 1988, from 188 in 1976 when the ban started. By 1993, annual homicides had reached 454. The Washington, D.C., Metropolitan Police Department also waged a war on firearms by creating a special Gun Recovery Unit in 1995. The campaign meant that officers were obliged to spend time searching otherwise law-abiding citizens." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingD.C. Prosecutor: A Gun Ban That Misfired

Obama to demand gun control measures while surrounded by children

"Barack Obama is to step up pressure on Congress to act on gun violence by surrounding himself with schoolchildren from across the country when he unveils his proposals on Wednesday. While Obama can take implement some measures almost immediately through executive action, these are limited in scope. The wide-ranging proposals he is looking for require legislation but he faces opposition from Congress. By bringing schoolchildren to the White House press conference, Obama can tap into some of the emotion aroused by the Connecticut massacre in December that left 20 children and seven adults dead." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingObama to demand gun control measures while surrounded by children

Obama to demand gun control measures while surrounded by children

"Barack Obama is to step up pressure on Congress to act on gun violence by surrounding himself with schoolchildren from across the country when he unveils his proposals on Wednesday. While Obama can take implement some measures almost immediately through executive action, these are limited in scope. The wide-ranging proposals he is looking for require legislation but he faces opposition from Congress. By bringing schoolchildren to the White House press conference, Obama can tap into some of the emotion aroused by the Connecticut massacre in December that left 20 children and seven adults dead." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingObama to demand gun control measures while surrounded by children

New York passes tough new gun control laws

"The NY Secure Ammunition and Firearms Enforcement Act, or NY SAFE, includes a full ban on sales of military-style rifles. It reduces the maximum magazine size from 10 rounds to seven and extends the requirement for background checks to all sales, including private deals. An existing law allowing judges to order mentally ill people to get treatment was strengthened. Opponents questioned whether focusing on assault rifles was wise, given that handguns are used far more frequently in crimes. They also accused Cuomo and his allies of violating the US constitution’s guarantee of the right to bear arms." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingNew York passes tough new gun control laws

New York passes tough new gun control laws

"The NY Secure Ammunition and Firearms Enforcement Act, or NY SAFE, includes a full ban on sales of military-style rifles. It reduces the maximum magazine size from 10 rounds to seven and extends the requirement for background checks to all sales, including private deals. An existing law allowing judges to order mentally ill people to get treatment was strengthened. Opponents questioned whether focusing on assault rifles was wise, given that handguns are used far more frequently in crimes. They also accused Cuomo and his allies of violating the US constitution’s guarantee of the right to bear arms." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingNew York passes tough new gun control laws

Top Dems urging Obama to raise debt ceiling all voted against increase in ’06

"On Friday the Democratic leadership of the Senate — Majority Leader Harry Reid, Assistant Majority Leader Richard Durbin, Conference Chair Charles Schumer, and Conference Secretary Patty Murray —wrote to President Obama urging him to unilaterally raise the debt ceiling in the event that Republicans either block such an increase or attempt to pass one 'as part of unbalanced or unreasonable legislation.' Put aside the picture of leading lawmakers, usually so jealous of their constitutional prerogatives, asking the president to ignore Congress. Every one of the letter's signers voted against raising the nation’s debt ceiling just seven years ago." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingTop Dems urging Obama to raise debt ceiling all voted against increase in ’06

Watchdog: U.S. postal service in desperate need of rescue from Congress

"The postal service has reached its $15bn credit limit with the US Treasury, and has in effect run out of money. 'This is the year that they borrowed so much that they can’t borrow any more,' Williams said. Asked whether the USPS will need a bailout this year, Williams replied: 'Yes. The choices are that it would cease to exist or it would need a bailout.' Williams said he did not expect the USPS to require taxpayer dollars, but instead that it would require congressional intervention, perhaps to reduce the pension payments." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingWatchdog: U.S. postal service in desperate need of rescue from Congress

Why Expansionist Central States Inevitably Implode

"We are at the inflection point indicated on the chart where the lines cross, just before the crisis: tax revenues are lagging spending in an enormous structural deficit; the State dominates the economy and its spending cannot possibly be contained, due to the political promises made to entitlement constituencies, fiefdoms and cartels, and the drag of unproductive State spending has sent the economy into systemic decline. Each constituency, cartel and fiefdom is convinced that they are acting in their own best interests in demanding more State funding and subsidies." Continue reading →

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The safest place in the world

"Every few hundred years, wealth and power shifts. This has happened so many times before, it’s hard to even keep track. Mesopotamia. Persia. Macedonia. Greece. Roman Empire. Byzantium. Mongolian Empire. Ming Dynasty. Ottoman Empire. Habsburg Empire. French-Bourbon Monarchy. British Empire. Third Reich. United States of America. This change is as old as human civilization itself. And it’s happening again. Decades of unsustainable debt have caught up to the West, and wealth and power are once again shifting." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingThe safest place in the world