Saudi prince defects: ‘Brutality, oppression as govt scared of Arab revolts’

"Saudi Arabia, a major supporter of opposition forces in Syria, has increased crackdown on its own dissenters, with 30,000 activists reportedly in jail. Political parties are banned in Saudi Arabia and human rights groups willing to function legally have to go no further than investigating things like corruption or inadequate services. Saudi Prince Khaled Bin Farhan Al-Saud confirmed reports of increased prosecution of anti-government activists and said that it’s exactly what forced him to defect from his family. He accused the monarchy of corruption and silencing all voices of dissent and explained how the Saudi mechanism for suppression functioned." Continue reading

Continue ReadingSaudi prince defects: ‘Brutality, oppression as govt scared of Arab revolts’

Saudi government smashes ‘sinful’ statues of horses

"Ultra-conservative Saudi Arabia has smashed sculptures of horses erected on a roundabout in the southwest after the kingdom’s top cleric denounced them as sinful, local media reported on Wednesday. The decision came after Grand Mufti Abdulaziz al-Shaikh sent a letter to the governor of Jazan demanding that 'the sculptures be removed because they are a great sin and are prohibited under sharia (Islamic law),' said another news webitse, sabq.org. Statues of people and animals are prohibited under Islam as they represent a form of idolatry. However, the religion does allow artworks depicting plants and landscapes." Continue reading

Continue ReadingSaudi government smashes ‘sinful’ statues of horses

Egypt declares month-long state of emergency over violence

"Egypt declared a month-long state of emergency Wednesday as violence raged across the country following a crackdown on supporters of ousted president Mohamed Morsi. The nationwide state of emergency will begin at 4:00 pm (1400 GMT), the presidency said in a statement read out on state television." Continue reading

Continue ReadingEgypt declares month-long state of emergency over violence

Pro-Mursi protester shot dead as Egypt standoff intensifies

"One Muslim Brotherhood member was shot dead and at least 11 people wounded in Egypt on Tuesday, security sources said, with the Islamist group accusing plain clothes police of firing on their march. Authorities have held back from clearing two Brotherhood protest camps in Cairo, but the shootings and other street clashes showed Egypt remained dangerously divided. Some officials wish to avoid a bloody showdown that would damage the government's efforts to present itself as legitimate, while hardliners in the army and security forces fear they are losing face to the Brotherhood and want to move in." Continue reading

Continue ReadingPro-Mursi protester shot dead as Egypt standoff intensifies

Open season: MN legislator targets handgun permit class for fundraiser

"Ready, aim, contribute! It’s open season for legislators with a 2014 re-election campaign in their sights. State Rep. Cindy Pugh thinks she’s hit a bull’s-eye with her 'Get Your Carry Permit With Cindy!' fundraiser next weekend, which provides residents a change to train with firearms and contribute to her political coffer. Pugh’s supporters will contribute to her campaign by paying a $125 fee ($100 for permit renewals) to take a one-day training class alongside the freshman legislator Saturday. The session in the Twin Cities suburb of Chanhassen covers the state-required training needed to apply for a permit to carry a handgun in Minnesota." Continue reading

Continue ReadingOpen season: MN legislator targets handgun permit class for fundraiser

L.A. County Sheriff Awards Carry Permits to Friends, Donors

"Public records show Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca, who is known for being stingy with concealed-weapons permits in an anti-gun jurisdiction, may be giving out permits disproportionately to his friends and political supporters and donors. L.A. Weekly obtained public records for all of the 341 active concealed-weapons permits in addition to the 123 applications for permits that were denied over the last 18 months. The records show that of all the people who were denied a permit, only one had contributed to Baca. Baca's friends and campaign donors disproportionately make up the list of those who have active permits." Continue reading

Continue ReadingL.A. County Sheriff Awards Carry Permits to Friends, Donors

18 Little-Known Gun Facts That Prove That Guns Make Us Safer

"The reality is that criminals really, really, really don’t want to get shot. When you pass strict gun control laws, you take the fear of getting shot away and criminals tend to flourish. Just look at what is going on in America today. The places with the highest crime rates are the major cities where strict gun control laws have been passed. In some of those cities the police are so overwhelmed that they have announced that they simply won’t even bother responding to certain kinds of crime anymore. The truth is that the government cannot protect us adequately. The following are 18 little-known gun facts that prove that guns make us safer…" Continue reading

Continue Reading18 Little-Known Gun Facts That Prove That Guns Make Us Safer

‘Run and hide’ is Obama administration’s clever plan for next school shooting

"The U.S. Department of Education’s 'live-shooter' section doesn’t recommend that schools arm teachers or employ armed guards. It doesn’t even advise schools to add door locks for classrooms. Instead, the section counsels teachers and students to 'run,' 'hide' and then 'fight' — but only 'if neither running nor hiding is a safe option.' Arne Duncan, the Secretary of Education, does not explain how this guidance differs from the very unsuccessful actions attempted by the 26 victims of Adam Lanza, the lone gunman who attacked Sandy Hook Elementary School. Twenty of those victims were children who were six and seven years old." Continue reading

Continue Reading‘Run and hide’ is Obama administration’s clever plan for next school shooting

Repealing the Anti-gun ObamaCare Law

"Seventy-three percent of the American public don’t want to be straddled with the onerous requirements imposed by this law. To be sure, gun owners have opposed ObamaCare since its inception, given that a national health database could be used by federal bureaucrats to disarm millions of law-abiding Americans. The use of medical data has already been used to disarm gun owners in New York -- and has led to more than 150,000 military veterans losing their gun rights for ailments such as PTSD. Well now, Congress has a wonderful opportunity to do away with this law." Continue reading

Continue ReadingRepealing the Anti-gun ObamaCare Law

Rand Paul: The President Doesn’t Get To Write Legislation, It’s Illegal And Unconstitutional

"Paul said, 'I think we all want more people to have insurance. What my fear is is that he's going to make insurance so expensive that the people who currently have insurance may lose their insurance.' The senator sounded off on reports that another provision of ObamaCare would be delayed, blasting the president for changes laws without Congress' approval. 'The president doesn't get to write legislation, and it's illegal and unconstitutional for him to try and change legislation by himself,' he said." Continue reading

Continue ReadingRand Paul: The President Doesn’t Get To Write Legislation, It’s Illegal And Unconstitutional