Land Of The Flea

For some blacks, gun control raises echoes of segregated past

"As far back as the 1860s, gun control has been used to keep arms out of the hands of black people. After the Civil War, a group of discriminatory laws known as the Black Codes limited the civil liberties—like the right to bear arms—of newly freed slaves. Rules in nine states that give local law-enforcement officials discretionary authority to deny people gun permits even if they meet all criteria for ownership – the same power Alabama’s police department exercised when Martin Luther King Jr. applied to carry a concealed weapon. Despite threats to his life from the Ku Klux Klan, the police denied the civil rights leader permission to own a gun." Continue reading →

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Chicago Police Superintendent Says Cops Will Shoot Gun Carrying Citizens

"Chicago police superintendent Garry McCarthy is not happy about the new concealed carry laws in Illinois. And now he is predicting that police will shoot citizens who are lawfully carrying firearms. While every cop has a right to protect himself, this bold statement by McCarthy is obviously meant to intimidate gun owners who choose to exercise their rights. This threat that cops may mistakenly shoot a gun carrying citizen is just another attempt to fight the concealed carry laws that Illinois has long been deprived of. McCarthy would not say what specific training officers will undertake if any. However, he did admit that in the past his department has made mistakes in shooting unarmed civilians." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingChicago Police Superintendent Says Cops Will Shoot Gun Carrying Citizens

‘What is Government?’ Elementary Students Taught It’s Your ‘Family’

"Fourth-grade students in Illinois are learning that “government is like a nation’s family” because it sets rules and takes care of needs such as health care and education. So says a worksheet for social studies homework that was distributed to students at East Prairie School in Skokie, Ill, complete with a drawing of Uncle Same cradling a baby that represents the citizens. Students are then prompted to answer 10 questions comparing government and families, including how their family provides for their health care needs and how the government does the same, and what rules families set and what rules government sets." Continue reading →

Continue Reading‘What is Government?’ Elementary Students Taught It’s Your ‘Family’

Tennessee to roll out “No Refusal” blood-draw DUI checkpoints for Labor Day

"The new law now mandates blood be drawn from citizens in a variety of circumstances. No longer limited to vehicular assault cases, police are [now] required to take the blood of any DUI suspect who has ever had a DUI conviction in their life, according to WBIR. The other requirement is that blood be drawn from any suspect who has a person under the age of 16 in the car. The rest of the blood-draw cases are done upon seeking a readily available warrant. In light of these new powers, the latest fad in Tennessee law enforcement is setting up 'no refusal' checkpoints, having a judge or a judicial commissioner on call to churn out blood warrants on demand." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingTennessee to roll out “No Refusal” blood-draw DUI checkpoints for Labor Day

WikiLeaks Launches Criminal Investigation ahead of Obama Visit to Sweden

"WikiLeaks will file a criminal complaint in Sweden, ahead of the arrival of President Obama. The complaint concerns the seizure of WikiLeaks property on 27 September 2010, following its publication of thousands of classified US intelligence documents on the war in Afghanistan. WikiLeaks’ publisher Julian Assange said: 'Swedish authorities have the opportunity to demonstrate that no one, including state officials, is above the law.' The property seized included evidence of a war crime perpetrated by US forces in Afganistan in which more than sixty women and children were killed, known as the Garani massacre." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingWikiLeaks Launches Criminal Investigation ahead of Obama Visit to Sweden

Virginia State Trooper inattentively plows into skateboarder, beats hasty exit

"A video showing a Virginia State Trooper striking a skateboarder with his police cruiser was published to YouTube Wednesday. It is unclear, at this point, exactly when this incident happened and police didn’t give an exact date. Sergeant Molnar said that Virginia State Police 'are aware of this video as this incident occurred approximately nine months ago in the City of Richmond near the VCU campus.' 'I do not have any other details to provide to you,' said Sergeant Molnar. 'This is a personnel matter and state police does not have further comment on this matter.' CBS 6 did find out that the trooper is still employed with the state police." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingVirginia State Trooper inattentively plows into skateboarder, beats hasty exit

Bradley Manning’s Letter To President Obama Requesting Pardon

"The decisions that I made in 2010 were made out of a concern for my country and the world that we live in. Since the tragic events of 9/11, our country has been at war. We’ve been at war with an enemy that chooses not to meet us on any traditional battlefield, and due to this fact we’ve had to alter our methods of combating the risks posed to us and our way of life. I initially agreed with these methods and chose to volunteer to help defend my country. It was not until I was in Iraq and reading secret military reports on a daily basis that I started to question the morality of what we were doing." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingBradley Manning’s Letter To President Obama Requesting Pardon

With Enemies Like This, Who Needs Friends?

"The U.S. government pursued its vindictive course against Manning to send a message to other potential whistleblowers. The problem is, those whistleblowers — among them Snowden — got the message loud and clear. What Snowden learned is, you don’t work within the system through normal channels, and you don’t play the 'civil disobedience' game and take your punishment, unless you want to spend years naked in solitary awaiting trial and then be sentenced to most of your life in prison. You get the information distributed in secure places, get yourself safely out of the country, and then make your move. The next whistleblower will do it even bigger and better, and learn from Snowden’s example." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingWith Enemies Like This, Who Needs Friends?

What Was Bradley Manning’s Sin?

"What was Bradley Manning’s sin that warrants a sentence of 35 years? It was a sin manufactured by the State against the State’s version of righteousness. A righteous person, according to the State, is a State co-conspirator who is required to keep silent when observing crimes of the State. There is a conspiracy of silence and secrecy, like the Mafia’s omerta. Manning joined the conspiracy and then broke the rule of silence. He failed to place his conscience on hold or abeyance while serving the State. Now he must pay for his 'sin', the State claims. What sin? There is no real sin here on his part, and no real crime. There is only a power play." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingWhat Was Bradley Manning’s Sin?

Obama heckled over sentencing of Chelsea Manning

"President Barack Obama was interrupted by protesters on Thursday night amid a speech on college affordability. While Obama was speaking in Syracuse, New York, two woman began shouting at him. One of the women held up a giant 'Free Bradley Manning' sign. Both women were escorted out of the event. Manning was sentenced to 35 years in prison on Wednesday for leaking thousands of secret U.S. documents to WikiLeaks. Her supporters have called on Obama to pardon Manning, arguing she is a whistle-blower who acted on behalf of the public." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingObama heckled over sentencing of Chelsea Manning