What is Wrong With This Picture?

The District Attorneys in the State of Texas consistently oppose any legislation that seeks to give the free citizens of Texas expanded legal rights to defend themselves. Most recently they worked very hard to derail the Texas Castle Doctrine legislation. I attended the Criminal Jurisprudence Committee's public hearing on HB 284, the Texas Castle Doctrine/Stand Your Ground law, and the several representatives of the DA's testified against the bill. I posted commentary on that hearing here. Not only do the big city District Attorneys oppose a citizens right to protect themselves at the State House, some of them even ignore current law. The DA of Harris County is most notable for this. Two years ago the legislature changed the traveling laws in an attempt to make it clear that the people of Texas had a right to carry a handgun in their vehicle. The legislature did this by amending what is referred to as the "traveling law". To make a long story short, the Harris County DA told the police to ignore the traveling laws and arrest anyone found with a concealed handgun in their vehicle that did not have a CHL. There is a bit more to it than that, but you get the gist of what I am trying to say. The DA's of Texas, especially the metropolitan DA's want to disarm the citizens of Texas and prevent them from defending themselves from goblins.

Wish they would spend more time worrying about goblins such at this:

From the Star Telegram:

By Martha Deller

Alvarado man gets time in drug case

DALLAS -- An Alvarado man has been sentenced to nearly 22 years in federal prison without possibility of parole in a multistate drug-trafficking conspiracy, according to U.S. Attorney Richard Roper. Juan Antonio Iruegas Jr., 41, pleaded guilty in March to one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime. Acting on an informant's tip, authorities raided Iruegas' home, where they seized firearms including an illegal sawed-off rifle, scales, packaging materials and other items consistent with the distribution of methamphetamine. They also found a monitor with live camera feeds showing roads to his residence, according to a news release. Iruegas, who was on state parole when arrested, was sentenced in federal court as a career offender because he has been convicted of multiple felonies, including murder and burglary of a habitation, and has admitted to being a member of the Texas Syndicate gang, the release said.

So, this goblin was on "...state parole when arrested" and "...he has been convicted of multiple felonies, including murder..." Mr. District Attorney. Stop worrying about me and my guns. I am an employed taxpayer, a voter, a homeowner and a free citizen of Texas. I need to carry a .45 every time I leave my house because YOU allow goblins such as this to roam free. YOU put my family and loved ones at risk with your plea deals, early paroles and light sentencing for violent offenders. You help to create some of the problems with the violent gangs with your revolving door justice that releases young gang bangers back into the communities so they can be an example of how to get over, no matter what they do. Yes, you finally got this goblin off the streets. But if you had done your job sooner, he would not have been on the streets to begin with.

3 men sought in Arlington neighborhood

When I left for work on Monday morning, I found my garage door open. I mentally shook my head and made a note to remind my wife to make sure the garage door is shut before she comes to bed (She smokes and sometimes takes her last smoke in the front yard via the garage). When I got to my truck, I found that it had been broken into. The contents of the glove compartment and console were strewn around and the truck was a mess. The only things stolen were a checkbook, a winning scratch off lottery ticket, and my garage door opener. Nothing was taken from the garage, probably because there is not much room to get around V's Jeep in the door. We thought it was probably kids because my Maui Jim sunglasses were just tossed in the seat and left behind. I usually have two full magazines in the glove compartment, but they were in the house following Sunday's day at the range or they would probably have been gone also.

Reading tonight's news, it appears that kids may not have been the culprits.

From the Star Telegram:

3 men sought in Arlington neighborhood

ARLINGTON -- Arlington police were using dogs early Thursday to search for three men in connection with burglaries in an area near Indian Trail and Mayfield Road.

Police were investigating a burglary on Woodside Drive in southwest Arlington, when they received a call about a burglary in the 2700 block of Jewell Drive. They arrived in time to see three men speed away in a green Ford Explorer.

Police chased the vehicle, which fishtailed, went off the road and crashed into a metal gate that abutted a vacant lot in the 3500 block of Indian Summer Lane.

Police chased the men, who fled on foot and jumped a nearby fence. Police dogs searched for the men but lost their scent at a creek, officials said. Police found two lawnmowers, two saws, a weed trimmer, a baseball bat and a cellphone in the Explorer, which was not reported stolen, officials said. Police said they believe the items came from more than one home.

This is my neighborhood. Maybe I'll get my garage door opener back and not have to install a whole new unit.

Lesson learned: Having the remote to your garage door clipped to your visor is convenient, but a bit of a security risk.

Man shooting gun in his yard killed by armed neighbor

Many news paper articles just do not give enough information about an incident to allow their readers to come to an informed conclusion. Many of them try to lead the reader, often they are mis-leading.

This is an example of an article not providing enough necessary information.

From the Houston Chronicle:

By Lindsay Wise

Man allegedly firing shots killed in northeast Houston

The fatal shooting of a 29-year-old man in northeast Houston on Friday night will be referred to a grand jury, police said.

Witnesses told investigators Gerald Tyrone Butler was threatening people with a handgun in front of a home in the 2200 block of w Bringhurst about 7 p.m. Butler allegedly fired shots at several people, including a 45-year-old man, who returned fire with a rifle, striking Butler once, police said.

Seems pretty cut and dried to me. "Butler allegedly fired shots at several people, including a 45-year-old man, who returned fire with a rifle, striking Butler once..."

It appears that the goblin was in the front yard taking pot shots at folks. The neighbor retrieved a rifle and returned fire. It would be nice if the reporter had mentioned at what point the police were called, and their response time. No matter I guess, they got there in time to pack up the goblin and send him off to the hospital, where he died.

It's About Time

Grand jury indicts U.S. Rep. Jefferson in bribery investigation

WASHINGTON – Rep. William Jefferson, D-La., was indicted Monday on federal charges of racketeering, money-laundering and soliciting more than $400,000 in bribes in connection with years of trying to broker business deals in Africa.

The charges came almost two years after investigators raided Jefferson's home in Washington and found $90,000 in cash stuffed in a box in his freezer.

The indictment in federal court in Alexandria, Va., lists 16 alleged violations with prison terms totaling as much as 235 years. Jefferson is charged with racketeering, soliciting bribes, wire fraud, money laundering, obstruction of justice and conspiracy.

The Democrat leadership should have stripped him of all power two years ago, and if he had even the smallest amount of shame he would of resigned. Has any of that happened? Nope, Pelosi assigns him to a committee, and instead of resigning he runs for re-election. Not only does he run, but he wins. A very sad statement about the voters in Louisiana's 2nd District.

How LA is Solving the Gang Problem

The following article about an L.A. gang leader's arrest pretty much describes to a "T" the basic failures of the Los Angeles City Counsel in their handling of the gangs in L.A.

From the LA Weekly News:

By Jeffrey Anderson

Did City Hall Fund a Gun-Runner?

FEDERAL ALCOHOL, TOBACCO AND FIREARMS AGENTS knocked first, then entered the Downey home of purported anti-gang activist Hector Marroquin on Wednesday, arresting him for selling silencers and weapons — including three assault rifles and a machine gun — to an undercover ATF agent.

The gun sales, some of which Marroquin, the founder of the gang-intervention group No Guns, transacted at his bar in the city of Cudahy, were captured on videotape and audiotape, said police officers present at his arrest.

The LA Times reports he was charged with the sale of an assault rifle, a machine gun, two pistols and two silencers.

So, was being an anti-gang activist just a cover for this goblin's gun sales? Did no one know he was a goblin?

Marroquin, an alleged associate of the prison-based Mexican Mafia, has grown accustomed to such intrusions, having been arrested many times over the years while at the same time being the founder and CEO of No Guns, which has received $1.5 million from Los Angeles City Hall via the much-criticized L.A. Bridges program designed by the Los Angeles City Council to keep youth out of gangs.

This is beyond funny, check out this goblin's family:

...his son, Hector Marroquin Jr., a former No Guns officer who police say is an admitted 18th Street Gang member, has been indicted on charges of home invasion robbery and faces up to 40 years in prison

And then there is his daughter,

who police say is a member of the Hawthorne L’il Watts Gang...

This family of street gang members convinces the city that they are a legitimate anti-gang organization, and get $1,500,000 for their efforts. You folks in LA are sure getting a nice ROI for your tax dollars.

Oh, but the trustee's of the common wealth did finally wise up -

No Guns finally lost its funding last year, after city officials found the organization had engaged in nepotism and misappropriation of public funds. Along with his wife, son and daughter, who police say is a member of the Hawthorne L’il Watts Gang, the Marroquins made more than $200,000 a year in salaries — public funds paid by L.A. taxpayers — to steer children away from gangs and help active gangsters escape the life.

Yep, they took away their funding. Umm... no mention of jail time, or even charges for misappropriation of public funds.

No wonder poor Mr. Marroquin was selling guns, he lost his job. Not only did he lose his job, but it was the cities fault that he lost his job. I think the City of Los Angeles owes Mr. Marroquin a apology, and maybe some compensation for forcing him out onto the street and into the gang lifestyle he had fought so hard against.

Is this an isolated incident? Was this just one case that slipped through the cracks of an otherwise effective program?

...a report by civil rights lawyer Connie Rice and independent audits have stated that L.A. Bridges, which has funneled more than $100 million to programs like No Guns, cannot show that it has reduced gang activity, and the city council lacks any meaningful measures for determining success. Just last week, another purported gang-member-turned-good, 30-year-old Mario Corona, with a group called Communities in Schools, also a recipient of L.A. Bridges money, was sentenced to 32 months in prison for transporting a large amount of methamphetamine and being a felon with a gun.

There was a time when LA was famous for giving us Hollywood and Disneyland. Soon LA will be best known for the gangs that have tentacles throughout the United States. It is the rare city that does not have street gang activity that, at the roots, is not traced back to LA.

The story according to the LA Times: Founder of anti-gang group arrested

How NOT to Advocate For Gun Rights

I am certain that none of the regular commentators on A Keyboard and a .45 would act in this manner, but I have to post this bit of commentary on activism etiquette on the off chance that a casual reader may be tempted to step over the line.

Under no circumstances do you email anti-gun activist stating:

"I will be protesting you (sic) house real soon. I will disrupt your life and I will be armed... So you better be afraid be very very afraid."

Following that up by bragging...

"I have a laser site on my .50 caliber (rifle) as well as a home made silencer."

... is not just plain ignorant, it will get a SWAT Team waking you up at odd hours of the night.

It turns out that the person sending these emails was attempting two things. First he was trying to scare Tom Mauser, father of Columbine victim Daniel Mauser and an anti-gun activist with Colorado Ceasefire. His second goal was to frame Duncan Philp, a fellow Colorado gun rights activist. Which of these goals is the news media going to focus upon?

On Friday, a Fort Collins gun rights advocate will be sentenced in Jefferson County Court for harassing the father of one of the victims of the Columbine High School shootings.

and...

"This whole episode was very upsetting," says Mauser. "Extremists sometimes become violent -- and I don't think the average person realizes just how much hate mail and grief you get when you become a gun violence prevention advocate. It can be a really ugly world."

Folks, we have to police our own. Bullying, threats and other actions intended to cause fear do nothing more than reinforce the negative image that many of the anti's have of us gunnies. It is hard enough to use logic and facts to overcome emotion, when that emotion is stirred up by threatening behavior it becomes even harder. As we are rightfully up in arms over an anti (who also happens to be an ordained priest) calling for the murder of gun shop owners, the anti's are properly incensed over behavior such as this.

As gunnnies, we believe Mr. Mauser's beliefs are wrong. As Americans, we can use various venues to speak out against those beliefs and attempt to educate those that may listen to Mr. Mauser. We may even attempt to communicate directly with folks such as Mr. Mauser. As people of good will and integrity, we do so in a controlled and respectful manner.

Headlines such as these -

Gun Activist Faces Sentencing for Threats Against Columbine Father

- are never good for our side.

This story found on PR Newswire

From the "Dumb Crooks" Files

Three against one. The three had at least one firearm, but the one had his wits about him.

From The Star Telegram:

By Bill Miller

Quick thinker lures carjackers into trap

A quick-thinking Dallas man lured three would-be carjackers into a trap that resulted in their arrests early Sunday at D/FW Airport, police said.

The incident began about 11:45 p.m. Saturday as Theodore Owens, 45, who had just parked outside a friend’s house in the 9200 block of Sweetwater Drive in Dallas, was attacked by three teenage men, said Senior Cpl. Donna Hernandez, police spokeswoman.

"He was struck in the face with the butt of a gun," Hernandez said. "When they discovered he didn’t have much money, they discussed ways to get more money."

Owens, however, persuaded them to drive with him in his car to the airport where he worked for a company that provides curbside baggage handling.

He told them that he would withdraw money from the ATM at his credit union which was behind the security gate, Hernandez said. After parking outside a terminal, two of the suspects stayed with the car and one man went with Owens to the security gate.

"But the suspect obviously couldn’t get through security, so he told him to wait there while he went inside to the credit union," Hernandez said.

But once he cleared the gate he got to a phone and called 911, Hernandez said. Airport security officers then arrested the two men back at the car and arrested the third suspect nearby.

That was some quick thinking, and most likely even quicker talking.

Poacher Kills Game Warden

From the Star Telegram:

By Alex Branch

Game warden killed in shootout with hunter

A Texas game warden was killed early Saturday during a shootout between authorities and a man suspected of hunting illegally.

Warden Justin Hurst, 34, was shot after the suspect led law enforcement officers on a 50-minute chase that wound through the back roads of Wharton County southwest of Houston, said Maj. Rolly Correa of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

When the car finally stopped, the suspect came out shooting, authorities said.

“I don’t know how many patrol cars were hit, but there were a number of windows shot out and lots of rounds fired,” Correa said.

The suspect, a goblin whose name is not worth mentioning, 26, was wounded in the shootout and taken to a hospital, according to a statement from the Texas Department of Public Safety. He is expected to be charged with capital murder.

The person who murdered this game warden is not a hunter, he is a poacher. There is a big difference. Hunters do not take game illegally, poachers do. Hunters do not get crosswise with law enforcement, poachers do. Hunters are law abiding citizens who continue traditions as old as mankind itself. Poachers are scum who steal from the land and from the citizens of Texas.

The chase started after a fellow game warden spotted a man believed to be hunting illegally from the road, authorities said. When the warden approached him, the suspect fled.

Hurst and officers from several jurisdictions joined the pursuit.

Hurst started his career with the agency in 1995 as a wildlife biologist, Correa said. He later grew interested in law enforcement and graduated from the Game Warden Academy in August 2002.

Hurst was killed on his 34th birthday and is survived by his wife and 4-month-old child, Correa said.

“It’s a really hard thing,” Correa said. “He was loved by all. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family.”

Hurst was the 16th Texas game warden killed since 1919, Correa said.

My thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of Warden Hurst.

Game Wardens play an very important role in the preservation of our hunting and fishing grounds, keeping our lakes and open areas safe, and in wildlife education. Every Game Warden I have come in contact with has been very professional straightforward.

I am sure that everyone in the shooting community can agree that this goblin is no hunter, at best he is a poacher, and in reality a murderer. I have written the author of this article, and explained a bit about the differences between poachers and hunters.

If you would like to add your 2¢, here is his email: abranch@star-telegram.com

Darwin is on Our Side

From the Fresno Bee:

Gang member shoots self accidentally, is arrested

A Bulldog gang member who shot himself in the stomach while pounding on his handgun with a hammer was arrested on suspicion of possession of a firearm, Fresno police said...

...Hernandez eventually told detectives that he had been hammering on the handgrips of the loaded .22-caliber pistol when it fired.

I Really Do Not Understand the Logic

From the Rockford Register Star:

60-year sentence for teen in man's murder

Chief Judge Kathryn Zenoff sentenced Salvador Rubio Friday to 60 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections — 30 years for the murder and another 30 years because he used a firearm to commit the crime.

The fact that this young goblin has received a 60 year sentence is great news. I am a firm believer in isolating murderers and other violent criminals from society. What confuses me about the sentence is the fact that it is split into two separate offences. The goblin received 30 years for killing a man, a 30 year kicker was added because he used a firearm. Would the victim be any deader if he was killed with a knife, hammer or pencil? Does the family really care what tool was used to take their loved one from them? How has our justice system devolved into this state of add ons and special circumstances? A murder is a murder. It really does not matter to the victim or the survivors what was used to commit the crime, only the fact that the crime was committed. This is in the same vein as hate crimes, any fool can tell you that if you murder someone, you pretty much passed the hate test. This goblin received an appropriate sentence for murder. Why do we have to use a kicker to get to 60 years, isn't murder enough?

Revolving Door Justice in Cleveland

There were two major news stories while I was in Cleveland. The first was the tragic accident that involved the Bluffton University Baseball Team's bus as they were in route to Florida for a Spring tournament. The second was an equally tragic shooting of a young lady named Johanna Orozco. Johanna was shot with a shotgun at close range by her ex-boyfriend, a goblin named Juan Ruiz. Johanna survived, but remains in critical condition. She will be looking forward to a very long and painful process as the doctors attempt to reconstruct her face.

This is another violent crime that the justice system should have prevented. This 17 year old goblin, a known violent offender, was on the street with the blessing of a county magistrate.

In November, the goblin was arrested at school for carrying a revolver at school. He plead guilty to a felony charge.

December the goblin was expelled from school.

January a county magistrate dropped all charges against the goblin, even though he had plead guilty. This was done "for the benefit of the minor".

So what does jr. goblin do with his new found freedom? He rapes his ex-girlfriend at knife point. Yep, this goblin who deserved to have felony charges dropped by a magistrate, rapes Johanna.

Johanna reports the rape, the goblin is arrested for his second felony in four months. Whew, now we have this goblin off the streets, finally....

Nope, this magistrate sends him home on house arrest. They put an ankle bracelet on him and send him home.

Wearing his ankle bracelet, he leaves home and hunts down Johanna. When he finds her, he shoots her in the face with a shotgun. Now, finally, he is behind bars.

Watch the video here.

When you watch the video, note that Dad (who does not speak English) affirms that his son is a good boy.

Why do the anti's blame the gun when situations like this make the root issues so very obvious?

While the DA's are Busy Lobbying Against Castle Doctrine...

Many County District Attorneys have had representative in Austin all week lobbying against the proposed Texas Castle Doctrine/Stand Your Ground Law. They are putting a lot of effort into limiting free citizen's rights to defend themselves against goblins.

Maybe if they concentrated on the job we hired them for, there would be less goblins on the streets for us to defend against.

From the Star Telegram:

By Melissa Vargas

Bedford man jailed in 3-city crime string

A 19-year-old Bedford man with a record of theft charges was indicted Wednesday in connection with stolen property from at least three Northeast Tarrant County suburbs, police say.

Matthew Eric Dever is accused of breaking into a car in Grapevine, stealing a car in Watauga and burglary of a habitation in Keller, officials said. He remained in jail Thursday in lieu of $85,000 bail.

This little goblin has been busy

Police say it all started Jan. 9...

I think the police might be a little off on the start date. Remember the first sentence of the article? "...with a record of theft charges..." How far back did that record start?

Dever has an extensive record of arrests beginning in September, including accusations of forgery and aggravated robbery in North Richland Hills; unauthorized possession of a weapon, tampering with government records and possession of a controlled substance in Hurst; and burglary of a habitation in Fort Worth.

"...beginning in September," Makes you wonder when his 19th birthday fell. Good money says no earlier than October.

Question for the DA's. How far is this goblin going to have to go to prove to you he needs to be isolated from society?

Captured!

The prison escapee I commented on here has been captured.

From the Star Telegram:

By Bill Miller

Escapee captured in Corpus Christi

Now let us see how fast the same District Attorneys who are so adamantly against the Castle Doctrine/Stand Your Ground law can get this repeat offender goblin back on the streets.

Deterring Violent Crime?

When you hear politicians talking about efforts to deter violent crime, most times they are bemoaning the fact that there are "to many guns on the streets" and they attempt to devise legislation to restrict a free citizens right to keep and bear arms. Currently in Texas we have one piece of legislation in committee that looks to "Close the Gun Show Loophole" and another that would do away with private transfers of hand guns and require a waiting period for all hand gun sales. Adding more restrictions onto the back of free citizens will do nothing to reduce violent crime, this has been proven time after time, yet still they persist.

I have an idea...

Why don't they do something about incidents like this?

From the Star Telegram:

By Melody McDonald

Inmate escapes from facility for parole violators

FORT WORTH — Law enforcement officials were searching Monday for a 46-year-old convicted felon who escaped Sunday from a facility for parole violators near Fort Worth Meacham International Airport.

Well, you learn something new every day. I did not know they had a special facility for parole violators. This must be a pretty secure facility, seeing as how it houses those who have shown a complete disregard for the laws of the land by blowing it when they had a chance at freedom.

Officials said Eladio Diaz Jr. was last seen about 4:30 p.m. Sunday working on a vehicle with other inmates outside the North Texas Intermediate Sanction Facility, a lock-up at 4600 Blue Mound Road that houses up to 400 parole violators.

Wait a second... did they just say that this conviced felon, who violated parole, was working on cars outside the facility?

Shortly before 11 p.m., officials discovered Diaz — a trusty who had been permitted to work outside the facility — was not in his cell for bed check, said Lt. Dean Sullivan, a Fort Worth police spokesman.

And they never noticed that he did not return with the other convicts... heavy sigh.

Okay, maybe this is one of the drug offenders who committed a vicitmless crime. You know that sometimes I can jump to conclusions, maybe we should read further into the article.

Diaz is believed to be in the Fort Worth area or in Houston and should be considered dangerous, said Jason Clark, a spokesman for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.

“We would not want the public to apprehend him,” Clark said.

Clark said Diaz was paroled from prison in December 2003 after serving 12 years of a 25-year sentenced for aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon out of Nueces County in south Texas.

In November, he violated his parole when he was arrested and charged in Nueces County with making a terroristic threat.

There went that theory. So here is a conviced felon, a violent criminal, who served less than half of his 25 year sentence on the loose in our community. This facility he was in is a short term facility. The most anyone spend in there is 90 days, then they are back on the streets.

...and serves as a short-term punishment facility — for 90 days instead of revoking his parole and sending him back to prison.

“It is designed to get their attention,” Clark said of the facility. “Once they are done with their stint there, they are back on parole.”

This is how the State protects us from violent criminals.

Oh... in case you were wondering what this goblin looks like, just in case he walks up to you and your family at the local stop and rob, to bad. There is no picture of the goblin with the article.

Edit to add:

This morning I checked to see if there were any update to this case and found that there is now a photo of the goblin available.

Getting Tough on Crime

As you probably know, I am a proponent of the idea that if you want to reduce violent crime (gun related or otherwise), get violent criminals off of the streets. Stop blaming the tools of violence, start blaming the violent criminals.

While tooling around in today's firearm related news stories, I found this article in Utah's Deseret Morning News concerning stiffer penalties for Goblins involved in drive by shootings:

The House on Monday unanimously voted to increase the penalties involved in drive-by shootings, most often associated with gang warfare.

Rep. Carl Wimmer, R-Herriman, a police officer, proposes that the driver of a car in a drive-by shooting can immediately have his driver's license taken away.

Oh my... that should do the trick.

I take it that the legislature in Utah does not have a clue when it comes to modern street gangs. Here is one hint. If the punishment for committing a crime is less than the punishment that would be meted out by the gang if a member does not commit the crime, then your law will have no effect on crime.

New Police Tactics

I grew up in a small desert town in California. I check in with the local newspaper every once in awhile just to see how things are going. After the article about the crop damage due to the worst freeze in 20 years (insert global warming joke here), I found this little gem.

From the Imperial Valley Press:

Standoff ends after 3 hours

By JONATHAN DALE

BRAWLEY — A man brandishing a shotgun barricaded himself inside his apartment here Saturday afternoon, in a three-hour standoff that ended when the man allegedly passed out drunk.

Robbed of Guns, At Gunpoint

ACE over at Airborne Combat Engineer found the following news article out of Florida that details an armed robbery of two men followed home from a gun range.

From WFTV, Eyewitness News 9

Men Followed From Shooting Range, Robbed Of Guns

There are shooting ranges all over Central Florida, but the victim and his friend left one in Apopka on Sunday afternoon after two hours on the range. While in the store, they noticed four young men.

The victims later confirmed with detectives that three of the young men were the suspects who showed their faces on in-store surveillance video. One suspect could be identified by his heavy chain, a chain the victim saw again in his own driveway.

"They were in their driveway for a matter of minutes when a green Honda pulled up," Egert said. "When they got out of their car, they put their guns right to their faces."

After the heist, the suspects fled in a bluish green, mid-90s model Honda Accord with tinted windows. The traumatized victims noticed one suspect was even on his cell phone as they drove away, but they didn't get a tag number.

The stolen semiautomatic handguns are a .45 caliber Kimber, worth $1,200, and a .40-caliber Sigsauer, which gun shops sell for about $600.

This incident highlights the necessity of being aware of your surroundings at all times. It is over 21 miles from the range to the house. According to Mapquest, the drive takes over 30 minutes and has several turns. There was plenty of opportunity for the driver to notice that he was being followed.

If you carry a gun, large sums of money, jewelry, a purse, kids or drive a nice car, it pays to be aware of your surroundings. Situational awareness is something that needs to be practiced daily. It is a learned skill, and takes a bit of work. It is a skill (one of many) that I am still working on.

From the moment you step out of your door you should be in the habit of noticing everything that is going on around your street. Do you know every car that belongs to every house on your block? If not your block, how about 3 houses down on each side of the street. How would you know if something is out of the ordinary, if you do not know the ordinary?

A good practice drill is to try and note the basics of every car that you pass/passes you. How many people are in the car, how old, what color and make, what is the plate number. How many cars are behind you? How long have they been there? Could you tell if one of them was following you? If you pay attention like this, then yes, you would be able to tell if one of the cars was following you.

Always be on the lookout for goblins. When you are in a store, mentally separate the goblins from the people. Try to pick out the folks who are paying attention. Who all is carrying? What are the exits and where is the cover?

Situational awareness is something that costs nothing to practice and is the number one thing that will save your life and the lives of your family. If you don't see the threat, you can not avoid it. If you don't see the threat, you can not take measures to respond to it.

It is Well Past Time to Secure Our Borders.

From the Houston Chronicle

Houston gang suspect wanted in decapitations

By MIKE GLENN

A suspected MS-13 gang member arrested Saturday on assault and immigration charges is wanted in Honduras for the decapitation slayings late last year of his former in-laws.

Albin Zelaya-Zelaya, 26, was charged in October for burglary of a habitation with intent to commit aggravated assault. He also was wanted by federal authorities for entering the country illegally, officials said.

Investigators learned Zelaya-Zelaya, also known as Flaco, slipped into the United States sometime after Christmas, the day when Eleazar and Suyapa Vasquez were murdered in their home in Honduras.

Also arrested Saturday were Zelaya-Zelaya's brother, Pablo Romero, 31; Miguel Estrada, 21; Johnny Fernandez, 27; Marlin Turcios, 20; and Marcos Caldron, 24. They were charged with evading arrest and and also face immigration charges, police said.

The men are suspects in a series of kidnappings of illegal immigrants in the Houston area, police said.

Romero also is wanted in the slaying of the Vasquez couple, police said.

According to Interpol, Zelaya-Zelaya is wanted for questioning about a December 2004 attack on a bus in San Pedro Sula, Honduras, that killed almost 40 people, Houston police said.

MS-13 are some very, very evil goblins. They make SUR 13 look like a Boy Scout troop. If you have not heard about MS-13, do a Google search for "machete attacks", you will learn all you need to know. This gang has prompted Massachusetts to get tough. Check out Senate Bill 1384, An Act Relative to the Possession of a Machete.

Isn't our illustrious representative from Massachusetts one of the major players stumping for open borders and amnesty programs for illegal aliens?

We are represented by idiots.

Talk About a Slow News Day

From the Star Telegram:

4 towels, ashtray taken from Motel 6

By DOMINGO RAMIREZ JR.

EULESS -- For at least one customer, Tom Bodett probably won't be leaving the light on.

A thief took two cotton towels, two hand towels and an ashtray from a Motel 6 in the 100 block of Airport Freeway on Monday.

A police report did not have the dollar loss in the theft.

Bodett, the longtime spokesman for Motel 6, uses his trademark promise that "We'll leave the light on for you" to entice customers to the economy motels.

But Bodett won't be losing sleep over the Euless theft.

A police report states that a 28-year-old Watauga man who had been registered to the room from which the items were stolen was questioned by police officers in the motel's parking lot.

Patrol officers interviewed the man after noticing that he had been sitting in his vehicle in the parking lot for a long time.

In his vehicle were the missing towels and ashtray, reports state.

Anderson Says He's Done With Street Life

Remember this guy... Would Be Burglar Gets More Than He Anticipated?

He is the goblin that broke into a couple of homes in South Dallas, was caught by a homeowner and got beat for his trouble.

Well now he is recovering and taking to the reporters.

Accused Robber: I'm Sorry

DALLAS -- A man who was beaten up by a homeowner after allegedly burglarizing his house offered an apology on Friday.

Marquis Anderson said he does not remember the events two weeks ago, when police said he broke into a man's house, stole a gun, then broke into a second house, was confronted by the owner and badly beaten.

"I might have broken into the house; I might not (have)," Anderson said. "You know what I'm saying? I'm not saying I did, 'cause I don't know. So, if I had a gun, why do I look like this?"

You look like that because you stepped into a pile of crud that was a bit above your head.

Okay, maybe more than a bit:

Anderson was hospitalized with a broken nose, collapsed lungs and a damaged liver, and he didn't wake up for six days, NBC 5 reported. Anderson said he admits that if he did what police said he did, he deserved what he got.

"He had the right to protect his property -- I give it to him," Anderson said. "I apologize to him. But I was under the influence."

Yep, let's blame it on the drugs. It may be a backhanded apology, but it is an apology none-the-less. It will be interesting to see how this case pans out in court.

Now we get to the heart of the matter. This case answers the age old question "Is corporal punishment effective?"

Anderson said he has learned his lesson.

"My life is completely changed, honestly," Anderson said. "Look at me. You think I haven't learned my lesson about this? Come on, man, you have to think about it? It's self-explanatory."

He admits that he has been in trouble before but swears this is the last time.

"Whatever it takes," Anderson said. "Get a job. The first day I get out -- the second I get out. It doesn't matter. I'm getting a job. I'm completely done with the street life, man, for real."

Maybe if he had received some loving discipline when he was young, he would not have required a trip to the hospital to learn this lesson.

Kind of makes California's proposed No Spanking Law seem kind of stupid now doesnt it?

Say Uncle used a part of this article as a "quote of the day".