Drawing has been held.
The winner of the Browning M3 is:
Doug Campbell
Frankfort, IL
Congratulations Doug! Tiger Valley is hosting an open shoot on January 13th and 14th. Their 1000 yard range would be a great place to put your Browning through it's paces (and give me the opportunity to watch).
For more information on the Fifty Caliber Institute, visit their website here.
NEW BEDFORD — Mayor Scott W. Lang is asking the city's legislative delegation to push for a statewide ban on the sale of military-style weapons — including the AR-15 semiautomatic rifle used by a gunman last week to kill two employees and himself at the Foxy Lady SouthCoast.The article continues on to describe the capabilities of the AR-15, some factual, some exaggerated. According to this article, one individual with an AR-15 is pretty much invincible. This mayor would like Massachusetts to enact a gun ban similar to California's, a ban that would make citizens like myself felons.
"I'd like our local delegation to sponsor a bill that takes that type of weapon out of civilian hands ... any type of military weapon," he said. "This is not an appropriate weapon for a civilian to have.
"It's a killing tool. ... It's a weapon that's used to destroy an opposition army. We don't need a battlefield in the middle of our city."
...We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government...Our creator has endowed us with the unalienable Rights to Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. If we have the unalienable right to Life, then we also have the unalienable right to protect that life. If we have the unalienable right to Liberty, then we have the unalienable right to protect that liberty. The Second Amendment has nothing to do with hunting or gun collecting. The Second Amendment is to ensure that the people have the ability to enforce their right to "...whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or abolish it, and to institute new Government..."
He also noted he has strong ties with federal legislators from the area and may discuss the idea of a ban with them.This mayor is a traitor to the constitution, and to the people who elected him.
FORT WORTH -- By the look on jurors' faces, it wasn't an easy decision.Good for this jury, they made a hard decision and did not fall for the defense attorney's appeal for leniency.
After six hours of deliberations, the panel of seven men and five women took their seats in the jury box Wednesday evening and handed their verdict to state District Judge Elizabeth Berry.
One held his head in his hands. Two wiped tears from their eyes.
Their unanimous decision: Convicted killer Juan Meza Segundo should be executed for raping and strangling 11-year-old Vanessa Villa more than 20 years ago inside her north Fort Worth home.
Segundo, 43, stood stoically next to his defense attorneys when Berry pronounced the sentence.
During their final summation, defense attorneys Mark Daniel and Wes Ball did not downplay Segundo's past but said he is a changed man who deserves a life sentence.Who cares about his "changed life"? He is an animal and should be put down like a bad dog. To many times we, as a society, make excuses for animals like this and offer them leniency. Too many times these goblins end up back on our streets, violent predators searching for their next victim.
After Segundo was released from prison in 2000 after serving a sentence for driving while intoxicated, he moved to Keene and became an active member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. He married, developed a strong relationship with his son and became an adoring grandfather.
He has been a model citizen for five years, they said.
If they assessed the death penalty, Daniel said, one day Segundo would be put on a gurney, injected with a combination of three drugs -- the same chemicals used to euthanize a dog.To easy by far for this fiend. How easy were the deaths of his victims?
"His eyes will roll back in his head, he will swallow...and life will pass from his body," Daniel said.
JACKSON — Fifty percent more women are target-shooting now than were involved in the sport five years ago, according to surveys conducted by the National Sporting Goods Association.Millions of women actively participating in the shooting sports, millions of women who are not scared of guns, who teach their children the safe handling of firearms. These are women who can look Sarah Brady in the eye and tell her to pack sand.
The statistics from the Connecticut-based trade association for the shooting, hunting and firearms industries show that of the 22 million people who target-shoot more than once a year in the United States, about 5 million, or 23 percent, are women. The surveys were conducted from 2001 through 2005.
More than 1.2 million women in the United States target-shoot at least 20 times per year, the surveys show.
"More and more women are discovering that hunting and shooting sports are great family activities," said Doug Painter, National Shooting Sports Foundation president.
Participation in the National Rifle Association's Women on Target events — which introduce women to target shooting — has grown with the sport.Did you see that? Three million (3,000,000) women actively practicing with handguns. That is 3,000,000 women who will have an option other than calling 911 if attacked.
The NRA started sponsoring the clinics in 2000. Thirteen events were held across the country that year, with about 500 women participating, said NRA spokeswoman Mary Sue Faulkner.
This year, more than 6,800 women took part in 229 Women on Target events, including the one held at the Central Jersey Rifle and Pistol Club in Jackson in September.
FORT WORTH -- Jurors heard from three women Monday who said they were victims of Juan Mesa Segundo, suspected of being a serial killer.This news article is a touch graphic, if that bothers you, please do not read the following quotes.
These women lived to tell their stories.
Segundo, 43, was convicted of capital murder last week for raping and strangling Vanessa Villa, 11, after breaking into her north Fort Worth home Aug. 3, 1986.
This week in state District Judge Elizabeth Berry's court, jurors are hearing testimony to determine whether Segundo should be executed or sentenced to life in prison.
Both of those sentences are too good for this goblin, but of the two, you have to know which one I am for.
This is why they consider him a serial killer:
They have also heard testimony that he has been linked by DNA to the rapes and strangulations of Maria Navarro, whose partially nude body was found June 17, 1995, in Buck Sansom Park, and Francis Williams, a convicted prostitute who was found nude and facedown in a drainage ditch on Cold Springs Road on Nov. 15, 1994.This goblin defines evil, he is a violent predator who should be permanently removed from society. It is a good thing he has finally been caught, he is finally off of the streets.
21-year-old Fort Worth woman testified that when she was 4 or 5 years old, Segundo dated her mother. For about three months, they all lived together in the Ripley Arnold public housing apartments in downtown Fort Worth, which have since been torn down.It really is a good thing we finally have him off of our streets, too bad we could not get him earlier.
The woman said that sometimes Segundo took care of her while her mother worked. She said he occasionally took her to a convenience store and bought her candy. Several times when they returned home, she said, he led her into her mother's bedroom, rubbed her genitals and forced her to give him oral sex.
The woman said Segundo said that if she ever told, "he would kill me and my mother."
...No charges have been brought against Segundo in that case.
But he has been convicted twice before for crimes against women.Yes, you did read that correctly. This animal has been convicted twice before, but was somehow still on our streets, raping and killing our women and children.
One of those women took the witness stand Monday. For several moments, she cried and tried to catch her breath before settling down enough to recount her experience.Note the time line. The goblin attempted rape and murder in October of 1987. He was convicted and sentenced to 10 years in prison sometime in 1988. He was allowed back on the streets in July of 1989. He spent less than a year and a half behind bars on a ten year sentence.
The woman testified that she was sleeping in her north Fort Worth home Oct. 6, 1987, when she was awakened by someone touching her chest. At first, she thought it was one of her grandchildren, the woman testified.
As she sat up in the bed, she said, a man hit her in the face, covered her nose and began choking her. The woman said she fought back and was able to turn on the light.
She recognized her attacker, Segundo, as an acquaintance who used to work at the same company as she did.
"He didn't have his pants on," the woman testified.
She said she was able to unlock the bedroom door and scream for help. Her daughter and the daughter's boyfriend ran in, and 911 was called.
Segundo sped away in a car parked in an alley.
He had apparently entered her house through a broken window.
Segundo was arrested and convicted of burglary of a habitation with intent to commit sexual assault. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison. He was paroled in July 1989 and less than a year later was caught in another home.
In that case, a woman testified, she was asleep with her children on a mattress in the living room of her Ripley Arnold apartment when she felt someone lie down beside her.If the anti gunners were truly about reducing violence in our communities, they would be all up on arms about cases like this one. A woman and a child were raped and murdered while this goblin was supposed to be serving a 10 year sentence. How many others were molested but have not come forward? How many bodies have not been found?
"I seen a male beside me, completely naked," the woman told jurors. "He started to try to take off my clothes."
The woman said that she fought and tried to run but that Segundo caught her and began choking her on the kitchen floor.
The woman said Segundo stopped when a downstairs neighbor who had heard her screams called to her.
The woman said she jumped out a second-story window to get away. Segundo had cut the screen on the window when he entered her apartment. The woman said she recognized Segundo.
According to court testimony, in that case, Segundo was sentenced to a year in jail for misdemeanor criminal trespass of a habitation.
The National Rifle Association is now accepting applications for the 2007 NRA Youth Education Summit, a free summer program for high school sophomores and juniors.This is one of the programs that are funded by Friends of NRA dinners. An opportunity like this does not come along very often for high school students. During my sophomore summer I had the opportunity to travel Europe for five weeks. I had a blast, and that experience is one of the things that made me the man that I am today.
Forty students from across the United States will be hand selected to spend a week with NRA staff in Washington DC. Attendees are responsible only for transportation to and from Washington, DC.
While in the nation's capital, students will learn the significance of the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights while developing an understanding of federal government and the importance of active participation. Attendees in past years have had the chance to meet NRA's Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre, visit Capitol Hill, spend a day at Quantico, VA training courses used by Marines for basic training, visit the White House, visit the Smithsonian Institute and much more.For more information on this program, and to download an application, visit the NRA Foundation. To read the full article, go here.
The Clarksdale Police Department is looking to stay a step ahead of would-be thieves during this holiday season.I am sure that someone had the best of intentions when they came up with this idea, but c'mon guys, this is not the smartest of moves. Who in their right mind would deliver a list of their valuables along with an address where they can be found to total strangers?
The department will sponsor a weapon and electronic registration drive at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 14, on the first floor of City Hall.
Residents are encouraged to bring the serial numbers of their firearms, guns, pistols, etc. and identification including a picture ID.
All owners of electronic equipment including TVs, XBoxes, PlayStations and MP3 players are encouraged to bring the serial numbers from their equipment.
The format is simple-food, fun, family and fund-raising. Whether you are a hunter, competitive shooter or just a proud gun owner, Friends of NRA events have something of interest for the entire family. Events include dinner followed by exciting auctions and special drawings for unique and collectible merchandise. Attendees bid on items from the standard Friends of NRA merchandise package, as well as special products and services donated to specific events by local businesses and community members. "Friends of NRA merchandise includes very desirable limited edition firearms, wildlife art from popular artists, jewelry, and shooting sports, hunting and outdoor equipment. Events offer every participant an opportunity to take home valuable merchandise and enjoyable memories," said Rich D'Alauro, NRA Senior Field Representative for lower New York, upper New Jersey, Connecticut and Rhode Island.The 2007 Lone Star Friends of NRA Dinner will be held on February 2nd, at the Mesquite Rodeo Convention Center at 6:00 PM. Last years event raised over $20,000, and we are looking to raise even more this year. The proceeds from this event will be used to fund additional permanently endowed scholarships within the Texas A&M System as part of the George Tubb Memorial Scholarship program.
FCI remains committed to stand in their path and defend not only the .50 caliber sports, but the traditional and inherent American values of gun ownership and personal responsibility. We proudly recognize the contributions made by the .50cal sporting community to our law enforcement and military, contributions that lead to safer streets and improved national security. We thank you for your interest and your ongoing support as we move forward with this critical mission.I am not yet an owner of a .50 caliber rifle, but it is high up on my "to get" list. Here is a chance to own not just a .50 caliber rifle, but a Browning M3HB in semi auto.
This modified original Browning M3 heavy-barrel has been remanufactured using genuine G.I. parts. You will find the detailed workmanship and design of this remanufactured weapon to be very close to the original and is excellent for sharpshooters, re-enactors or military vehicle enthusiasts. Fires commercial ammunition or blanks. All components internal and external are finished with a gray military type parkerization process.
Two opposing fans get into a shouting match at a sporting event and the argument spills into the parking lot, where one of them pulls a concealed handgun from a car glove compartment and, BANG, argument over.Every single time a state moves towards freedom and starts to once again allow it's citizens to carry arms, folks like this police chief come out of the woodwork ranting about bloodbaths in the streets. Well Chief, I am here to tell you that it just hasn't happened. People who obey the law, who jump through all the hurdles of obtaining a permit, who pay their fees and go through the background checks are not your street criminals. The thugs and goblins who are part of your fantasy do not bother to go through the hassle of getting a permit.
This is just one scenario that Arkansas City Police Chief Dan Givens fears when Kansas' concealed weapons law takes affect next year.
"All the horror stories I thought would come to pass didn`t happen. . . . I think it`s worked out well, and that says good things about the citizens who have permits.Is Chief Givens satisfied at just complaining about the new laws, at getting his opinion printed in the paper and leaving it at that? Oh no, you know he can't just leave it at that:
I`m a convert."
--Glenn White, president of the Dallas Police Ass`n
The first licenses to carry concealed handguns will be issued by the Kansas Department of Revenue on Jan. 2, 2007. After that, it will be impossible to know who is, "packing heat," and who isn't.You did read that correctly. The chief is going around to local businesses and asking them to post their businesses as off limits to folks who have a concealed carry license. I will just about bet he is also doing it on the tax payers dime.
"It's a giant step backwards," Givens said.
Givens has been asking local businesses to post signs that forbid anyone from bringing in a concealed gun. The signs can be obtained from the police department or downloaded from www.ksag.org/Concealed_Weapon/Concealed_Carry_Update.htm
So far, several businesses have posted the signs, including The Brown Store, Stage, the Traveler and Picture This TV & Radioshack.Mr. Thompson, that is the whole idea behind "concealed carry". If you do not know a customer is carrying, neither does the criminal who is casing your place of business. All a "no legally carried firearms allowed" sign does is inform goblins that your business is a safe place to rob.
Picture This was one of the first Ark City businesses to post the sign. Owner Danny Thompson said Givens asked him if he would put a sign in his window and he agreed. But he said he really doesn't feel strongly about it.
"I've also got a poster right underneath (the concealed-carry sign) for someone who's starting up a program to get licensed to carry concealed weapons," Thompson said.
He said the program would be offered soon for women who want to be certified to carry a handgun.
Thompson doesn't have a strong opinion on the issue, but, "If someone's going to carry a gun in here, I'd kind of like to know it."
Troy Ebert of The Brown Store said he's not sure how much good posting the sign will do. He opposes the law.It is obvious that the gun rights folks in Kansas have their work cut out for them. Educating the public takes a bit of time and effort. It will not be long before the "no guns" signs come down and concealed carry becomes just a fact of life.
"I realize it's a right we have as citizens but it's a little frightening and intimidating to think that someone is walking around with a concealed weapon," he said. "If they're concealed, how are you going to know?"
Kasha Kelley won't put the sign outside her business, First Intermark on South Summit. Kelley, the 79th District state representative, voted for the law and defends it.One part of the new law that needs to be reviewed and deleted is this fall back to the times of Jim Crow laws:
Businesses need to think twice before posting the sign.
"If you do post that sign, what are you telling criminals -- 'This is a gun-free zone.' It's something to really think about."
She said most of her constituents supported the law and some were very vocal in favor of it. Kansas was one of a handful of states that did not allow citizens to carry a weapon hidden from view.
"There are a lot of restrictions," she said of the Kansas law. "It was very, very carefully considered before it was written up."
Fear of gun crime increasing is not supported by the experience of concealed carry in other states, she said.
"In fact, if a criminal doesn't know whether or not you're carrying, they're not as likely to attack you," Kelley said. "That's been shown over and over again. "
The local police chief or sheriff can also weigh in, Givens said. If they have reason to believe a person should not receive a permit to carry a concealed weapon.I do not know just how much weight will be afforded the opinion of the chiefs, but that is an area wide open for abuse. If a chief does not think that blacks, or gays, or women, or any group should not carry, he could potentially infringe upon their application process.
CHAPEL HILL -- Officers of UNC's Tar Heel Rifle and Pistol Club grew up firing guns.This is cool, and a great way to introduce college students to firearms and firearm safety.
Club president Dax Dixson, of Pikesville, started target shooting when he was 4 and, as a teenager, began entering competitions for firing military surplus rifles.
Vice president John Houston, of Garner, said he was like "the little kid from the movie that always wanted a Red Ryder," which is a popular type of BB gun.
And on the Pinnacle farm where Dwight Springthorpe grew up, hunting was used for pest control.
"You can't let the coyotes eat the sheep," the UNC sophomore said.
The three aim to share their interest with other Carolina students through the rifle and pistol club, which was formed last fall.
The 60 or so group members travel to local ranges to try out hobbies like skeet shooting and rifle and pistol marksmanship. Most of the members of the club have never shot guns before, so officers place a big emphasis on safety and technique.The best way to insure our firearm freedoms continue is to take folks out to the range. Providing a save and enjoyable shooting experience for a person who is not sure about firearms will do more towards helping our cause than any amount of debate.
"We focus on teaching people how to use firearms without shooting one another," said Dixson, a UNC senior.
Instead of being overtly political, the club is mostly about fun and education, officers said.
WACO - School administrators gave a 4-year-old student an in-school suspension for inappropriately touching a teacher's aide after the pre-kindergartner hugged the woman.Number one, what kind of school feels the need to suspend a pre-k student for anything? Any behavior that is unacceptable in a 4-year old should be discussed in privacy with that child's parents.
A letter from La Vega school district administrators to the student's parents said that the boy was involved in "inappropriate physical behavior interpreted as sexual contact and/or sexual harassment" after he hugged the woman and he "rubbed his face in the chest of (the) female employee" on Nov. 10.Now we have left the realm of being ridiculous, and entered the twilight zone.
DaMarcus Blackwell, the father of the boy who attends La Vega Primary School, said he filed a complaint with the district. He said that his son doesn't understand why he was punished.
"When I got that letter, my world flipped," Blackwell said in a story in Sunday's editions of the Waco Tribune-Herald.
After Blackwell filed a complaint, a subsequent letter from the district said the offense had been changed to "inappropriate physical contact" and removed references of sexual contact or sexual harassment from the boy's file.This child is still on "in school suspension". He is still being punished for hugging an adult who he felt close to due to spending a good part of his day with her. This young boy hugs a teacher, nuzzles in close as young children will do, and she freaks out (you have to know this was not a calm walk to the principles office). How is the family going to explain that it is still okay to hug people? How has this affected this child, and how will it affect his relationship with women?
Several of the folks on the sidebar as "Blogs I Read" or on one of the blog rolls are finalist in the 2006 Weblog Awards. These are fine folks with good blogs that deserve your consideration and vote:
In the category "Best New Blog" we have Texas Fred's.
In the category "Best Individual Blog" we have Blue Star Chronicles.
In the category "Best of the Top 250 Blogs" sits Castle Argghhh!!!.
In the category "Best of the Top 251 to 500 Blogs" is Jarhead's Firing Range.
In the category "Best of the Top 501 to 1000 Blogs" we have Radioactive Liberty.
In the category "Best of the Top 1001 - 1750 Blogs" we find Scottish Right.
In the category "Best of the Top 2501 - 3500 Blogs" is mAss Backwards.
And last but not least, in the category "Best of the Top 6751 - 8750 Blogs", is yours truly.
One of the mantras in sales is "To be successful, hang out with successful people". It looks like I am in good company. Take some time to look over these great blogs, then vote.
Remember that the voting continues until December 15th, and that you can vote once every 24 hours.
It will never happen to me!
That is what the police are for, to protect us!
We live in a good neighborhood, stuff like that just does not happen here!
Those are just three of the common "reasons" people feel that they do not need to provide for their own protection. What happens on the evening news, always happens to someone else, until one day when a violent act catches up to them...
Recent news articles in the Star Telegram:
Two Arrested in String of Assaults
Two men were arrested Thursday in what police called a sexual assault "binge."These goblins went around and randomly selected women, abducted them, and assaulted them.
The men are suspects in as many as five sexual assaults Wednesday night in three north Dallas County communities.
Victims told similar stories of how two men traveling in a silver compact car either abducted and sexually assaulted them, or tried to.
"These guys were just out on a binge," said officer Joe Harn, a Garland police spokesman...
...The first incident occurred about 7:45 p.m. Wednesday at an apartment complex in the 3400 block of Country Square Drive in east Carrollton.
One woman went into an apartment while another woman waited in the car, according to Sgt. Patrick Murphy, a Carrollton police spokesman. Two men pulled up, and one robbed the woman in the car, Murphy said.
She then tried to alert the other woman by honking the horn, Murphy said.
"The second victim then came outside and was tackled by the second suspect," Murphy said.
She was kidnapped, raped and released about a mile and a half away in the 3500 block of East Belt Line Road in Farmers Branch, he said.
The next incident occurred about 14 miles east in the 1900 block of Linda Lane in Richardson.
Witnesses told police they saw two men forcing a woman into a silver car at 9:20 p.m., said Lt. Daniel Robb, a Richardson police spokesman.
About 15 minutes later, the woman was found nude about two miles away in Garland, near Lookout Drive and Texas 190 (the President George Bush Turnpike).
Two more incidents were reported in Garland, one at 11:18 p.m. and the other at 11:33 p.m., Harn said.
These goblins did not care about these women's neighborhoods, or their cars, or who they knew. All they were looking for was someone who they perceived as weak, someone that they could abduct and terrorize.
Kidnapped, raped and left naked on the side of the road. I doubt that any of these women had plans to get molested when they left their homes on Wednesday morning. I am sure all of them felt safe and secure in familiar surroundings, performing routine tasks.
The police did do their job. They responded to the crime, they investigated, and they captured the goblins before any more women had their lives altered forever.
Two of the women fought back and escaped with out being raped. This "binge" could have been stopped early on if one of the intended victims had some sort of force equalization tool. A handgun in trained hands is such a tool. These women were out numbered and overpowered by the goblins. A handgun is the one tool that would have stacked the chips in their favor.
Texas is a "shall issue" state, if you pass the background checks and pay the fee, you will get issued a Concealed Handgun License. These women have chosen not to be proactive in securing their own safety, that is their choice (one they may be reconsidering). There are states which forbid women like these from being able to protect themselves from violence. States like California, New York and New Jersey stand firmly on the side of the goblin, telling women that their lives and security do not matter. The arrogant immorality of these legislators should not be tolerated, and I do not for the life of me understand why they are. Why do the people of Washington D.C. allow themselves to be treated like subjects instead of demanding they be treated like free citizens?
To deny a person the natural right that is affirmed in both the preamble and second amendment of the constitution is wrong. It is immoral, unethical and criminal.
Donate $10 and you could win this custom gun, knife, and holster package worth $12,000!
Louder Than Words has donated the custom prize package.
LTW is a collaboration of some of the country's finest craftsmen in custom guns, knives, and holsters, who donate their work to charity.
Learn more about the organization and the raffle here.
All proceeds will benefit The Jimmy Fund/Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.
FORT WORTH - A 47-year-old man who was shot in the head Wednesday night during an exchange about whether he could smoke inside a friend's house died Thursday afternoon, authorities said.This incident just occurred this week. The families of both the victim and the woman who caused his death are both still in shock and grieving their loss. I am using this incident as an example for others. Maybe someone will read this, take these lessons to heart, and prevent a future negligent shooting. Please keep any comments civil and respectful to the families grief.
Margore Carter, 49, was arrested Thursday evening by members of the U.S. Marshal's Task Force at a relative's home in Arlington, police said. She faces a murder charge.Mistake number one. Alcohol and firearms do not mix. Granted, this would not have been a fatal mistake had the four rules of firearm safety been followed, but alcohol affects common sense as well as the sense of responsibility. If you are drinking, keep your hands off the guns.
Witnesses told police that Williams was drinking with Carter, her sister and the sister's husband in her house in the 3200 block of Todd Avenue.
About 8 p.m., the sister's husband suggested that Williams should go outside to smoke, homicide Detective Tom Boetcher said. Williams refused.
A witness said that "the suspect then jokingly stated that she had something that would make him go outside," Boetcher said.
Carter went to her bedroom and returned with a gun, investigators said.
Acting Sgt. Mike Carroll said she first aimed the gun at a window near Williams and pulled the trigger. The gun just clicked.
"From the other witnesses' statements, they all thought she was kind of playing around," Carroll said. "She then walks up to him, puts it to his head and pulls the trigger, and it does go off.
"According to her, she was surprised."
This incident should not have happened, it could have been easily prevented by following the four basic rules of firearm safety.
So, what are the four rules of firearm safety?Boetcher said the case should serve as a reminder of the importance of gun safety.
"People should be aware that all weapons can be deadly -- whether the gun is believed to be loaded or unloaded," he said. "And people are responsible for their actions if their reckless conduct results in someone's death."
FORT WORTH -- Sixty-five years ago today, the history books record a great American loss.The article goes into the history of how Master Sergeant Riddle joined first the Army Calvary, then transferred to the Army Air Force.
Close to 200 parked airplanes burned, 18 mighty ships damaged or destroyed, more than 2,400 dead, a feeling of national invincibility evaporated. It was the attack on Pearl Harbor and the beginning of U.S. involvement in World War II.
But battles are not just won or lost at the strategic level. At the level where finger meets trigger and boot meets dirt, wars are fought by men, and from that level on Dec. 7, 1941, Ralph C. Riddle scored his own, admittedly small, victory.
His first assignment that autumn of '41 was in Hawaii. They moved him around the islands a few times until he landed in late November at Wheeler Field, where the Army Air Forces kept fighter squadrons.You will have to go here to find out what happened on the top of that building and how Private First Class Riddle got promoted to sargent and earned the Silver Star.
Riddle was a military policeman who just happened to be pretty handy with large-caliber machine guns.
"At Fort Bliss, the top 10 gunners got $10 extra a month," he said. "I ruint my ears doing it, but I done it."
A bomb that dropped on a hangar next to Riddle's barracks served as his wake-up call on the morning of Dec. 7. Everyone spilled out of the barracks, holding helmets and gas masks. People started running for cover, crawling under buildings.
Over the din, Riddle could hear his sergeant.
"I was more scared of the provost sergeant than I was of the Japs," he said.
The sergeant wanted to know who could operate the .50-caliber gun on top of the building. Riddle said he could.
The only volunteer to go up on top of the building with Riddle, in plain sight of the Japanese bombers and fighters, was a soldier who had been released from the brig during the attack. His job was to crank the water cooler to keep the gun cool and to feed the ammunition.
"All you could hear was this drone of planes. You couldn't see nothing because of the smoke," he said. "I wouldn't have known a Jap plane if I'd seen it. I was 21 years old. Fresh off the farm."
TYLER, Texas - Carjacked at knifepoint while pumping gas, a 75-year-old woman didn't give in without a fight. Mary Gean Smyth opened the door of her sport utility vehicle and doused the assailant in gas.Another goblin makes a mistake in choosing a victim. After being doused with gasoline, the goblin drove off and was later apprehended. Mrs. Smith got her car (a bit smelly, but in one piece), her purse and her credit cards back. Her cash was missing.
"I'm sure he was burning like mad," Smyth said of the Tuesday carjacking. "I mean, I drowned him right in the face."
A representative of the Brookshire grocery store, where Smyth was getting gas, has offered to pay for car cleaning and repairs, Smyth said.If there were a Brookshires any where near, they would be getting my business.
ARLINGTON -- Police continue to search for clues about the man responsible for the death of Sanal Nathan, a 26-year-old former University of Texas at Arlington student who was shot Nov. 27 while trying to reason with a robber.It is good to see that they are actively working the case, next update as new information arises.
About 15 officers spent Tuesday morning distributing 500 fliers seeking information about Nathan's killer.
ARLINGTON — The reward for information about the death of a former 26-year-old former University of Texas at Arlington student killed during an attempted robbery Nov. 27 has gone from $11,000 to $21,000, Arlington police said Tuesday.The rewards posted by Schepps Dairy have been very successful in the past, the additional $10,000 offered by American Leather can only help.
Sanal Nathan was killed by a man who attempted to rob Nathan and his fiancé in the parking lot of the Woodwind Apartments at 1605 S. Cooper Street, police said.
The shooter was described as a very tall African-American male who wore a dark hooded sweatshirt. Shortly after the shooting, Schepps Dairy put up a $10,000 reward for information that helped identify the killer. The Safe City Crime Stoppers put up $1,000.
American Leather, Nathan’s former employer, has added $10,000 to the fund.
The FBI appears to have begun using a novel form of electronic surveillance in criminal investigations: remotely activating a mobile phone's microphone and using it to eavesdrop on nearby conversations.A roving bug, turning your cell phone into a microphone, transmitting everything that is said in your vicinity. This leads to all kinds of questions about privilege (you know, lawyer/client - doctor/patient - husband/wife, stuff like that) and potential abuses. They do not even have to do it the old fashioned way by planting a physical bug, it can all be done with software.
The technique is called a "roving bug," and was approved by top U.S. Department of Justice officials for use against members of a New York organized crime family who were wary of conventional surveillance techniques such as tailing a suspect or wiretapping him.
Nextel cell phones owned by two alleged mobsters, John Ardito and his attorney Peter Peluso, were used by the FBI to listen in on nearby conversations. The FBI views Ardito as one of the most powerful men in the Genovese family, a major part of the national Mafia.
Kaplan's opinion said that the eavesdropping technique "functioned whether the phone was powered on or off." Some handsets can't be fully powered down without removing the battery; for instance, some Nokia models will wake up when turned off if an alarm is set...Setting aside the very real potential abuses by our government with this technology, anything that the .gov can do, the hackers can do better.
...The U.S. Commerce Department's security office warns that "a cellular telephone can be turned into a microphone and transmitter for the purpose of listening to conversations in the vicinity of the phone." An article in the Financial Times last year said mobile providers can "remotely install a piece of software on to any handset, without the owner's knowledge, which will activate the microphone even when its owner is not making a call."
Nextel and Samsung handsets and the Motorola Razr are especially vulnerable to software downloads that activate their microphones, said James Atkinson, a counter-surveillance consultant who has worked closely with government agencies. "They can be remotely accessed and made to transmit room audio all the time," he said. "You can do that without having physical access to the phone."
Surreptitious activation of built-in microphones by the FBI has been done before. A 2003 lawsuit revealed that the FBI was able to surreptitiously turn on the built-in microphones in automotive systems like General Motors' OnStar to snoop on passengers' conversations.Firehand over at Irons in The Fire is also commenting on the cell phone issue.
When FBI agents remotely activated the system and were listening in, passengers in the vehicle could not tell that their conversations were being monitored.
PHOENIX (AP) - Sky Harbor International Airport here will test a new federal screening system that takes X-rays of passenger's bodies to detect concealed explosives and other weapons.
The technology, called backscatter, has been around for several years but has not been widely used in the U.S. as an anti-terrorism tool because of privacy concerns.
The Transportation Security Administration said it has found a way to refine the machine's images so that the normally graphic pictures can be blurred in certain areas while still being effective in detecting bombs and other threats.
Several new holiday decorations considered X-rated are being sold in Florida at a store popular with young children, according to a report.What store could this be that is so popular to young children? Kaybee Toys? Toys R Us? One of the seasonal Christmas decoration outlets?
Six controversial ornaments, which can be purchased for $9 at Spencer's stores in Jacksonville and other parts of Florida, include an X-rated snowman and reindeer.If you have never been to a mall, then maybe you do not know what Spencer's is all about. One thing Spencer's is not, is a place for young children. If the Spencer's stores in Florida are "popular with young children", then parents of these young children in Florida need to be slapped upside the head. Spencer's is primarily aimed at young adults and has lots of sexually explicit items in each store. Many of the things they sell are gag gifts. They also have a large selection of drinking games. I do not think there is anything in a Spencer's store that is aimed at young children, and young children really should not be in there. These explicit ornaments are in poor taste, and the success of a store like Spenser's is a statement on the current level of decadence of our society. But if you do not like what they are selling, then do not go in there. If you are properly supervising your young children while at the mall, then they will not go in their either.
The smallest minority on earth is the individual. Those who deny individual rights cannot claim to be defenders of minorities.A couple recent examples of Kevin's work:
Gorin, who is from Mesa, Ariz., has helped the TCU rifle team to two first-place and two second-place finishes this semester. The team will resume competition on Jan. 27 at home against Air Force.Go Frogs! TCU has one of the relatively few college women's shooting sports teams in the country. They compete in both air and small bore rifle, and do very well.
Class: Sophomore
Vital stats: 5-foot-6 member of the TCU rifle team
Highlights: Three times during her freshman year, Gorin set school records in air rifle, the last being in January at the UTEP Triangular (586). That mark was broken earlier this season.
How did you get into rifle? My dad had lots of firearms in the house, so I'd go out to the range with him every once in a while and shoot small bore. I started enjoying it a lot, and at the local club I shot at there was a junior program. We'd come out and shoot small bore once a week. I fell in love with it. I started competing in local matches and from there I started shooting air rifle, too.
How old were you when you started? I was 11.
Did it start out as your dad wanting to teach you safety? It was really something to do with dad. Once a week, that was my dad time.
Did you have a certain day you'd go out there? Every Thursday night.
Now you can probably beat him, huh? Yeah (laughs).
Did you start getting really good at it and figured out you could go to college to do rifle? The coaches always told me they could see I had a lot of potential. So I stuck with it and kept working hard. It really helps that I enjoyed it a lot. My dad started throwing around ideas [about college] in about ninth or 10th grade, but I never really thought about it until my junior year, and I started looking up schools that had programs.
Residents of Unicoi County may not know that within Cherokee National Forest is Unicoi’s best-kept secret, Sciota Rifle Range. Yes, muzzle meets mountain in a safe and beautiful, natural environment where use of the National Forest is not just limited to hiking, camping and fishing. Pistol, rifle, shotgun, and all kinds of gun enthusiasts may also enjoy the natural surroundings that the forest provides. And enjoy it they do . . .with a bang...
...The range is unsupervised and open during daylight hours only. There are 3 separate ranges, at 25, 50, and 100 yards, from which to shoot. It is advisable that you bring personal targets and silhouettes at which to fire, and throw away all trash that you accumulate, including shells and paper or plastic targets.
fully understand, and practice rifle range rules and etiquette.They mention the necessity of bringing along eye and hearing protection, even for the non-shooters. This is very important. If you Sweetie is going with you to the range to watch you compete, she should have, at the minimum, hearing protection.
First, always remember to put safety first and use range commands properly with care. Most importantly, never handle a gun as if it is unloaded, even if it is unloaded. Keep muzzles pointed downrange, keep fingers off the trigger until you are ready to fire, and only point the gun at your intended target.
Thirdly, make sure that you have cleaned your weapons after each and every use. Showing up with a dirty firearm is not only a safety hazard but poses health hazards as well. A clean gun is ready for clean firing. Too, bring enough ammunition to the range.I am not sure how a dirty firearm poses a health hazard, bu the suggestion that folks "bring enough ammunition" is priceless.
Thirdly, learn and use proper range language and body positions as you approach and participate in the firing line. A “hot” range is one in which gunfire is occurring or is expected to occur. Non-participants should stand behind the shooter and opposite the target during gunfire. During a “cold” range, no weapons should be handled, loaded, or chambered. A cold range allows shooters to check and/or change target settings. Only shooters should “go downrange” toward the target area.In other words, during a cease fire, while folks are downrange checking/resetting targets, keep your mitts off of your firearms.
Both hot and cold ranges are equally dangerous and require extreme care and caution. “Cease fire” means just that, stop firing. Finally, a range that is “clear” signifies that shooters may safely proceed toward their target.
Remember safety first.
