THIS COUNTRY HAS BECOME MORE DANGEROUS !

 

It is not enough that a person can walk into a gun shop or gun show and walk out with a military-style semi-automatic high-velocity weapon with an extended magazine.   Now the conservative Supreme Court has nullified a ban on bump stocks, which can turn semi-automatic weapons into rapid-fire mass killing machines like the ones used in the Las Vegas shooting that killed sixty people and wounded five hundred.

Just wait until the next mass shooting….

This country is fucking nuts

the Ol'Buzzard

I AM NOT ANTI-GUN

I am x-military, Vietnam vet.  I earned expert rifle and expert pistol ribbons and was on the Quonset Point Navy pistol team for two years.    

I don’t hunt any more, I don’t need the meat and the Idea of killing an animal for sport no longer appeals to me. 

I recently sold my 44 mag. that I had used for bear protection in Alaska when we had students in the woods.  I do feel better with a firearm in the house for protection; and so when my wife asked me what I wanted for Solstice I told her a Heritage single action 22 cal. pistol.  

It is now my habit to research anything I intend to purchase on YouTube.   There were numerous sights with some good reviews of the weapon; but I also ran into some of the crazy survivalist sights.   These people live in a make believe world.

One man said he stores his 22 cal. pistol and a 22 cal. semi auto rifle in his car trunk along with a backpack of survival items so if he is ever on a trip and the situation arises (zombies???) he can leave his car and ‘bug out.’

Another man was saying that a 22 cal. is not lethal enough for ‘neighborhood defense’ and that if he and his neighbors ever have ‘to make a stand’ he prefers a larger, semi-automatic pistol and assault weapon.   He failed to mention who he intends to repel -  perhaps the 101^st Airborne, Delta force, or the maybe the 1^st Marine division… or aliens... zombies?

There is a difference between gun owners and gun nuts.   These survivalists I place in the same ‘living in a fantasy’ category as people who believe in Noah’s Ark and immaculate conception.  

Ignorance is a choice today, and there are a hell of a lot of ignorant people occupying this country – it is just the way it is, and you can’t fix stupid.

Just my observation

the Ol’Buzzard

ONE MORE TAKE ON SENSIBLE GUN CONTROL

The argument that the Second Amendment was to allow citizens to have guns to protect themselves against their own government is blatantly false.  

I know this bothers some gun supporters that have heard this from the NRA and used this as their argument for no gun laws.  But, in 1791 when the Amendment was past, America did not have a standing army and the intent was to guarantee citizens could own guns so in time of crisis a militia could be quickly raised – not armed for an insurrection against the government.

A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

In 1792 the Congress went one step further, passing an act requiring all male citizens to arm themselves in order to be able to quickly raise a militia:

Each and every free able-bodied white male citizen of the respective States, resident therein, who is or shall be of age of eighteen years, and under the age of forty-five years (except as is herein after excepted) shall severally and respectively be enrolled in the militia… every citizen so enrolled and notified, shall, within six months thereafter, provide himself with a good musket or flrelock, and sufficient bayonet and belt, two spare flints, and a knapsack, a pouch with a box therein to contain not less than twenty-four cartridges, suited to the bore of his musket or firelock, each cartridge to contain a proper quantity of powder and ball: or with a good rifle, knapsack ,shot-pouch and powder-horn, twenty balls suited to the bore of his rifle, and a quarter of a pound of powder; and shall appear, so armed, accoutered and provided, when called out to exercise, or into service, except, that when called out on company days to exercise only, he may appear without a knapsack.

Today we have a standing army and the requirement for all citizens to arm is not necessary – neither is the argument that we must arm ourselves so we can overthrow our own government.  

We fought a Civil War against the idea of anarchy – the point should be well established. 

The need to line up at Burger King with assault rifles and pistols defies common sense and places the general public in danger.

The Ol’Buzzard

A SENSIABLE STEP TO CONTROL GUN VIOLENCE.

 Maine has always been a wilderness state, and back in the 1960’s most Maine men owned guns: deer rifles and shotguns for hunting.

  

There was no killings epidemic going on back in those earlier days.   There were no military assault weapons, the country was not flooded with handguns and there was no open or concealed carry for the average person.   Occasionally a man might be shot by his brother-in-law while out deer hunting, and later you find out he beat his wife - and there would be suspicions.   That was pretty much it for gun violence.

 

It is not just about the availability of guns.   Today there is also a kill mentality, a kill mania that goes along with the purchase of military style assault weapon and hand gun.

Most of the people that buy guns today are not hunters; they are buying a gun with the specific intent to be able to kill other human beings.    Many of these people live in a mindset where they fantasize a situation where they could use their weapon on another person, believing it would make them appear macho.

  

So how could we control this gun mania without confiscating guns?

Back in the sixties, in most New England states, you could not transport a gun unless you had a valid hunting license and there was an open hunting season.  If you wished to transport a pistol or rifle to a firing range, you had to drop by the police station and pick up a transport chit for that specific activity.   There was no open carry and you could not get a concealed carry license without a specific need.    You did not have to register you guns and you could have as many as you wanted in your home; you just could not carry or transport them in public without a reason. 

An assault weapon band sounds logical, but there are already too many assault weapons in circulation; and gun confiscation is not an option.   What we need is a federal law limiting the carry and transportation of firearms.   It would not be popular but it would solve the problem.

Why do these men need to carry their weapons in public?   They don't.

Kids dying in elementary school is a step too far.   We need serious federal gun control on the transportation and carry of firearms.

the Ol’Buzzard

  

A TRIBUTE TO CHARLTON HESTON

"You can have my gun when you pry it from my cold dead hand."

Charlton Heston

The video was blocked by funny or die so click

HERE 

to see it. 

I'm just saying
the Ol'Buzzard

THE INCLUSIVE REPUBLICAN PARTY HOME FOR THE MILITIA

When the Republican Party claims to be the party of inclusion, they are, in fact, right.   The Republican party is the home of racist, bigoted fundamentalist Christians, survivalist, Tea Baggers, gun extremist, grumpy old men, homophobes, Islamophobes, white supremacist, people who deny the legitimacy of our first black President and militia groups preaching the violent overthrow of the government.   Add in a political elite whose aim is benefiting the wealthy and big business, and you can't be more inclusive than that. 

These groups are all a serious concern to the American ideal; but perhaps the greatest danger lost in this mix are the militias.   They fly the American flag while preaching the overthrow of the government. 

These groups are made of of soldier wannabees and ex-military who long for attention.   These people are not the sharpest tacks in the box - they are easily influenced and easily manipulated.  They are out of touch with reality and playing some imaginary scenario in their heads.   The guns and uniforms make them feel macho and heroic - in their minds they are the glamorous Mad Maxs of the near future when they will stand against the U.S. government.  

Ex-military looking for attention

Old man looking for virility 

Not the sharpest tack

soldier wannabees

Every state has them

Seal Teams beware

It is all in the dress

Whacko one to whacko two, come in

You think this will attract women?

What can you say about this picture that it doesn't already scream?

What the fuck do you think they are training for?

Night watch for the black helicopters 

He bought these patches on ebay

Military surplus truck - military surplus brains

It can get you attention: after all that is the object

Why Not?

Parade the flag of the government you talk of over throwing. 

Clothes make the man

The world is looking - moment of fame

Why spend your Sunday watching football?

Child endangerment?

Definitely not the hero

A REAL HERO.

22 years in the military, Vietnam Vet, SERE
the Ol'Buzzard 

AMERICA'S CULTURE OF VIOLENCE

MRMacrum (Lost in the Bozone) posted about the violence in American society today.

I have witnessed a cultural change over the last sixty years that has brought us to the dysfunctional chaos that is twenty-first century America.

I was raised in the south during the 1950 by my grandmother.  I owned and hunted with a shotgun and a 22 rifle throughout my teen years.   Every boy in my school owned guns and every man I knew owned guns and hunted.   But, in that era the idea of shooting up a school, or public venue, or mass killing wasn't even imaginable.   When some violent crime occurred it was immediately denounced and people were horrified.

Today gun violence, shootings and even mass shootings are so commonplace that we talk of them for a few days and then move on.   We are a more violent society today then we were sixty years ago.  We are a different society, a people and with different value, and the ready availability of military type weapons  has unleashed a dark place in our psyche.

I don't glorify 'the old days' for there were many social injustices and the world as a whole was still fucked up; but we didn't live in fear of our neighbors.

Back then I thought the human race would become smarter into the future; but that doesn't seem to fit the trend.

the Ol'Buzzard

GUNS IN OUR SOCIETY

STAND YOUR GROUND AND CARRY A GUN: THIS IS THE PERFECT SCENARIO TO ENCOURAGE SOCIALLY INEPT INDIVIDUALS TO ACT OUT THEIR FANTASIES

Yet another shooting this week: two police officers and a double suicide.   This type of situation is no longer considered bizarre, but now has become an accepted norm in our society.    Children killing parents, social terrorist killing cops, and even children butchered in elementary schools will garner a few minutes in the news on the day it happens; and then we move on.  

I was pre -school age when I received my first toy gun.   My mother returned on leave from the Waves (Navy) and gave me a present of a plastic gun that clicked when I pulled the trigger.  This had to be in the early 1940’s during World War II.      

The first movies I remember were Cowboy and Indian movies that were all about gunfights. 

As a pre-teen I watched Army movies and read GI Joe and Battle Brady comic books.

I do not remember a time before mid-teens that I did not have a toy gun.

I received my first BB gun around ten years old; and my first 22 rifle (which I still own) about thirteen.

During my teens I owned two shotguns (double barrel 410 and single shot 12 gauge) and a 22 rifle.

Since that time I have owned numerous riles, shotguns and pistols.

And then there was the military…

I do not think my background is so different from other men of my age who were raised in rural communities.   Guns have always been a part of my life – but not an obsession.  

This new age of gun obsession has brought out people on the fringe of social normality.  The people who dress up and openly display a firearm are acting out fantasies.  They feed on the disquiet the public feels in their presence when they appear in a normal social setting brandishing a deadly weapon.     The obvious truth is these gun totters are not particularly bright, which adds to the aura of danger in their presence.  Without a gun they would otherwise be invisible.

This lunacy has been encouraged and condoned by politicians until now the inmates are running the asylum and we are past the point of no return. 

I do believe, at this point in time, there is no gun disaster so atrocious that sanity could prevail, resulting in common sense gun laws enacted and enforced.     

It is we the people who continue to elect politicians that do not serve the best interest of society that have allowed this genie out of the box, now we must inherit the wind.

the Ol’Buzzard    

DON’T SHOOT THE WAITRESS IF SHE GIVES YOU BAD SERVICE!

It takes all kinds to make a world; and I am pretty tolerant of people until they get in my space.  I really don’t have a problem with gun ownership and I can even forgive stupid people; but when stupid people are packing firearms in my vicinity I don’t like it. 

I have lived for seventy plus years and I have never felt threatened in a restaurant or a grocery store or Wal-Mart or Home Depot. 

If a person is so insecure they feel they need a firearm just to leave their house, perhaps they should just fortify their home and bunker down.  

It seems to me the real reason for people carrying firearms openly in public places is attention seeking.    Just like the militia, grown men and women pretending to be paramilitary; people carrying guns in public are living in a fantasy world of Road Warrior, where they are waiting for the world to go to shit so they save the day with their gun – automatic badass heroes – and it is all in their head. 

 Most of these people, if not all, are not screwed down tight.   They don’t actually see conspiracy theories around ever corner – they invent them.   It is a mind game.   They are badass wannabees and they think openly carrying a weapon impresses people.   And they are right: but the impression they are making is that of nut case with a gun; somebody best not to be around; an accident looking for a place to happen. 

I live in a community of about six thousand people – a small college town.  It is a quiet, safe and intellectually stimulating place to live.     About four months ago my wife and I went into the local supermarket.  Down one of the isles we happened on a mother and her son: he appeared to be thirteen or fourteen years old.   He was in dress pants, a dress shirt and tie, shined shoes and carrying a holstered Glock on is belt.   What kind of mother takes her armed teenager into a grocery store?  0bviously she was someone not playing with a complete deck of cards.    Considering the unusual way he was dressed, with his mother, and carrying sent up red warning flags and we left our half filled cart and departed the store. 

I have owned guns all my life.   I am probably more proficient than the average gun owner.   I was a member of the Quonset Point Navy pistol team and fired scores high enough to compete in All Navy competition.  I had an allotment of one thousand rounds of 45 cal. per month for practice.  I was awarded Navy Expert Rifle and Expert Pistol ribbons.  So I am not anti-gun: I am anti-gun nut. 

We have let the idiots take over the asylum and they are armed and packing and dangerous.   They are a greater dangerous to public safety that the people they claim they need protection from. 

If you want to go to a grocery store, a restaurant or a movie, leave your fucking guns at home; because you armed presence will definitely run my day and every other person in the area with common sense.   Stay out of my space with your fucking fire arms.   I have a right to live threat free and you are a public threat.