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9 February, 2010

British thug gets shot by victim: "Jamie Bunter, 20, of Ramilles Close, Brixton, held the loaded gun to the head of a stranger and pulled the trigger after rifling through his pockets. When the gun jammed, the shocked victim bravely fought back and managed to beat his attacker across the head with the butt. He was then shot in the stomach by a second armed robber, but was still able to blast Bunter in the leg. Bunter was armed with a shortened .410 calibre double-barrelled folding shotgun. He was with two other white men, one armed with a pistol and the other carrying a hunting knife, who remain at large. The court heard Bunter racially abused his black victim before demanding a phone from the man, who refused to hand it over. The robber needed hospital treatment for head and leg injuries and was identified as one of the gunmen from his wounds. Bunter, who committed an almost identical robbery with a fake weapon when he was 15, was convicted of attempted murder, robbery, and firearms charges after a trial at the Old Bailey last month. He was given an indeterminate sentence for public protection on Wednesday and ordered to serve at least 12 years before he is eligible for release."



Feds respond to Firearms Freedom Act lawsuit: "The United States has made its first response to a lawsuit filed in federal district court in Missoula to test the Montana Firearms Freedom Act (MFFA), passed by the 2009 Legislature and signed into law by Governor Schweitzer. The MFFA declares that any firearms, ammunition or firearms accessories made and retained in Montana are not subject to federal regulation under the power given to Congress in the U.S. Constitution to regulate commerce ‘among the several states.’”



The IRS is gunning for you: "The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) intends to purchase sixty Remington Model 870 Police RAMAC #24587 12 gauge pump-action shotguns for the Criminal Investigation Division. The Remington parkerized shotguns, with fourteen inch barrel, modified choke, Wilson Combat Ghost Ring rear sight and XS4 Contour Bead front sight, Knoxx Reduced Recoil Adjustable Stock, and Speedfeed ribbed black forend, are designated as the only shotguns authorized for IRS duty based on compatibility with IRS existing shotgun inventory, certified armorer and combat training and protocol, maintenance, and parts."



A collector who got cold feet?: "Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies say they expected a good turnout for the department's "gifts for guns" exchange in Compton, but even they were surprised when a man showed up with 58 guns. After the man unloaded the weapons Tuesday, he drove away with several thousands of dollars in supermarket gift certificates in return. Under the policy, there are no questions asked, so deputies don't know the man's identity, but as Lt. Anthony Lucia said, "that is 58 guns off the street." Lucia says most were small handguns, but some also were assault weapons. In all, more than 230 guns were turned in Tuesday during the exchange. All will be destroyed." [I don't want to be too morbid here but a correspondent has suggested that the guns might have been part of a "deceased estate" -- guns left in his will by an old collector to an ungrateful relative. If so, it is very sad to think of the entire collection being witlessly destroyed. I have however heard that good collectors' items somehow tend to escape destruction by police who know what they are worth and do get "recycled" to appreciative buyers. And we are talking about L.A., after all]



8 February, 2010

Kansas Latino claims self-defense against racially-motivated attackers: "Being a former bounty hunter, Bonilla carries with him a 22 pistol, which is legal under Kansas' open carry law. It was this gun that Bonilla contends saved the lives of his son, nephew and himself as these men, Steven Holt and Tanner Brunson, revved up the engine of their four-wheeler and chased down Bonilla and his son and nephew. Bonilla and the boys jumped out of the way. The truck backed up and the men jumped out and quickly walked over to Bonilla. Bonilla drew his weapon, told the boys to stand behind him and warned Holt and Brunson to stop or he would shoot. The men didn't stop and just as they were within reach to grab Bonilla's gun, Bonilla fired shots hitting both men. Bonilla told the boys to run and he did too as soon as one man fell to the ground and the other staggered back and fell against the truck. One of the men, Steven Holt, died. The other lived. Both of these men had extensive criminal records, along with one of the men, Tanner Brunson, believed to be affiliated with the Aryan Brotherhood. Bonilla turned himself into authorities after the incident and was questioned and released only to be arrested a few days later on second-degree murder charges. So, Bonilla sits in the Ford County jail hoping above hope that he will be found innocent of the charges".



Man shot during attempted armored car robbery in South Seattle: "A 40-year-old man was shot in South Seattle about 10:20 a.m. Sunday as he attempted to rob an armored car employee outside a McDonald's restaurant, Seattle police said. The man was shot three times, in the arm, the chest and the shoulder, after he confronted a Garda armored car worker, said police spokeswoman Reneé Witt. The employee, who was armed, fired six shots during the encounter, Witt said. He was not injured. Witt said she didn't know whether the suspect was armed or whether he implied he had a weapon. "I know there was a verbal exchange between the suspect and the guard when the suspect grabbed the money bag and tried to snatch it out of the guard's hand," she said. When police arrived at the McDonald's in the 9300 block of Rainier Avenue South, in Rainier Beach, they found the wounded suspect on the ground, Witt said. Seattle Fire Department spokeswoman Dana VanderHowen said the man was taken to Harborview Medical Center with life-threatening injuries."



Starbucks refuses to ban guns: "OpenCarry.org applauds Starbuck’s policy to serve all lawful gun carriers world wide. It is refreshing to see yet one more company not requiring law abiding gun owners to go to the back of the bus. “Importantly,” says John Pierce, co-founder of OpenCarry.org, “Starbucks joins most American corporations in deciding not to discriminate against lawful gun carriers.” For example, North American computer retailer giant Best Buy Inc.’s policy is also to “not restrict our customers who are legally entitled to carry a firearm.” OpenCarry.org urges all gun owners to patronize Starbucks worldwide and thank them for supporting the Second Amendment. [The Brady campaign had tried to get Starbucks to ban guns but Starbucks said they just obey local laws]



Georgia: Volleying Begins on Gun-Carry Bill: "The first shots have been fired in a skirmish over a new gun bill that would allow people to legally carry firearms in a lot more places, including college campuses. The bill’s author, Tim Bearden (R-Villa Rica), summed it up succinctly: “What I’d like to see is the right to carry in public buildings.” He was addressing a subcommittee of the House Judciciary Non-Civil Committee about HB 615. Bearden is still gathering law enforcement opinion on the definition of “public buildings,” but he would definitely strike current prohibitions against carrying firearms in “public gatherings”: churches, political rallies, sporting events or any government-owned or -operated building. Representatives of the University System of Georgia came to testify in favor of the status quo. But Bearden favors a broad interpretation of the Second Amendment with a minimum of “infringements” — regulations — on gun ownership and use, or even safety training. Rep. Stacey Abrams (D-Atlanta) disagreed. Because guns are especially dangerous, she said, “I’d push away from the idea that having a training program is an infringement of Constitutional rights.” Bearden, along with his ardent supporters at GeorgiaCarry.org, argue that the Constitution is simple, whereas Georgia gun law is confusing because it is unclear and spread among too many code sections. They aim for gun law to settle in one easy-to-understand code section."



7 February, 2010

TX: Murder Suspect Acquitted: "Twenty-eight-year-old Juan Piñones-Aguilar was acquitted of murder Thursday in Potter County. He had been charged with the shooting death of 25-year-old Manuel Rudy Sanchez at the La Pachanga Bar in East Amarillo back in 2008. The trial started Monday, and the jury deliberated for three and a half hours before reaching their verdict. Sims says at first, Piñones-Aguilar claimed to know nothing about the incident, but after an hour and a half interrogation, he claimed he shot Sanchez out of self-defense." Sims says Piñones-Aguilar was not a U.S. citizen. He came here from Mexico when he was fourteen. Piñones-Aguilar had no proof of identity when he was arrested. Sims says it's possible that is not even his real name."



IL: Home invaders in jail: "Lemon Dudley, 26, and Dewayne Thomas, 35, both of Chicago, were picked up at the Cook County Jail Monday afternoon by deputies with the Vermilion County Sheriff’s Department and later booked in at the Public Safety Building. Detectives continue to investigate the crime that took place on Jan. 13 in the house located at 20 S. Buchanan St. Police responded to the scene to find a man on the sidewalk area with multiple gunshot wounds. According to police, the injured man and another individual tried to force their way into the home just before 9:30 a.m. that day. Both were armed at the time. In the course of the home invasion, one man was shot outside the home while two others fled from the scene. Police at this point have not released the name of the third suspect, who remains hospitalized in stable condition, Miller said. Miller could not comment on a motive, although police have said they do not believe the crime was a random act. None of the people inside the home at the time of the incident were injured."



La.: Suspected Burglar Shot To Death At New Orleans Residence: "Police say a suspected burglar was shot to death around 12am Saturday in the garage of a residence in the 600 block of Independence Street in New Orleans. The shots were fired by a resident of the home. Investigators say a burglar alarm was trigged and the alarm company notified those in the house that a motion sensor indicated activity in the garage located in the rear of the home. One of the residents went to investigate and fired multiple shots after encountering the suspect. No charges have been filed as the investigation continues. The NOPD says detectives will consult with the District Attorney to determine if any legal action is necessary."



Roving show sidesteps states' 'petty bureaucrats' to make packing heat easier: "Gun rights activists, claiming that obtaining a concealed carry permit in some states is next to impossible, are planning to hit the road with a plan to help frustrated applicants around the country obtain permits for packing heat. Gun Owners of America, in partnership with the Second Amendment March and the New Jersey Coalition for Self Defense, are hoping their new "Right to Carry Road Show" will soon spread nationwide to assist gun owners and send a message of defiance to gun control advocates who push to bog down applications in endless red tape. The Road Show is a mobile processing system that brings to gun owners a consolidated program streamlining the steps to obtaining a self-defense firearm permit. "In the past," claims Gun Owners of America, "completing the application process often required several days for the applicant to arrange for fingerprinting and notarizing, sometimes even causing time off from work to coordinate scheduling with frequently uncooperative local agencies." But according to Robert Kreisler, president of NJCSD, "The 'Right to Carry Road Show' brings all the elements together in one place and lets people get everything done in about one hour."



6 February, 2010

Georgia: Intruder killed by homeowner: "Henry County investigators now believe they know what prompted a pre-dawn home invasion that left a man dead. An Ellenwood homeowner shot and killed an intruder Friday in a predawn home invasion. Inside the home, police found 5 pounds of marijuana, a pound and a half of cocaine, and $174,000 cash, according to Henry police Capt. Jason Bolton. The homeowners, Milton and Sandra Robbins, both 35, were arrested Friday evening, Bolton said. The husband and wife have been charged with trafficking cocaine and possession of marijuana with intent to distribute. Three men got out of a dark-colored SUV along Hill Lane in Ellenwood just before 5:30 a.m. and forced their way through the front door of a house occupied by Milton and Sandra Robbins and two teenage children, police said. "Once inside, one of the suspects exchanged gunfire with the homeowner," Bolton told the AJC. "The suspect was shot and killed by the homeowner." The man killed has been identified as 35-year-old Marlin K. Maner of Decatur."



Florida: 70-Year-Old Man Shoots Would-be Thieves: "Two would-be thieves didn’t count on a motion alarm and a gun-toting 70-year-old Winter Haven man when they tried to steal the batteries from his golf cart, according to Polk County Sheriff’s Office reports. Robert Rowley, of 28 Henry Drive in Winter Haven, awoke to the sound of a motion sensor alarm about 2:15 a.m. Monday. When the alarm sounded, he grabbed his handgun and flashlight to investigate, sheriff’s reports said. As he walked outside his home, he saw two men, who investigators said were trying to cut the cables to the battery packs on Rowley’s golf cart. When he challenged them, one of the men began to walk in Rowley’s direction, he told investigators he tried to scare the men away by firing his gun. Rowley fired three shots – once in the air, another at the ground and a third at the men’s truck as they tried to quickly get away. Deputies were later called to Winter Haven Hospital for two men who showed up with gun shot wounds, reports said. After talking to the men and to Rowley, deputies charged Matthew Alan Clinage, 20, and Christopher Polson, 21, with grand theft and burglary of an occupied residence, reports said. Rowley told deputies he didn’t realize his shots had struck either man. Clinage was struck in the leg and Polson in the head and neck area. Clinage was treated and taken to the Polk County Jail, while Polson was taken to Tampa General Hospital where he remained in stable condition."



CA: Road ragers pick the wrong guy: "Two Orange County men were arrested Thursday for an armed confrontation with an off-duty Orange County Sheriff's deputy. They were Identified as Sergio Elisazzaraz, 18, of Santa Ana and Amaury Vega Luqueno, 25, of Santa Margarita. According to the Santa Ana Police, the off duty deputy was enroute to work on January 19, when the suspects almost caused a crash with his car. The four occupants confronted the deputy, who had his duty weapon in the car. One of the suspects had a semi-automatic hand gun and pointed it at the deputy. Authorities say the deputy fired his weapon in self defense at the suspect with the hand gun. The deputy drove away and notified Santa Ana Police. No one was hit by the bullets. Santa Ana Police Detectives identified two of the suspects as Elisazzaraz and Luqueno. Both suspects have been booked in the Santa Ana Police Department jail for assault with a deadly weapon.



Arizona May Allow Faculty to Carry Guns on Campus: "Most universities do not allow students or faculty with concealed carry permits to bring a weapon to school, but a bill is currently moving through the state senate that would allow faculty to do just that. Currently, only certified police officers are permitted to carry a weapon on school grounds in Arizona. State Senator Jack Harper of Phoenix is the primary sponsor of this bill, and this legislative session is not the first time that it has been introduced. Daniel Crocker, Southwest Regional Director for Students for Concealed Carry on Campus, said that while he believes this legislation should extend to students, the current bill is a move in the right direction. “Any step toward allowing the people the right to self defense is a good thing,” Crocker said. “We’re going to embrace anything that extends that right.” At 44,000 members, Students for Concealed Carry on Campus is one of the largest student rights groups in the country. They advocate that trained, licensed, and law-abiding adults who carry a firearm to protect themselves should also have the right to do so on college campuses."



5 February, 2010

No charges in fatal Mississippi shooting: "A man who shot and killed a 17-year-old Saturday during an attempted robbery at his Forest home won't be charged, police said. Derrick Ficklin, 17, of Carthage and another teenager allegedly tried to rob the unidentified homeowner. The shooting occurred around 9:20 p.m. in the 500 block of Oak Street. The resident heard a loud knock at the door and answered it while carrying a gun, Forest Police Chief Robert Roncali said. As the resident opened the door, Ficklin pushed his way inside with a pistol in hand, Roncali said. Roncali said the resident fired four shots, hitting Ficklin twice in the chest and once in the leg. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Roncali said the man will not be charged because he shot Ficklin in self defense. Police said Luis Pedro, 17, of Carthage was Ficklin's accomplice. Pedro fled on foot but was picked up by Forest police about 100 yards from the home, Roncali said. Pedro is charged with attempted armed robbery and is being held at the Scott County Jail on a $30,000 bond. Roncali said Pedro confessed to police he and Ficklin were planning to rob the resident. He said they targeted the home because the resident is Latino. "It's widely known that some immigrants don't use the banks because they're here illegally, so they keep their money at home," Roncali said."



NM: Not guilty verdict in road-rage case : "A jury acquitted a 23-year-old Santa Fe man of criminal responsibility last week for firing a gun at another car in an alleged road-rage incident nearly a year ago. The Santa Fe County jury deliberated only an hour and 40 minutes Wednesday before deciding that Gabryl Romero was not guilty of two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, shooting at or from a motor vehicle, criminal damage to property and negligent use of a firearm, said Dan Marlowe, Romero's attorney. Romero allegedly shot twice through the windshield of his own car at another vehicle carrying Jason Anaya, his girlfriend and their then-7-month-old son, police said at the time. Romero, however, claimed that Anaya drove at his car twice and that he fired in self-defense. The incident, which took place Feb. 28 on Cerrillos Road, ended in the parking lot at Jiffy Lube, 1975 Cerrillos Road, where police arrested Romero."



KY: Detective wants domestic shooting vetted by grand jury: "Sheriff’s Detective Charlie Loomis, who is investigating the alleged shooting by Paul Vaughn’s ex-wife and another woman, said Wednesday the incident is still under investigation. The incident began at about 2 p.m. Tuesday when Paul Vaughn, reportedly defying a protective order filed by Connie Vaughn, showed up at her home. Loomis said he was told that Paul Vaughn entered the home with a lug wrench and swung it at his ex-wife several times, threatening her, Cathy and Jason Burke. A fight reportedly ensued inside the home and eventually wound up outside, but apparently not before a shot, reportedly by one of the women, had been fired into the floor. Three children were also inside the home and Jason Burke reportedly took them to the basement for safety when the fight began. Warning shots were apparently fired before Vaughn was shot, police said. It was not the first time Paul Vaughn had violated the protective order, said Connie Vaughn’s mother, Martha Jones, 62. The Vaughns had been divorced for about six months after a 28-year marriage, she told the Times-Tribune. Jones, who had come to the home following the fight, said the marriage had been rocky all that time, with alleged domestic abuse by Paul Vaughn. Even since the divorce, Paul Vaughn had violated the protective order and threatened his ex-wife several times, Jones said. Loomis said Connie Vaughn and Cathy Burke are cooperating in the investigation."



Nebraska lagging: "Law enforcement officials shot holes Thursday in a proposal that would give citizens more legal leeway to defend themselves with a gun, saying it was unnecessary and would increase shootings. Proponents of the bill, which included the National Rifle Association, said current state law might force people who killed someone in self-defense on their own property or car to defend themselves again against manslaughter or murder charges or against a civil lawsuit. “Rights are turned around (in Nebraska). It’s up to an individual to prove they’re innocent,” Jordan Austin, an NRA lobbyist, told the Legislature’s Judiciary Committee. Austin said 25 states have adopted “Castle Doctrine” laws such as LB 889. The name comes from the phrase “a man’s home is his castle” and refers to a person’s rights to defend his or her “castle” from intruders or deadly threats. He said of particular concern was a requirement in Nebraska law that people must refrain from using deadly force if they can safely retreat. While they aren’t required to retreat from their home or business, proponents said the bill would clarify that they would not have to retreat from their car or from outside their home, too."



4 February, 2010

OK: Homeowner shoots intruder: "Three intruders fled from an Oklahoma City home this morning after being shot at by the home owner, police said. … The intruders forced the residents into a back bedroom when the homeowner shot one of the intruders. The intruders fled in a dark-colored SUV, police said. Police said the homeowner said he recognized one of the suspects. Subsequently police arrested 30-year-old Eric Kutz as well as a 14-year-old male. Police said Kutz was transported to an area hospital to receive treatment for his injuries.”



The Advantages of Revolvers for Self Defense: "As a deterrent, revolvers are easily recognized as a firearm, even in reduced light, especially if manufactured in a visible finish. Revolvers are quickly recognized as guns even by dumb bad guys. The revolver communicates that this is a real gun and not something else like a can of soda, etc. This recognition may save you from having to fire to convince him further. Here are some points to consider: * There is little doubt a revolver is loaded and many times the threat/attacker will see it’s loaded by simply looking at the cylinder and seeing the ammunition in it. Many people paint a light coating of liquid paper or white paint on the bullet tips to make them more visible for deterrent value. * Revolvers are quick and easy to operate. Simply draw, aim and fire. No switches or tricky functioning, stoppages or other malfunctions; they will work when they are most needed! * Any trainer will tell you that revolvers require less training than semi-autos to fire competently and safely thus making them the best firearm for the average citizen for self-defense purposes. * Revolvers are very fast to get into action, incredibly reliable and nearly foolproof. * Some people feel revolver trigger pulls, especially in double-action mode are heavy (you read about it in every gun test magazine article and blog). But in life and death adrenalin-filled situations the pull of a revolver trigger is not even noticed by the shooter, nor the sound or recoil."



3 February, 2010

SC: Charges dismissed in shooting death: "The District Attorney's Office has dismissed assault charges in a May shooting that left one man dead. No further action will be taken in the shooting and subsequent death of Moody Dale Buffkin, District Attorney Rex Gore said Monday. Buffkin, 58, died May 22 at the Medical University of South Carolina at Charleston. He was shot in the neck outside the Heart of Dixie convenience store in Tabor City on May 13. The store is a few miles from Buffkin's home on N.C. 904. Lawrence Dewayne Enzor, 43, of the 6300 block of Cherry Grove Road in Cerro Gordo, was charged with assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury. That charge was dismissed Jan. 22.... "During the course of this review, the District Attorney's Office did follow-up interviews with potential witnesses," the release said. "After an exhaustive review of all the evidence, the state has determined that it cannot prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the shooter was not acting in self-defense.'' Enzor and his father said Buffkin pulled a gun and aimed at Enzor, who then fired in self-defense. Buffkin's .25-caliber handgun was recovered by police under Buffkin's body, police said."



MO: Self-defense claim accepted in shooting of woman: "A Kansas City man pleaded guilty Tuesday to illegally possessing a handgun used in the 2008 shooting death of woman. Alphonso M. Tunley, who has a prior robbery conviction, pleaded guilty in federal court to being a felon in possession of a firearm. Tunley, 33, possessed the .45-caliber handgun on Nov. 16, 2008, when he shot Dacia Wright to death inside his central Kansas City home. After Jackson County prosecutors charged him with second-degree murder, he maintained that he had to shoot Wright in self-defense when she attacked him. Shortly before the case went to trial, Jackson County prosecutors dismissed the murder case. At Tuesday’s hearing in federal court, defense attorney Pat Peters and Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Becker indicated that the self-defense issue, while not a defense to the firearm possession charge, probably will be raised by the defense as a mitigating factor at Tunley’s sentencing."



DE: State lawmakers appear willing to overturn firearms ban in public housing: "In response to a Caesar Rodney Institute investigation, state lawmakers appear willing to overturn the ban of gun ownership by residents who live in public housing units plagued with crime. The institute's report, published Monday, Feb. 1, said all four of the state’s public housing authorities ban their residents from owning firearms despite clear protections in the Delaware Constitution, the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, Supreme Court decisions and recent rulings by lower courts that have found similar bans to be unconstitutional. The report went on to say that many public housing residents feel trapped in their homes because of crime in their communities, since they are prohibited from owning firearms for self-defense against the drug dealers and thugs who infest their communities. Violating the gun ban can result in eviction. After the report was published following a five-month investigation, the Caesar Rodney Institute was told by members of all four legislative caucuses that they would support legislation to overturn the gun bans."



"Give me your liberty-haters": "Comparing America and England, and the respective dominant ‘cultures’ of each, gave me an idea. Why not encourage all the gun-haters and otherwise self-hating, socialism-loving people to emigrate to England where guns are illegal and where self-defense is now routinely punished more harshly than aggression? Then there would be plenty of room to encourage all the freedom-loving people of England to immigrate, with or without government ‘permission,’ to America.”



2 February, 2010

Limited posting today

I have been having trouble with my internet connection being "down" for most of the day

Washington: Sight of shotgun chases burglars away: "Three men tried to break into a home west of Yakima while the resident was home. The Yakima County sheriff’s office says he was on the phone to a dispatcher Sunday when a brick came through the window. The homeowner armed himself with a shotgun as the would-be burglar entered the house. When he saw the gun, the intruder jumped into a getaway car. It sped off with the homeowner firing three shots at the car. The third suspect fled on foot. A sheriff’s deputy and Union Gap police stopped and arrested two men in the car. A Washington State Patrol trooper arrested the third man."



1 February, 2010

Florida: Neighborhood Shootout Sends Five People To Hospital: "Five people were taken to the hospital in serious condition after a shootout at a home in Brevard County. Cocoa police say a homeowner noticed four men jumping over his fence on Montclair Road shortly before 1:00 p.m. on Sunday. Officers say the homeowner opened fire on the men to defend his property. “He challenged them. He told them to get off his property. They continued toward him and shots were fired,” said Barbara Matthews with the Cocoa Police Department. The homeowner was also shot during the incident. Police say the homeowner may have opened fire because of what happened the night before. Saturday night a group of burglars had broken into his home while no one was home. Officers say the group stole keys and a couple of guns from the home. Police believe the two cases are connected."



Mexico's strict gun control laws at work: "Armed men broke into a party in Mexico’s northern border city of Ciudad Juarez on Saturday night, killing at least 14 and wounding another 14, Mexican authorities said Sunday. The incident, the latest in a long string of killings in the city, underscores the unchecked violence in the border town, a stronghold of Mexico’s drug gangs that have turned Ciudad Juarez into one of the most dangerous places in the world. The victims were all students, aged 15 to 20 years, from nearby schools, said Enrique Torres, a police and army spokesman.”






Note for non-American readers: Crime reports from America which describe an offender just as a "teen" or "teenager" almost invariably mean a BLACK teenager.


Postings from Brisbane, Australia by John Ray (M.A.; Ph.D.) -- former member of the Australia-Soviet Friendship Society, former anarcho-capitalist and former member of the British Conservative party.


I am an army man and I am pleased and proud to say that I have worn my country's uniform. Although my service in the Australian army was chiefly noted for its un-notability, I DID join voluntarily in the Vietnam era, I DID reach the rank of Sergeant, and I DID volunteer for a posting in Vietnam. So I think I may be forgiven for saying something that most army men think but which most don't say because they think it is too obvious: The profession of arms is the noblest profession of all because it is the only profession where you offer to lay down your life in performing your duties. Our men fought so that people could say and think what they like but I myself always treat military men with great respect -- respect which in my view is simply their due.


Two lines below of a famous hymn that would be incomprehensible to Leftists today ("honor"? "right"? "freedom?" Freedom to agree with them is the only freedom they believe in)

First to fight for right and freedom,
And to keep our honor clean

It is of course the hymn of the USMC -- still today the relentless warriors that they always were.


The kneejerk response of the Green/Left to people who challenge them is to say that the challenger is in the pay of "Big Oil", "Big Business", "Big Pharma", "Exxon-Mobil", "The Pioneer Fund" or some other entity that they see, in their childish way, as a boogeyman. So I think it might be useful for me to point out that I have NEVER received one cent from anybody by way of support for what I write. As a retired person, I live entirely on my own investments. I do not work for anybody and I am not beholden to anybody. And I have NO investments in oil companies, mining companies or "Big Pharma"

UPDATE: Despite my (statistical) aversion to mining stocks, I have recently bought a few shares in BHP -- the world's biggest miner, I gather. I run the grave risk of becoming a speaker of famous last words for saying this but I suspect that BHP is now so big as to be largely immune from the risks that plague most mining companies. I also know of no issue affecting BHP where my writings would have any relevance. The Left seem to have a visceral hatred of miners. I have never quite figured out why.


Australia does have considerable restrictions on gun ownership (mostly put in place by a conservative administration as a kneejerk reaction to a mass killing) but the restrictions are not too onerous. My brother is a gun collector and has an impressive collection quite legally. And guess who is the patron of his gun club? It is Kevin Rudd, the center-Leftist Prime Minister of Australia!


The intellectual Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius (AD 121-180) said: "The object in life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane."