CLOSE the open-carry law Nationwide!

McKenzie, in response to your “Open-carry Texans” posting, I can give you several reasons why that law is dangerous to you and those around you. Before Florida stopped allowing the open carry option the possibilities of shooting injuries and deaths were endless. I will start with a few personal stories of a family member and friends.

Picture this: My Cousin was 19 years old, had a fight with her Husband and told him she’s leaving him. He leaves, and she calls her Dad to tell him she’s on her way. Husband goes to his Brother’s house and gets his Brother’s gun. Returning to the house before she had time to leave, he threatens her with it. After continued argument, that the neighbors reported, his anger peaks and he shoots and kills her. This left their 3 year old Daughter with no Parents after he was sentenced to life in prison.

And this: When I was in High School one of my classmates was murdered by her boyfriend after he telling him that she didn’t want to date him. He got the pistol from a friend who kept in out in the open and would brag about having it. He killed her and then committed suicide, leaving a note of a broken heart. They were 14 and 16 years old.

After the law was in place in 1987: A friend of mine heard what she thought was a burglar. She got up to get the gun she and her husband had in the bedroom. It was a good thing that that gun was kept with the 2 steps away rule, because it gave her husband time to make his presence known. His intent was to surprise her; however, she would have shot him if the gun were in the nightstand where they use to keep it. Another friend shot her son because she thought he was a prowler. Because he heard her getting to the gun and had time to react, she shot him I the arm and didn’t cause permanent damage.

I have friends and family that might be here today if guns weren’t readily assessable for them. Those laws are in place to protect those with quick to act and slow to think tempers from those whom they might ascend upon. To protect us from those who are paranoid and startle easy and the imbalanced who react to anything without conscience. I believe all states should ban the open-carry law. Obviously there is the responsibility of the person who owns the gun. If someone feels they need to own a gun, they may be in a state of paranoia and that may cause a quick action response. A gun owner should keep its whereabouts to himself, and not go around making it obvious for those who may want it for an unsafe use. This isn’t the Wild West anymore for a reason, guns are not safe, and allow opportunities for what can be life altering or life ending actions and crimes. I’m not even going to get started on when children find the guns. Find more information on gun laws in your state.

Building Fences Can Be a Good Thing

There are so many articles available on the topic of fencing our border between the U.S. and Mexico and in reality, will we ever see it happen and what is the result if it doesn’t? In my mind there needs to be a barrier. Border patrol is not doing enough to impact the number of illegal’s crossing over. Could it be that they are being paid off? My Grandfather works in a higher rank of the patrol and he says “unfortunately yes, these guys are being paid very little to risk their lives collecting people who will kill in order to change their opportunities in life.”

Do I understand why they run? Maybe. The Mexican Government does little for the people thus making the rich richer and keeping the poor where they are. Changing the Mexican governing body I feel is the first step to alleviating the issue posed on the U.S. by illegal aliens crossing the border. I also feel that if industry and businesses would stop hiring the illegals for the benefit of cheap labor that illegals would not see “an out.” Go to any Home Depot or Lowes or construction supply retailer at 6am and there are 20-40 or more Mexican workers looking to get hired for the day. What is stopping police officer’s from driving up with a truck and loading those who are not here legally?

Why is it that when an illegal has a child here in the U.S. they are automatically given social services’ benefits and sent on their merry way? The Texan system has taught illegals that birth is the fastest way to get to stay here on a free ride. Has anyone noticed the highest average of teen births in Texas belongs to Mexican’s, whether citizen or not? Also, when a child registers for school they have to show a residence. I know of a couple of families that are not legal. Their kids are in school and getting welfare. How they are not deported is beyond me? The system is broken and the illegals know it and take advantage of it instead of fighting for rights in their own country.

The flip side is who is to say they are in poverty? Mexico has been that way forever and its not until someone walks in and says “you can do better or it’s better over there” that they realize that things can be different. I have taken Mission’s trips to Haiti over the past several years and you would be amazed to see how happy the people are in living how they live. It’s only when the “blancs,” as they call us, show up and tells them they should want something more that there is a feeling of inadequacy from them. It’s sad that society judges and condemns creating the vast differences and economic nightmares for itself. Texas is getting what it deserves and what it’s taught others to believe, but unfortunately the taxpayers foot the bill.

Laws are here to protect us.

I agree with your analysis "Up and Down," regarding Texans and their constant fight to keep personal freedoms. It is like none I have ever seen before and you are right, in Austin its worse. Imagine if "Americans" in the mid 1700's had gotten away with everything they wanted then, we probably wouldn't have a government like the one we have today. Early settlers wanted want they wanted and when they wanted it, even to their demise or death. I feel like that attitude is resurfacing again and when is enough? How far must the envelope be pushed?

I believe your statement; “we can't regulate stupid" hits the nail on the head. Texting while driving is just stupid. I cannot count the number of times I have had a car swerve into my lane only to look over and see a phone in their hand as they wave an "oops" hand at you. Or better yet, when you honk to get their attention, in hopes that they won't hit you, they flip you the bird as if you've done something wrong. I just want to say "just saved your life, stupid." California, Connecticut, the District of Columbia, New Jersey, and New York already have the Hands Free Cell Phone law, which if caught will cost you $50, and I 100% agree with it here in Texas.

As far as the seatbelt law, I know several people who have been pulled over for no other reason. It's funny and not funny at the same time. My theory is your life is worth the 3 seconds it takes to put it on, or at least the $100 you just spent for being stupid. In Florida the law states that you cannot be pulled over for a seatbelt violation alone, but if you are pulled over for something else and are not wearing it (by the time the officer walks to your car window) that's an added $100 fine. I truly believe that laws are made with the intent to serve and protect and should not be tampered with, especially when the statistics show a significantly decreased number of death or injury after they are in place.

Texas Voters Come Alive! Or Not?

The Presidential Campaign more than interesting this year. It seems 2008 marked the beginning of a new collection of voters choosing to use their voice for a change, or maybe just for a change. According to the State Legislatures report in March 2008 there were 12,752,417 registered voters in Texas and in November there were 13,575,062 registered to vote. That means that 822,645 voters felt the need to register for this election after the Republican and Democratic Candidates were decided.

What’s even more interesting is that of that 13 million plus, only 59% showed up to make their vote count. I wish there were numbers on those that registered from March to October to see how many voted compared to those who registered to belong to a movement. Considering to staggering population numbers of the State of Texas it is still surprising that only 8,053,036 voted. That is like saying only the residence of Houston voted.

So the question is, what stops people from voting, from using their rights and freedom as citizens of the United States of America to show up and make their voices heard? In light of this blog stage, I asked several random people I have run into this past week and here were some of their responses:

8 people said: “I knew Obama would win, so there was no need to vote.”
5 people said: “less than half the Nation makes the call for the rest of us, so who cares.”
6 people said: “I’m sure I’m not the only one who didn’t vote today.”
7 people said: “I’m not registered to vote because I don’t want to be called for Jury Duty.”

Have we become a Nation callus to our rights? Easily assuming that it’s all in someone else’s control and feeling as is all is well because you’re not the only one, in my mind, is not the best choice one can make. Not voting just because you don’t want to be called for Jury Duty is at best, a cop out. It is amazing the numbers of people from around the world who flock to our land of the free and want the opportunities and rights that we have available to us when many Americans fail to see the value in it.

I asked several of my friends who have became Naturalized citizens, and this year was their first year to vote for a President, if they voted and there was an overwhelming, “yes, it was an honor and I was proud to have a voice.” In my eyes, that’s a quality very much missing in this land of the ungrateful. Many Americans take their rights and privileges for granted. Many do not look past their own lives to learn anything about anyone else, to see the struggles going on worldwide, and to realize that they have life much better than 95% of the Earth’s inhabitants. God Bless America.

What is the point?

I came across this article and now matter how I read and reread is it, it just confused me to the point that it became funny. I’m not sure what the author, Joshunda Sanders is actually writing about. She talks about Texas native Mrs. Jones, who is 109 years old and still voting in a light of it being a huge accomplishment. Then she talks about her being the descendent of a slave. She continues with stories of Mrs. Jones being the middle of 13 children and having 10 of her own. And finalizes with arguments of who is the oldest voter in the Nation. I agree Mrs. Jones’ 109 years is an accomplishment, and that being that age and understanding the election and who she is voting for is a quite an undertaking. Her Daughters seemed to have more to say in the interview than she did. Did they have the “say” on whom she voted for too? I do not understand what being the Daughter of a slave has to do with whether or not 109 year old Mrs. Jones voted. Sanders’ opening line “Amanda Jones, 109, the daughter of a man born into slavery…” that’s a label she put on Mrs. Jones, who probably has a lot more to do, with 10 children and 33 grandchildren, than dwell about that any longer. The percentage of black Americans that are descendants of slaves is staggering considering that in the early 1800’s they were 20% of a 7,500,000 population. And, do we really care who the oldest voter in the Nation is? We need to care about whether or not anyone is checking with these senior citizens to see that they actually understand the policies and platforms of those running for office, or are their children using the senior’s votes to chose what they want. The audience this author is looking for is anyone’s guess. The article seemingly had not point; it's jumbled, hap hazard, and didn’t have any surprise statistics. Someone who worked that long ago would have made $20 per month. My Mom is only 75 years old and remembers working for $1 a day 4-5 days a week. The article didn’t sell me on anything but did raise the idea that someone should look into “who” is actually doing the voting for these seniors. It’s been found out in the past that seniors incapable of any understanding or communicating and even in vegetative states have been found on voting ballets, so it wouldn’t be a surprise. Maybe Sanders should do an article on that. Now that would be interesting.

Careful not to be a Tax Ass-essor Voter

I recently came across an article in the Statesman, about a local candidate’s ad's, that made me laugh out loud. Television has become a highway to the masses when it comes to political campaigns, and this reporter makes a solid case of the nonsense. Visit this link for his article and this link to watch the commercials. See if you can figure out just what the Candidate is running for. I feel it is safe to say that a big percentage of the public does not read papers or political propaganda, however they do watch Television. These viewers are at a disadvantage of not knowing the “whole” truth about various campaigns and platforms, or in this case, what the purpose of the public position is. It is frightening to consider that the people are voting-in public officials that they have little to no idea of what the Elected is to do once in office. Compile that with Television Ad campaigns that lead you to believe, in this case, that the Candidate for Tax-Assessor Collector will aid in lowering property taxes, which is NOT part of his job description, just creates a Texas size mess. The State is responsible for making the information readily available to its citizens and to educate them on the realities of the political offices. As citizens of the state of Texas it is our job to educate ourselves on the goings-on with political issues and especially City and County level public official positions that affect us directly daily. I feel if you don't know what your voting for, don't vote, or educate yourself on what you are about to vote on and for. Just don’t go around crying if you don’t like the way a public office is being ran when you had the opportunity to make an educated choice.

A big Borack of deception

Everyone should read this article and be made aware of the facts. Are they facts? Well, Borack Obama has been interviewed time and time again in the past and he seems willing to be in the spotlight and voice his thoughts whenever asked a question. If we judge the validity of what he says now without looking back on what he has said then, we are misguiding ourselves. Funny how he “tells it like it is,” yet when articles like http://urbangrounds.com/2008/10/10/rashid-khalidi-obama/bring up the fact that on that day he was willing to “tell it like it is” and those interviews don’t put him in the best light, he is willing to ignore the questions it stirs and walk away. I see it clearly. Do you? How can we trust someone who has so much “belief” in writing within numerous interviews, and that is so seemingly biased against the USA and what our country stands for? Some say, "oh, he's changed." I say he is deceptive and a fake. And I believe that this IS local news because it's at the local level; every household, every person, and every business that this information makes an impact and needs to be heard.