And remember, where you have a concentration of power in a few hands, all too frequently men with the mentality of gangsters get control. History has proven that. All power corrupts; absolute power corrupts absolutely.
Lord Acton
Letter to Bishop Mandell Creighton
1887
You must ambush, mine, raid and (carry out) martyrdom campaigns so that you can wipe them out. As happened in Iraq and Afghanistan, when the world’s strongest power was defeated by the campaigns of the mujahideen, troops going to heaven, so its slaves shall be defeated on the Muslim lands of Somalia.
Ayman al-Zawahiri
Osama bin Laden’s deputy in Al Qaeda
Islamists dig in by the sea as Somalia requests world’s help
January 5, 2006
[The Muslim consider any land which they have ever controlled to be “their” land. Even if they took it from someone else. For example they believe Spain and at least a large share of India is rightfully theirs as well as Somalia. Now these Islamic extremists have been pushed up against the sea by Ethiopian troops. American warships are patrolling the coastline preventing them from escaping via the water. I hope they start dropping artillery shells on them. Let them carry out their martyrdom campaigns against incoming high explosives.–Joe]
Every time we seize an illegal gun, we reduce the probability that someone will be killed, injured or unfortunately robbed at gunpoint.
Mayor Richard Daley
Daley: Democratic control could lead to stricter gun laws
January 4, 2007
Northwest Herald
[I am nearly certain Mayor Daley doesn’t have a clue about probability or statistics. If he did then he would know his statement is false and that would make him a liar. Of course being a politician is frequently synonymous with being a liar so I have to acknowledge the possibility that Daley does know something about probability and/or statistics. Furthermore he can’t even make sense in a prepared sound-bite. The guns he and his goons are seizing aren’t illegal. It’s the possession of those guns by certain classes of people that is illegal under Chicago law. Never mind those particular Chicago laws are illegal. The article in which he was quoted was about Daley’s desire to make possession of even more guns illegal. His statistical basis for this objective was not addressed and for a good reason–it would not support his desires. Because of this one has to wonder what his real objective is. Daley needs to answer Just One Question.–Joe]
When I grow up, I want to be an honest lawyer so things like that can’t happen.
Richard Nixon
As a boy (on the Teapot Dome scandal)
[Last respects were given to Gerald Ford today. Ford, of course, gave Nixon a pardon for one of the biggest American political scandals of the last 100 years. Politicians… you can’t live with them and you can’t shoot them.–Joe]
The Washington State Constitution provides that individual citizens of the state have the right to bear arms to defend themselves or the state, Article I, § 24.
The Washington State Constitution further establishes that citizens have the right to freedom of speech, Article I, § 5.
The Washington State Supreme Court has recognized the tort of wrongful discharge in violation of public policy. Gardner v. Loomis Armoured, Inc., 128 Wn.2d 931 (1996); Roberts v. Dudley. 140 Wn.2d 58 (2000).
The Washington State Constitution is a primary source to determine the public policy of the state of Washington. Roberts v. Dudley, Justices Alexander and Talmadge, concurring separately.
In advocating for the responsible use of firearms, Plaintiff engaged in conduct protected by both Article I, §24 and § 5 and in furtherance of the public good.
Upon information and belief, Plaintiff was terminated for exercising his rights guaranteed to him by the Washington State Constitution, in violation of the public policy of the State of Washington.
Matthew Bean
in Joe Huffman vs. Battelle Memorial Institute
Filed October 30, 2006
Benton County Superior Court
[I would like to say “Hi” to all the people from PNNL that have been visiting my blog and my PNNL.info website recently. Nice to have you stop by. I’m sure I’ll be talking to some of you in person and while you are under oath sometime in the future. Have a nice day–while you still can. To my friends still there and scared about being called to testify–I think I can avoid that in almost all cases. In one case I might have to have one person testify about something embarrassing (to them) but I’ll do my best to avoid it and then make it as bearable as possible if it’s a necessity. To my enemies in this encounter, wherever you are, I have a BHAG post coming up that addresses my plans for you in greater detail.–Joe]
Do not follow where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
[This has also been attributed to Harold R. McAlindon. I am unable to find any dates for the life of McAlindon and I’ve never heard of him before today so I’m inclined to believe Emerson was probably first. Regardless, this is my plan in the New Year for dealing with the anti-gun bigots. There is no path in the legal world where I’m headed with PNNL. I hope to leave a trail of (figuratively) bloody bodies that others will follow in our fight to reclaim our freedom against the anti-gun bigots.–Joe]
The government deficit is the difference between the amount of money the government spends and the amount it has the nerve to collect.
Sam Ewing
January 1991
Readers Digest Quote
[I never thought of it that way before but I wonder if gun control is an attempt by the government to gain more nerve and reduct the deficit.–Joe]
Did you ever notice the things we do and consider worthless we call “academic”?
Lyle Keeney
December 29, 2006
[There was no need to make mention of Lyle’s opinion on the quality of our education system. Also of interest while I was visiting UltiMAK yesterday was clutter on his office floor (see below). I wish my employer would let me have that type of clutter around. Not that I would do it, because I’m generally a little neater than that, but it would nice to have the option without being considered a threat to society.–Joe]
Practical competition is open to all reputable persons without regard to occupation. It may specifically not be limited to public servants.
USPSA Handgun Competition Rules
PRINCIPLES of USPSA Competitions
Draft–January 2008
[A reminder for those wishing to become oppressors. Government employees are servants. The way they are kept servants is by the people refusing to allow their right to own and use guns to be infringed. Reminding the servants of the skill of the people is a part of keeping the servants in line. The USPSA is part of that.–Joe]
Assault weapons—just like armor-piercing bullets, machine guns, and plastic firearms—are a new topic. The weapons’ menacing looks, coupled with the public’s confusion over fully automatic machine guns versus semi-automatic assault weapons—anything that looks like a machine gun is assumed to be a machine gun—can only increase the chance of public support for restrictions on these weapons. In addition, few people can envision a practical use for these weapons.
Josh Sugarmann
Conclusion
Assault Weapons and Accessories in America
1988, 42 pages, $6.00
[I’ve made reference to this quote before (and here) but never made it the QOTD. I do that today because Kevin uses it in his post The Other Side. As I mentioned in the comments to Kevin’s post, I have to have a certain amount of admiration for Sugarmann. It was this “study” by Sugarmann that was the seed for the “assault weapon” ban of 1994–all based on the deliberate confusion of the public. Mr. Sugarmann knows the truth and when the ’94 ban was about to sunset in 2004, while other anti-gun bigots were screaming about “blood will flow in the streets”, Sugarmann quietly told people that “not much will change” with the expiration of the ban. He successfully created the ban out of his insight on the ignorance and gullibility of the people and then moved on when he knew the deception could no longer be sustained.–Joe]
You never have to figure out what to get for children, because they will tell you exactly what they want. They spend months and months researching these kinds of things by watching Saturday-morning cartoon-show advertisements. Make sure you get your children exactly what they ask for, even if you disapprove of their choices. If your child thinks he wants Murderous Bob, the Doll with the Face You Can Rip Right Off, you’d better get it. You may be worried that it might help to encourage your child’s antisocial tendencies, but believe me, you have not seen antisocial tendencies until you’ve seen a child who is convinced that he or she did not get the right gift.
Dave Barry
Christmas Shopping: A Survivor’s Guide
[See also my next post.–Joe]
All propaganda must be so popular and on such an intellectual level, that even the most stupid of those towards whom it is directed will understand it. Therefore, the intellectual level of the propaganda must be lower the larger the number of people who are to be influenced by it.
Adolf Hitler
[This is part of the reason why we have trouble getting our message across to the public. Freedom, whether it is gun rights, right to privacy, or economic rights is more difficult to explain than, “The government will take care of you.” But just because something is simple to explain and appealing to the masses doesn’t mean it’s right. Hitler’s message was simple, appealing to the masses, and totally wrong. Just like the message of the anti-freedom bigots of our country today.–Joe]
I’d love one, but I’d probably get in trouble. Oregon has laws against hunting over a baited field.
Todd Ellner
12/24/2006 10:36 AM
Washington State Concealed Weapons Discussion
[Referring to the picture below which was found at this website.–Joe]
Liberty is not a means to a higher political end. It is itself the highest political end.
Lord Acton
February 26, 1877
That discussion wouldn’t be productive.
Peggy Hevland
Specialist
HRM, CISD
peggy.hevland@pnl.gov
509-375-6523
June 3, 2005
[When I asked, “What specifically did I do wrong?” as she and Byran McMillian were in the process of firing me. It turns out that I later found out why I was being fired–some people had a problem with me being a civil (gun) rights advocate. It’s the quote of the day for today because I just found out the lawsuit papers have been served to McMillian. Peggy…Someday in the not too distant future I believe I’m going to have a very productive discussion with you. Either that you will be held in contempt of court.–Joe]
People who relieve others of their money with guns are called robbers. It does not alter the immorality of the act when the income transfer is carried out by government.
Cal Thomas
A taxing time
Jewish World Review April 17, 2000
A bill of rights is what the people are entitled to against every government on Earth, general or particular, and what no just government should refuse, or rest on inference.
Thomas Jefferson
Letter to James Madison
Dec. 20, 1787
[It’s as true today as it was 219 years ago. And keep in mind that the bill of rights is a list of things the government must not do. It is not a list of what it should or must do. There is no “right” to health care, education, or employment. There is a right to due process, freedom of speech, freedom from unreasonable search and seziure, and the right of the individual to keep and bear arms.–Joe]
The Constitution is not neutral. It was designed to take the government off the backs of people.
William O. Douglas
US Supreme Court Justice
I have nothing new to teach the world. Truth and Non-violence are as old as the hills. All I have done is to try experiments in both on as vast a scale as I could.
Mohandas K. Gandhi
(1869-1948), Indian political and spiritual leader.
Harijan (28 March 1936).
[This is something for gun owners anxious to “push the reset button” to remember. We have truth on our side and for now we have non-violence. Once the non-violence threshold has been breached many of the terrible things they say about us will become true. That is to not to say there isn’t a valid time and place to use violence. It’s just that we must be very careful to have sufficient moral justification for using violence.–Joe]
Cases of persecution similar to Galileo’s (which are also found in Protestantism) are a significant indicator of the extent to which Christians themselves have been aware of the conflict between reason and faith. The issue is not whether Galileo was right or wrong. The issue is: Why has Christianity found it necessary and desirable to suppress free inquiry with the threat of force? If reason will only lend support to the dogmas of religion, why have those countries with a strong Church-State alliance displayed such an eagerness to enforce religious dogmas and eliminate dissent through the power of the State? Why has Christianity refused, whenever possible, to allow its beliefs to compete in a free marketplace of ideas? The answer is obvious – and revealing. Christianity is peddling an inferior product, one that cannot withstand critical investigation. Unable to compete favorably with other theories, it has sought to gain a monopoly through a state franchise, which means: through the use of force.
George H. Smith
From Atheism the Case Against God
[This same argument can be used to even greater effect with Islamic extremists. They have been “converting by the sword” for centuries. Frequently murdering everyone in an entire town. I’m listening to Hatred’s Kingdom: How Saudi Arabia Supports the New Global Terrorism and the picture it paints about the history of Islam is worse than I thought it was. Which was already extraordinarily negative.–Joe]