Until we are ready to admit what the problems are, we are going to continue to see more and more of what we saw recently in Orlando and I am not optimistic mass shootings will stop anytime soon. I mean if twenty 7-year-olds being killed in a classroom doesn’t move America to, at least, study gun control then nothing will. What’s worse is that we are so afraid of hurting people’s feelings that we also don’t want to address extreme religion. Yes, I said extreme religion as opposed to extreme Islam. All forms of religion have fanaticals and it’s long past time to clamp down on them. Furthermore, if a guy has done enough to be on an FBI watch list twice, then I’m going to suggest that’s enough to neutralize him in some way before a violent act is committed. It’s too bad we are too stupid to realize a man can call 911 and proclaim what he’s doing and why and we still refuse to accept that as fact. Put your head in the sand and it will go away.
You can’t even reason with the pro-gun crowd. They don’t get it. My suggestion to gun owners is that if someone was to break into your house and steal a firearm and commit a murder, then you (as the owner) should be held to the same standard as the person who actually did it. This has been met with amazing kick back, to which I can only say then you must not, truly, be storing your guns in a safe manner.
I wonder how many women are disgusted every time they sing the Canadian National anthem? ‘In All Thy Sons Command’, I’ve been told, is big-time offensive to women; although the last woman I asked about this said she thinks about her grandfather going to war. Somewhere, a guilt ridden man insists this woman is wrong and he’s going to win. The anthem will be changed. Take it to the bank. We have become beyond ridiculous in politically correct circles and yet nobody is willing to take leadership against this divisive stance.
Regina City Police were in the news last week for posing as panhandlers and writing traffic tickets to motorists. The reactions appear to be mixed on social media. There are many who applaud clamping down on distracted driving, speeding, stop sign and traffic light violations, seatbelt rules, etc. My own personal reaction is also mixed. I feel there is nothing wrong with being deceptive to catch someone breaking the law as long as the rules apply to everyone. But, we know that’s not the norm as courts have thrown out cases where elaborate stings (often called Mr. Big) have resulted in confessions for murder in matters where the perpetrator didn’t realize he was telling his secrets to police officers. To me it’s all the same and when it comes to catching ‘real’ criminals (murderers, drug dealers, thieves, thugs, etc.) there should be a lot more leeway as compared to catching those who commit traffic offenses.
When it comes to traffic offenses, I’ve always maintained the intent is completely dishonest. It’s not in the name of safety. It’s in the name of cash. This doesn’t matter to me, really, just be straight up about it. I’m not fooled. The reality is that if it was ‘safety’ that was the focus, police would be parked outside night clubs at 2am every Saturday night. They’d be sitting outside schools instead of up the street, three feet in front of the sign where the speed changes. In fact, have you ever seen a speed trap in an area where there isn’t a sign that indicates the speed changes? My favorite was a number of years ago when I was ticketed in Roblin for doing 66 in a 50. Truth is that it was a snowy Christmas Eve and I was doing 80 in a 100. The speed limit dips to 80 and then to 50 rather quickly as you come into the town from the west. The roads were slippery and I, gradually, lowered my speed in an effort to not slip on the highway. I even saw the cruiser as I approached and I did get pretty close to 50 just past the sign. No dice. Merry Christmas to me. I asked the officer if he paid any attention to the fact I was well under the speed limit when it was 100 and he said he didn’t care as little old ladies could be crossing the street. Yes, but I could plainly see there were none and I was being ‘safe’. His answer was ‘rules are rules’. I kept this motto in mind a few weeks later when he issued a press release about snow mobilers traveling on private property. I felt this wasn’t a news story and should be a purchased advertisement, so I ensured it never hit the radio airwaves. Hey, ‘rules are rules’.
Nice people mentions to: Craig Stein, Clarke Breitkreuz, Gubba Geisler, Jerry Witherspoon, and Scott Keith.
