Rep. Tim Burchett

Burchett does not see Congress doing anything to fix gun violence, because any role in Congress will only "mess it up." He does not condone background checks, because  “you have criminals that are going to go around this, and that’s what they do." Tim Burchett is Rep. from Tennessee.

V commented: The same is true of every law...criminals ignore or go around them. By his reasoning we should not have any laws at all.

Burchett also said: "Repenting of your sins and having some sort of reform in this country seems to me to be the way we’re going to have to turn this thing around because we have some very sick, evil people doing some very vile things." 

The Nashville shooter had no criminal record; she legally purchased 7 guns. Travis Reinking's father gave him the rifle he used in his mass shooting. Reinking owned 4 weapons. He had been treated for mental health problem. I am guessing "schizophrenic" due to hearing God's voice tell him to kill people.

Banning sale of military style weapons such as those used by these two in their mass shootings, would be a good place to start. Yes, criminals will be able to obtain them illegally. But would the Nashville shooter have been able to find one to buy illegally? The father was sentenced to 18 months in jail for handing over the rifle to his mentally disturbed son.

Better if Dad had never been able to purchase it. Do not know if he has a criminal record. The vast majority of citizens do not go around shooting and killing strangers. Yet Burchett things we are all sinners? He must be Christian. An example of Republican mentality? 

Peeps grabbing guns

I suddenly got to wondering if anyone thinks peeps is a slur. I mean people, not baby chickens. I do not know why or when I started saying peeps rather than people. Now I am wondering if some think I do mean baby chicks, calling people chickens as in cowards? 

A comment I wrote that I am hoping some that believe GOP propaganda, think & consider:

Does GOP object to law enforcement confiscating guns from meth labs, drug dealers, gang members, and other arrested criminals? Are they against law enforcement grabbing guns from drug smugglers? 

The person who wrote, "Chicago", finished by saying "hold my beer." Huh? Other than outed self as a white racist. Some others mentioned black violence, one even wrote Black, so wondered if that was from a politically correct person or one of that "race." 

Another brings out the anger in me. Something about better living in the south than "that insane asylum, California." Why do people hate California so much? Maybe they pick on Chicago (rather than, say, Los Angeles) due to President and Michelle Obama? 

Need to spend the rest of today penning letters to Congress people. Not enough sleep, woke too early, doc appt, now ready for nap. 

No gun violence

 "There’s no such thing as gun violence. There’s only human violence. It’s intellectually unsound to state otherwise, and the number one cause of death for children in America remains abortion.” Rep. Clay Higgins (R-La.)

Round and round they go. Comments on article shared at Yahoo News, are typical. One or two agree that abortion is murder. Most are typical. The tired "guns do not kill, people kill," "if knives were used would you say knife violence," "shall we ban cars," vs. "guns only purpose is to kill," "cars are regulated," "knives and cars sole purpose is not to kill".

Show me a child inside a girl or woman's womb, and I will show you a freak of nature. Must be a teeny tiny child to fit in even a very large female's womb. I am guessing that someone with a small body will have smaller internal organs also. Some baby's hearts or lungs have not fully developed before birth. I am guessing that as the baby grows, so do organs. 

Chicago, the south, red states, libs, shared article "leftugees fleeing blue states" (Forbes) "Democrats wonder why the hell are blacks moving to red states" (maybe the title did not say "hell" but that is how it sounded)  did not notice the publication. or the third on the same subject. Maybe "Examiner."

They want to grab our guns or they are not going to grab our guns. 

How many years has the GOP been screaming that Democrats want to take away people's guns? At least 50, methinks. No one trying to take away hunting rifles, hand guns, or pistols. Exception would be when New Orleans was under martial law, and cops confiscated family heirloom rifles after illegal search of car trunk.

I again broke my promise to stop commenting on articles. I never check for replies. I just hope something I say will cause a person to think. Especially the one that slurred everyone's intelligence, that spelled, in all caps VIOLECE. Did not take time to read before posting? Or does not know how to spell violence? Peeps like that make me laugh. 

That poster: pro guns, anti abortion. 

H.R. 1095 ~ National Gun?

 "An assault on one constitutional right is an attack on them all, and I will continue doing all I can to fight those seeking to seize power from the people and give it to the government." Rep. Barry Moore, Alabama, introduced bill to make H.R. 1095 AR-15 Rifle National Gun of the United States. He also stated: 

"The most fundamental job of a Congressman is to protect your liberties, and I take that duty incredibly seriously." He seems to have forgotten about the right to life,  and pursuit of happiness for children and their parents, killed by AR-15 and other assault style weapons. Also, being GOP, likely forgot about female right to liberty.

Co-sponsors of the bill: George Santos, NY, Lauren Boebert, Colorado, Andrew Clyde, Georgia ~ all Republicans. Santos is a complete fraud, and known criminal. Clyde was born in Canada; college graduate, Navy vet, CEO.  No wonder he wants a National gun, especially a military style one.

How 'bout Winchester rifle if we really need a National Gun? I know nothing about hunting guns, but I think Winchester was popular in the Wild Wild West. Okay, I need to look it up, eh. But first, the only things I knew about Boerbert is her pro trump stance, fight with M.T. Greene, and a few other anti-U.S. of A. statements.

Okay, now I know she owned Shooter's Grill, in Rifle, Colorado, a "Second Amendment and Western-themed restaurant," where she encouraged staff to open-carry guns. She grew up in a welfare household, quit high school believing, her bio says, she could provide better for her family with a job, rather than being on welfare. 

She married a man who works in natural gas drilling company. Her bio claims she is active in her church. Surely, not Christian, who are to love thy neighbor. Most Christians are bound by the Hebrew 10 Commandments Thou Shalt Not Kill. 

Now that I know who she is, I understand her stance on AR-15s and why, with zero government experience she was elected. And there is the reason why the U.S. of A. is so divided. 

DON'T TAKE OUR GUNS  vs. BAN ASSAULT STYLE WEAPONS, STOP LETTING PEOPLE KILL OUR CHILDREN

If it was one of her sons that was killed by an AR-15 wielding mass shooter, would she feel the same? As a mother, can she not understand the pain of mothers who lost their children due to assault style weapons? Her children are not growing up in the era of active shooter drills. Possibly the younger one is. But he is likely not afraid ~ no matter how much the townspeople love guns, they would never attack "me." 

Do we really need a National Gun? And why do Republicans desecrate the stars and stripes by covering the flag with politicians faces? Showing they pledge allegiance to a man (I have only seen two men's faces on them, could be more) rather than allegiance to the nation they want to govern. 

Bruce Y. Lee ~ naked throwing hot dogs

Bruce Y. Lee made a good point in Forbes online article about GOP selling points: 

Umm, just because you don’t have a right to run naked down a city street singing “Hallelujah,” while throwing hot dogs at people doesn't mean that you won’t retain your right to run, to eat hot dogs, or to sing the song “Hallelujah.” In fact, you are free to be naked, sing “Hallelujah,” and throw hot dogs at your mirror, all at the same time. So imposing some restrictions should by no means imply that.

The Lord's Prayer

 Ah, I am easily distracted from my goals! I shared the Yahoo comment because I replied to it on the article. Yes, I still forget my vow to stop doing that. Better to reply here on my blog that no one reads either. Maybe I should try an offline diary?

As a child I was confused by the way we recited The Lord's Prayer (or the Our Father) in public school, and the way I was taught to say it in Catechism (or Religious Instructions.) 

I looked up the verse in my father's Catholic Bible (which I never knew him to read, he was agnostic,) and my mother's Protestant Bible (which she read daily, but maybe not the entire thing, certain verses that she loved.) 

The public school was using the King James Bible version, my church, obviously using a Catholic version. 

I have read all the New Testament, some, like Matthew, Mark, Luke, James read multiple times. I have read a lot of the Old Testament of the Bible. Do not get far in the "begat, begat, begat" stuff ~ too confusing,  nor Proverbs and Psalms ~ too many, too long and most boring. 

Jesus said you cannot serve two masters, you will love the one and hate the other. So I ditched my Bibles and became an atheist. I had long before stopped being Catholic. I could never reconcile using fertility rites with remembrance of Christ's death, and celebrating the resurrection. What does Santa, trees, lights have to do with birth of Christ child? 

I could no longer be Christian and celebrate those two high holy days. I could only celebrate them as American holidays. For better or worse, I choose to go along with family and their holidays. Biblical story of creation did not make sense to me, so yes, reading the Bible turned me into an  atheist. 

Yet I know many who do Bible Studies who remain Catholic or other Christians. I did my own studying. That is the difference. 

Bible & Book Banning

Comment by JJ:
They should make the bible mandatory reading. It's the best way to turn Christians into atheists.
Buy a Bible, but don’t read it, and you’ll be a Catholic.
Buy a Bible, read only what suits you and you’ll be an Evangelical.
Buy a Bible, read it fully, analyze it, reason it, and you will be an Atheist.

The comment was on a Yahoo news shared Letters to the Editor, Opinion, Florida Today, ragging on Ms. Julie Marshall, member of Moms for Liberty, and banning books. Comments either agree with the letter writer or slam her. Typical slurring Democrats, "libs," "lefties" as pedos, wanting 5-year-olds to read porno.

Some slurs on conservatives ~ the typical "trailer park" or "can't read" stuff. A lot pointing out Bible texts which would be inappropriate to read to children. Slurs on the Bible or just nicely worded putdowns. Round and round they go. Such hatred and anger from Republicans towards Democrats. Mostly mocking of GOP from others ~ might be Green, or Democrats, less hating, more laughing than hatring.

The most Irate, often ALL Caps comments from people saying there is no book banning, they can buy it and read it. Truth is that DeSantis and others in Florida, are indeed banning books from school libraries or trying to do so, causing school board vs. parents fights.

One asserted that there have been no books banned since Fanny Farmer. Odd that the American or National Association of Libraries publishes a list of banned books every year in September during banned books week. I think peeps confuse bans on books with a legal ban, removing all copies from shelves, not allowing it to be published at all.

Focus on the Family had a list of books they banned. My sister subscribed me to the mag. I used to read some of the articles. When they banned "The Color Purple," I told sis to stop subscribing me. She did anyway. I no longer read them, went straight to recycle bin along with KKK literature my ex put me on their mailing list.

From comments, I now have titles of a few books I want to read. I read part of a graphic book geared to ten year olds. That helped me understand why parents would not want it in elementary schools ~ okay, for older teens, methinks. A little too graphic for my tastes in children's books.

Anthony Puma ~ if he could turn back time

 50-year-old Anthony Puma says if he could turn back time, he would have stayed home of J6. Do not we all wish we could turn back time before making an awful mistake.

Prior to J6, he posted a plan for action:

“On the 6th when we are all there in the capital [sic] and he is givin [sic] his second term the people will see. Then you never know we might have to start killing some commie bastards. #stopthestea"

He claims he should not be held accountable because Trump tricked him. He did not believe trump would "not steer him down an illegal path." Wait a minute, mawas claim trump did not incite a riot ~ just a peaceful, tourist, sightseeing tour lead by guards.

 So why did Puma scale a wall, enter through a broken window, then ask other rioters in Sen. Jeff Merkley's office if he could join them in smoking pot. Did trump trick him into smoking pot inside a government building? 

I wonder if he knew that trump's father-in-law is a card carrying Communist? Melania's dad might not practice Communism, so why not burn his card and pledge allegiance to the United States of America. Rhetorical question. 

Puma's lawyers says he has suffered enough. He recorded that "we were tear gassed," they went back and were "pepper sprayed," and went back to get inside the building. Did trump announce "leave, the building is closed, go home?" No he let them continue the melee for over 3 hours then told them "we love you, you are special." 

Attack guards, do damage, obstruct Congress? Why is trump running for pres again. He loves people who attack the "blue," break & enter, do damage, and obstruct Congress? Insanity. 

Caught up in the maelstrom

 Geoffrey Sills. 31, of Mechanicsville, Virginia did not go to D. C. wearing gas mask, and  goggles, intending to be violent. He was dressed for protection from terrorists. Oh, my, if a foreign government flew planes into D.C. buildings, the mask and goggles would offer little or no protection.

When he threw pole-like objects at guards, stole one of their batons assaulting at least two guards, it was simply because he got caught up in the maelstrom. 

Well, gee whiz, if a bunch of mawas were jumping off the Brooklyn Bridge at trump's instruction, would he have done so, also? I thought these mawas were all for law and order, obeying officers of the law, Blue Lives Matter & personal responsibility. 

I used to loathe my mother asking me "if your friends jumped off the Brooklyn Bridge..." ~ I was complaining about having to do dishes or not being allowed to carry baby bro' yet friend was; likewise younger cousin. Older, my friends offered me cigarettes. I turned them down. 

I was horrified when my older brother followed the crowd walking over a downed wire fence to get closer to stage to see Dylan perform. I stayed behind, keeping an eye on him, as he was the driver. Caught up in the maelstrom, my arse.

From whom?

 "PROTEST, TAKE OUR NATION BACK!"

"WE MUST SAVE AMERICA! PROTEST, PROTEST, PROTEST!!!"

DJT's latest. Does he not tire of sounding like an arse?

Calhoun ~ "we shut down the government"

 William McCall Calhoun of Americus, Ga. attorney, age 59, posted on Facebook:  “Today the American People proved we have the power. We physically took control of the Capitol building in a hand to hand hostile takeover. We occupied the Capitol and shut down the Government – we shut down their stolen election shenanigans . . .”

The only shenanigans was Trump trying to rig and steal the election. Not man enough to concede, he sells more lies and incites a riot. 

Secession ~ 1975

Other secession comments; almost all agreed that divorcing red states from blue or secession was a great idea.

Democrats say, then Red states no longer get money from Blue states that support them. No more aid to Texas, New Orleans, after hurricanes or Alabama tornadoes, thank you very much. 

Mawas or GOP hate Democrats ~ Communists is common slur. Drag queens, CRT, other stuff being "shoved down their throats." Reality, it is Christian Right that demands we obey their rules. No women shall be allowed to get treatment for ectopic pregnancy, have a D & C, and shall be forced to give birth to a stillborn baby. Supreme Court gave states the right to deny liberty based on gender. Who is forcing who?

One or two people who commented showed signs of intelligence. My words; do we build a wall around Texas, requiring passports for them to travel to the U.S. of A.? What happens to Interstate highways, paid for by U.S. of A. government? Cross country trains? One asked about commerce between states ~ export/import, tariffs, more laws? Another pointed out today's military as compared to 1861. Any state that tried to remove themselves from nation would be defeated in, I think, poster said, 30 minutes. 

I suggest people look at the 1975 Electoral College map. California was red, Texas and New York were blue. Demographics change, people change party affiliations. There are not red states, there are no blue states, there are states with diverse populations. Would a Green be allowed to live in a Red State? A Libertarian in a Blue State. Ridiculous, unintelligent idea. 

We either live together or perish together. China/Russia would simply love a Divided States of America. Peeps need to stop hating and try listening and understanding others. I understand why some people are opposed to doctor assisted termination of pregnancies. 

But I do not understand why they do not understand all the reasons why the choice belongs to the woman and her doctor. Prove that life begins at conception. Most females do not know they are pregnant until missing a period or two. I had a cousin who did not know she was pregnant until she went into labor.

How can that be? Change of life baby, they used to be called. At that age, the chubby lady was moving towards obesity. Her menstrual cycle had already stopped. She had not reason to suspect the weight gain had to do with pregnancy. 

Nitpicking point, but it is more potential for life, not life itself. A living, breathing, walking, talking female should have more rights than an invisible zygote, blastocyst and even fetus. 

Someone suggested it should be done by county referendum. Okay, so Orange County, California can opt to sede from Los Angeles County? Or secede from the U.S. of A. How would that work? 

No wonder people vote for the likes of M.T. Greene and djt ~ no critical thinking skills. Secession is a terrible idea; can not divorce states without destroying the U. S. of A. 

Secession Comments

The secession article pointed out that divorce involves things like: Who Will Get The Children. So, who would get the National Debt, author queried. The author states %ages of voters who agree with a national divorce. Heavy on GOP/mawas and trump himself. Less than 50% of Biden voters. Notice he wrote, Biden, not Democrats. And what happened to Greens? Or Libertarians? Us Independents do not count in these here United States of America?

Percentages and polls do not interest me. No one asks me my opinion. Unless at the end of the poll, they are asking for campaign donations, thus biased questions, anyway. Judging by comments on the article, those percentages are likely accurate.

MAWAs out in force. They hate Blues or Democrats. One said "then the Blue States would become Police States." How effective that GOP propaganda has been. All my adult life GOP has been yelling that Democrats are coming for your guns. Has that happened? There was a ten year period when military style weapons were banned. Mass shootings were down in those years.

I once believed that if they took away citizens rights to own guns, then only police would have them. Internet, however, allowed me to read sensible gun laws. A nationwide database to be used by gun sellers to deny felons purchase of weapons, to deny domestic violence offenders guns, to deny mentally unstable people from owning guns, is sensible.

The part of the 2nd Amendment about Well Regulated Militia is ignored by NRA lovers. What is regulated, other than laws or rules or oversight? I think that amendment was to ensure people could fight for their state in their military or National Guard. 

Where does that state that law enforcement are militia? 

MT Greene Divorce Blue States

 M.T. Greene wants to divorce red states from blue states. Read an article saying "Secession  is here:" people have been withdrawing from the Union for years. An example is not serving on jury duty. I do not see that as "withdrawing." Some people simply do not want to play judge over other people's lives ~ that is, find a stranger guilty of a crime, based on the best lawyer's presentation.

I raised hand to be excused from a trial once. A homeless man was charged with failing to register as a sex offender. The offense was statutory rape of his girlfriend 30 years back in high school. A 16 or 17 year old having a 18 or 19 year old boyfriend is not at all unusual. If the girl consents to have sex, that is not rape. And how does an unhoused person register an address? 555 Ocean Blvd, where he sleeps, overnight? Lincoln Park where he hangs out during the day?

He had no other "sex offenses" since being charged with having sex with his underage girlfriend. I would not be a fair juror (not guilty.) I also would not sit on trial to give criminal death penalty. I am against that due to innocent people being put to death. Until our justice system is perfect, I do not approve.

I would rather assisted suicide be legal. With cause ~ terminally ill elderly, perhaps, who wants to choose a time and place to end suffering and expense of care.

Was I withdrawing? No, I was excited to be chosen to serve on another jury. After lunch break, when we returned, we were dismissed due to defendant accepting a plea deal. 

Some companies do not pay time off for jury duty. The miniscule stipend does not make up for losing a days pay to do jury duty. A person might have medical condition, such as diabetes and could not chance a long trial. Many reasons to refuse jury duty having zero to do with withdrawing from the Nation.

Mitchell Todd Gardner ~ chemical spray

*Mitchell Todd Gardner II, 34, of Seffner, Florida plead guilty to civil disorder, obstruction of an official proceeding, and assaulting, resisting, or impeding officers with a dangerous weapon. He used a pepper spray canister to shatter a window after others did not do so when he told them to break it.

He handed someone a weapon that looked to be a desk or chair leg. He encouraged others to "Pull the cops out," "drag them out." 

Peaceful sightseer, eh?

Aiden Bilyard of Cary was 18 when he sprayed chemical agents at police and broke out a window in the Capitol, attorney said he did not bring weapons, so where did he get chemical spray? 

Fort Bragg soldier James Mault (30), re-enlisted in Army after being fired from his job, due to his part in J6 riot. He is full of remorse, should have known better, than to pepper spray a guard. He said he wore tactical gear to prepare for counter-protestors. Okay, that shows he did not just go to D.C. to listen to a rally; he planned to actively protest, even prior to DJT telling him to march peacefully to Capitol and then FIGHT like HELL. 

On Jan. 5, 2021, Cody Mault sent text message to Mattice suggesting they bring batons, pepper spray, helmets, eye protection and “asskicking boots. Cody Mault (29) was among those who ripped bike rack barrier from guards, forcing their way into the building. He pepper sprayed guards directly in their faces. 

*A Tampa Bay Times article about Gardner shows an image with photo circled labeled as him spraying officers. But the circled guy is not Gradner; he is standing above the guy doing the spraying.

More on Larry Brock

Larry Brock's Plan of Action was also "general pardon for all crimes up to and including murder of those restoring the Constitution and putting down the Democratic Insurrection.”

“Do not kill LEO unless necessary.” What would peaceful sightseers need to kill Law Enforcement officers? His attorney said "inconceivable that he was motivated by anything other than genuine concern for democracy.”

 
I guess that accounts for low jail sentence, when it should be tripled due to being military swearing to protect and serve. Not to attack & disrupt.

I guess he missed fighting he did while on active duty. Blinded, by trump lies? Sad.

Even tho' he was dressed for combat, he just followed the crowd as soon as they breached the doors (windows,) picked up zip-tie handcuffs, holding them in his hand while in Senate floor minutes after VP Pence was removed to safety. 

What makes judge think that the deranged man will change his mind about trumps lies? 

Larry Brock ~ Air Force

 Larry Brock, retired Air Force, was given two years jail time for storming the Capitol Building on J6.

Sightseers often wear tactical vests and helmets for tours, eh? Reported he wrote:

“When we get to the bottom of this conspiracy we need to execute the traitors that are trying to steal the election, and that includes the leaders of the media and social media aiding and abetting the coup plotters," Brock wrote in a Nov. 9. 2020, post on Facebook.

On Dec. 24th he wrote on Facebook "plan of action if Congress fails to act” One of the “main tasks” “seize all Democratic politicians and Biden key staff and select Republicans.”

"Begin interrogations using measures we used on al-Qaida to gain evidence on the coup. "

Do not know why Blogger suddenly adds a space, and can not figure out how to fix it sigh. AARGH. 

Yahoo Comment Rejection

 I often get told Yahoo is holding a comment for approval. Or asks if I am sure, it might offend members of the community. I reword, reword, reword, than finally give up and report the comment I was replying to. 

Today I tried several times to reply to comments on article about U.S.P.S. employee theft. 

I once had a temp Casual Clerk job at post office distribution center. After watching a training film about theft of mail, I thought, gee they just showed me how to steal mail, if I were so inclined. Another person who commented said something similar. Yet I left out the part about showing me how to steal, and just added "Same." Being held for approval. 

Maybe Casual Clerk might offend? I did not mention theft in my last attempt to add to conversation.

Yeah, I know, I said I was going to stop commenting. Better if I just copy offensive or false info comments and write about them here. 

Just have nothing to do and all day to do it. Wish Windows had not removed my Solitaire games from taskbar. I hate the new and unimproved versions. I intend to get out a regular deck of cards and play offline as I used to do pre-computer days. 

Or do as I once did: play Scrabble Mary vs. Alyce.

Joshua Dooline, Micheal ~ guilty

 Joshua Doolin, 25, of Polk City, and Michael Perkins, 39, of Plant City, Florida, found guilty. Both stole police shields and Perkins assaulted guard with a "deadly weapon." WFTV article by Sarah Wilson did not specify what the weapon was.

I wonder how Carlson and his fans rationalize violence against guards to enter closed building was needed for "sightseers," or "peaceful tourists." 

They were doing what trump told them to do ~ FIGHTING LIKE HELL to stop certifying the election he lost. How slow-witted, or unintelligent or hateful do people have to be to go along with the Carlson, GOP narrative. If trump lovers were actually patriots they would condemn him, Carlson, Hawley, McCarthy, most GOP Congress people, not support them. Sad. 

 

Irizarry & Bishai ~ 2 weeks

Elias Irizarry & Elliot Bishai ~ two friends who were charged for participation in J6 attack on Congress, were each given 2 week jail sentence. Bishi was sentenced previously by same judge who now sentenced Irizarry. 

Irizarry: 

climbed the scaffolding at the Capitol  
climbed in the building through a window
carried a metal pole that came from a broken bike

Now he is ashamed. He is not a victim, he said. His family are the victims, due to the shame he brought upon them. And, oh, yeah, the guards, their families, the country are victims. Or did he say the government. 

Two weeks is hardly enough to deter others from climbing in through broken windows, in an attempt to "fight like hell" to stop counting of electoral college votes, should a future loser refuse to concede.