So I have been spending much of my time in NY recently. I can think of several things both favorable and unfavorable about my experiences just outside the big apple. I have found my favorite beer at a local establishment in Tarrytown, I have found a great cigar shop/lounge in Elmsford. I have even found a great little tactical shop in Hawthorne. However, while I can smoke and drink as I please in my free time, not only can I not rent a gun to shoot down the range, I cannot even bring my own.
Coming from a relatively free state, Ohio, I am able to purchase most firearms without much thought. Of course there is still too much regulation from the FBI and ATF and other federal agencies, but Ohio doesn't much infringe on my rights to own a firearm. It is good to know that back home, I can stop in to my local retailer and pick up my new firearm and take it home with me. But NY is much different.
Many of the good people I meet in NY cannot believe just how easy it is to get a gun in Ohio. I on the other hand, cannot believe just how restrictive the laws of NY are. My understanding of the second amendment allows any citizen of the USA (who has no other restrictions) to purchase any type, size, action, shape, etc. that they can afford. As far as I am concerned, if you can afford it, you can own it.
There are obvious exceptions to nuclear arms and other mass destruction devises. The second amendment is meant for citizens to be able to protect themselves from an oppressive government. Weapons of Mass Destruction don't meet the self protection aspect of the constitution, but certainly any gun does. Even a tank is fine for me. If you can afford an Abrams tank, more power to you. Just as law abiding citizens are not shooting up the place now, law abiding citizens won't shoot up places just because the size of the round or rate at which it can be fired increases.
Honestly, magazine restrictions don't have any impact on criminals, only the average citizen. Whether a gun has a semi automatic or automatic action doesn't matter to the average person. Laws such as these only prevent good people from having fun and choosing what is best for their own personal security.
Think about it in these terms. if you see someone exiting a liquor store with cases of beer and multiple bottles of various liquors, you probably think there must be some great party going on somewhere nearby and don't think much of it. However, for many, if that same person was seen exiting a gun store with several guns and cases full of ammo, there is a hesitation to wonder what exactly that person is going to do with all of that weaponry.
Why have we become so concerned? The statistics say that we are far more likely to be harmed or killed by the person at the liquor store or one of their party friends than we would ever be by the guy with the guns and ammo. So why the double standard?
The reality is that we have been desensitized by politicians politicizing all shootings as the fault of the gun. If they were honest, the politicians would eliminate the "gun free" zones. Gun free zones are the most dangerous places in the country these days. It is specifically where terrorists and lone wolves look to do the most damage. This is because they know that no one will be able to defend his/herself.
The next major incident is likely to happen at a gun free zone. As someone not allowed to carry in NY, this is a significant concern to me. According to an article I read recently in a NY publication, there are only 4 officers who are able to process handgun permits in Westchester County.
For those of you who don't know, Westchester County has about 1 million residents crammed into 500 square miles. First, there shouldn't be any permit needed for ownership of any gun, but moreso, if they think they will be safer by requiring a permit before purchase of a handgun, there needs to be many more than 4 people processing the paperwork. Based on the article, most permits take approximately one year to process. One whole year to get the gun you bought today. Insane! There is absolutely no reason for this delay. No one should have to wait that long for any firearm that is in the store already.
Here is the main issue for me. If the government is trying to tell me what I can or cannot have or do, then they are overstepping their authority. It shouldn't matter if I am from Ohio. If I want to bring my gun to NY, I should be able to do so. I am all in favor of states rights, but the constitution clearly delineates that the right to keep and bear arms "shall not be infringed." There is no situation where preventing me from carrying my firearm in NY upholds the rights listed in the second amendment. It is time to put the power back in the hands of the people and stop accepting the oppression from any government or governmental agency that wants to dictate what you can own.
Peace and Freedom,
Geoff
Thursday, February 9, 2017
Friday, February 3, 2017
Stay at Home
So FORMER President Barry Hussein Soetoro (Barak Obama), who would be best served playing golf, has spoken out against the current President Trump. First, why does anyone care. I respect the office of the President, but once you are out of office, you are a nobody. I think that only the media cares about what Obama has to say at this point. I know that most former Presidents eventually speak to the press or make some other formal statement, but within 10 days of leaving the White House? Really? Talk about ego.
There was documentary after documentary in the final days and weeks of the Obama Presidency touting his legacy. You know what Obama's real legacy is? The fact that Trump is President. The election of Trump is a referendum on Obama's policies. The reality is that while we cannot keep a former President from speaking his mind, I don't know a single person that is interested in what Obama's opinion on anything is at this point in time.
If a former President is going to open his mouth, shouldn't be in a manner that attempts to unite the people instead of divide them? Honestly, I don't really care that Obama has spoken up. If not for being a politics junkie, I wouldn't have even paid any attention, which is where I think the majority of people are on this issue. They just don't care. My point is simply that with a divided country, clearly more divided than it was eight years ago, we need to find excuses to unite not divide.
Imagine the influence a former President could have by simply edifying the system, the election and the new President regardless of their personal opinions on politics. In lieu of this type of support, maybe playing golf is the better option. For now, lets just plan on Obama trying to get involved in the political arena again. How this will play out, I don't know but I would be just fine if he stayed home.
Spring is coming,
Geoff
There was documentary after documentary in the final days and weeks of the Obama Presidency touting his legacy. You know what Obama's real legacy is? The fact that Trump is President. The election of Trump is a referendum on Obama's policies. The reality is that while we cannot keep a former President from speaking his mind, I don't know a single person that is interested in what Obama's opinion on anything is at this point in time.
If a former President is going to open his mouth, shouldn't be in a manner that attempts to unite the people instead of divide them? Honestly, I don't really care that Obama has spoken up. If not for being a politics junkie, I wouldn't have even paid any attention, which is where I think the majority of people are on this issue. They just don't care. My point is simply that with a divided country, clearly more divided than it was eight years ago, we need to find excuses to unite not divide.
Imagine the influence a former President could have by simply edifying the system, the election and the new President regardless of their personal opinions on politics. In lieu of this type of support, maybe playing golf is the better option. For now, lets just plan on Obama trying to get involved in the political arena again. How this will play out, I don't know but I would be just fine if he stayed home.
Spring is coming,
Geoff
Thursday, February 2, 2017
Super Bowl LI
Like most Americans that can remember back to 2001, I was ecstatic that the Patriots won the Super Bowl after the terrorist attacks on NYC to the the twin towers. And, like most Americans, I am tired of the Patriots being in the Super Bowl. I couldn't care less about the Super Bowl this year. Like any other unrelated American institution, national politics has entered the arena.
Why does anyone care what relationship may or may not exist between Tom Brady and President Trump? I am an Ohio State Buckeyes fan. I am supposed to hate Tom Brady because he has yellow streaks down his helmet. To be completely honest, I care more about college football than any NFL game, but that is just a side note. Back to Brady. I don't know his politics. I treat him like I do any famous person. I don't want to know their politics. It is only after I learn them that I stop supporting them. Read my Celebrity Cesspool blog for more on this.
At this point I have heard that Tom Brady is a devout Christian, philanthropist and great role model. I honestly don't know if any of this is true, but why is it even being brought up? I don't need any media or other celebrity telling me who I should or should not associate with. Why does anyone care what they think about Tom Brady? My only reason for believing that Brady is a Christian is because he is being attacked.
Just a few days ago Whoopi Goldberg was equating Trump to the Taliban. Other pundits were claiming that Brady is un-American for associating with Trump while Colin Kapernick (that guy that took a knee during the national anthem several times) is a true patriot. How dumb are we now? Does anyone really believe that dishonoring those who fought and died for our freedoms (whats left of them anyway) is more American than having an unsubstantiated relationship with the current President?
I don't offend easily, but this really ticks me off. I am so tired of the militant leftists trying to tell me how I am in violation of American values when there is nothing these liberals and statists believe that is close to moral. I am fine with these individuals exercising their right to free speech. However, it is time to stop consuming the information. I am not calling for a boycott. I think those are stupid. What I am saying is to act and live your conscious. Live your beliefs. Don't support companies and people who act contrary to your beliefs. Don't watch TV and movies that have material in them you don't support.
At the end of the day, it is time to stop giving credibility to speculation and the PC police. My ultimate judge is God alone and I seek the counsel of my closest friends from my church and my small group. Best I can tell is that if the world says I should live one way, I should probably do the opposite. I'm just sorry that the cynic in me believes that whatever the media says is the way we should live, the contrary is likely the better option.
Anyway, go Patriots......and I don't mean the NFL team.
Freedom and Peace,
Geoff
Why does anyone care what relationship may or may not exist between Tom Brady and President Trump? I am an Ohio State Buckeyes fan. I am supposed to hate Tom Brady because he has yellow streaks down his helmet. To be completely honest, I care more about college football than any NFL game, but that is just a side note. Back to Brady. I don't know his politics. I treat him like I do any famous person. I don't want to know their politics. It is only after I learn them that I stop supporting them. Read my Celebrity Cesspool blog for more on this.
At this point I have heard that Tom Brady is a devout Christian, philanthropist and great role model. I honestly don't know if any of this is true, but why is it even being brought up? I don't need any media or other celebrity telling me who I should or should not associate with. Why does anyone care what they think about Tom Brady? My only reason for believing that Brady is a Christian is because he is being attacked.
Just a few days ago Whoopi Goldberg was equating Trump to the Taliban. Other pundits were claiming that Brady is un-American for associating with Trump while Colin Kapernick (that guy that took a knee during the national anthem several times) is a true patriot. How dumb are we now? Does anyone really believe that dishonoring those who fought and died for our freedoms (whats left of them anyway) is more American than having an unsubstantiated relationship with the current President?
I don't offend easily, but this really ticks me off. I am so tired of the militant leftists trying to tell me how I am in violation of American values when there is nothing these liberals and statists believe that is close to moral. I am fine with these individuals exercising their right to free speech. However, it is time to stop consuming the information. I am not calling for a boycott. I think those are stupid. What I am saying is to act and live your conscious. Live your beliefs. Don't support companies and people who act contrary to your beliefs. Don't watch TV and movies that have material in them you don't support.
At the end of the day, it is time to stop giving credibility to speculation and the PC police. My ultimate judge is God alone and I seek the counsel of my closest friends from my church and my small group. Best I can tell is that if the world says I should live one way, I should probably do the opposite. I'm just sorry that the cynic in me believes that whatever the media says is the way we should live, the contrary is likely the better option.
Anyway, go Patriots......and I don't mean the NFL team.
Freedom and Peace,
Geoff
Tuesday, January 31, 2017
Celebrity Cesspool
So does anyone actually care what the celebrities say? I have heard several "famous" people rant and rave about the results of the election, but have never heard such overt disregard for the system that elected Donald Trump. I know that I am a bit of a loner, and usually I have better things to do than to watch TV and movies anyway, but at this point I have absolutely no interest in supporting any entertainment that I have to pay for.
The reality of this is that it won't hurt the celebrity. They don't need my $10-$20 for a movie ticket or a concert. If many are like me and just simply stop going to support the movies and TV, concerts, etc. it is the real working class people who are hurt. It is the stage hands, the grips, the unsung heroes who make the entertainment industry successful who are hurt. I am not calling for a boycott. I am calling for education and for action by people who are willing to speak. I enjoy a good movie or concert like the next person, but I can also think of plenty of ways to spend my entertainment budget on things that don't support the people who use their celebrity to insult me and my family.
Politics is an ugly game and I too have been drawn in by the mudslinging, but I have never been so disappointed in people for approving the vulgar language, the extreme insults, the vile rhetoric and the simple disrespect of common people to try to make a point. I am appalled that anyone would approve of, let alone condone the blatant rioting, looting, and vandalism that is being associated with the Trump protesters.
What I am most concerned about is the lack of condemnation from all parties on the willful destruction of the private property. I don't care whether your representative won the election or not, it is the responsibility of all elected leaders to stand up to crime and incivility. Furthermore, no self respecting citizen should be tolerant of these childish and illegal acts. There needs to be a serious crack down on these vandals and an example should be made of them all. Protesting is not only acceptable, it is a right and may be exercised at will. However, even protests require a certain level of responsibility.
Let me go one step further and be honest. I have liberal friends who are appalled by the behavior of many of these criminal protesters. I want to acknowledge that not all Clinton voters are accepting or condoning the behavior of these individuals. However, if the celebrities who think about blowing up the White House are representative of the typical liberal voter, there is a serious issue about what is acceptable. I am all for free speech, but there are consequences as well, whether that means that we stop using our hard earned money to support these celebs or that their comments are investigated just as anyone no one has ever heard of would be, it is time that equal protection and prosecution under the law become active and that the rule of law be upheld. I for one would rather go fishing anyway.
God Bless,
Geoff
The reality of this is that it won't hurt the celebrity. They don't need my $10-$20 for a movie ticket or a concert. If many are like me and just simply stop going to support the movies and TV, concerts, etc. it is the real working class people who are hurt. It is the stage hands, the grips, the unsung heroes who make the entertainment industry successful who are hurt. I am not calling for a boycott. I am calling for education and for action by people who are willing to speak. I enjoy a good movie or concert like the next person, but I can also think of plenty of ways to spend my entertainment budget on things that don't support the people who use their celebrity to insult me and my family.
Politics is an ugly game and I too have been drawn in by the mudslinging, but I have never been so disappointed in people for approving the vulgar language, the extreme insults, the vile rhetoric and the simple disrespect of common people to try to make a point. I am appalled that anyone would approve of, let alone condone the blatant rioting, looting, and vandalism that is being associated with the Trump protesters.
What I am most concerned about is the lack of condemnation from all parties on the willful destruction of the private property. I don't care whether your representative won the election or not, it is the responsibility of all elected leaders to stand up to crime and incivility. Furthermore, no self respecting citizen should be tolerant of these childish and illegal acts. There needs to be a serious crack down on these vandals and an example should be made of them all. Protesting is not only acceptable, it is a right and may be exercised at will. However, even protests require a certain level of responsibility.
Let me go one step further and be honest. I have liberal friends who are appalled by the behavior of many of these criminal protesters. I want to acknowledge that not all Clinton voters are accepting or condoning the behavior of these individuals. However, if the celebrities who think about blowing up the White House are representative of the typical liberal voter, there is a serious issue about what is acceptable. I am all for free speech, but there are consequences as well, whether that means that we stop using our hard earned money to support these celebs or that their comments are investigated just as anyone no one has ever heard of would be, it is time that equal protection and prosecution under the law become active and that the rule of law be upheld. I for one would rather go fishing anyway.
God Bless,
Geoff
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