Like most Americans who still believe in the value of the Constitution, I have been writing my representatives about the current push towards gutting the 2nd Amendment. I received a form letter response from Virginia Senator Warner. It's the same letter he's sending everybody, it's pretty generic, and true to the Senator's form, non-committal. I am pleased that he did not use those leftist terms of misdirection; "assault weapon ban" or "high capacity magazine." His reply does however contain a very troubling line. As politicians frequently do, he prefaces it with a claim of being pro-2A.

"I am a strong supporter of the Second Amendment constitutional right of law-abiding citizens to keep and bear arms. I own firearms and I have an "A" rating from the National Rifle Association. However, I also recognize that, like with many of our constitutional rights, our Second Amendment rights are not without limits.  It is unfortunate that a tragedy of this magnitude is what is needed to prompt action, but we need to have a serious discussion on how to best avoid these kinds of mass shootings in the future. The status quo is not acceptable."

Hold on just a minute Senator, perhaps you could elaborate on the "many" rights that you feel "are not without limits." We already know Senator Warner supports limits on the 1st Amendment as it pertains to the freedom of religion. Does this "serious discussion" he proposes include limits to other parts of the Bill of Rights as well? Maybe we could place limits of the 4th Amendment in order to make sure the government finds all those guns folks have hidden in their homes? Does he also support limits on the 5th and 6th Amendments to speed up the prosecution of those unwilling to obey unconstitutional gun ban laws? Perhaps limiting the application of the 8th Amendment might make it easier to set up camps in which to house those pesky patriots?

Even when a politician tries to camouflage his agenda, his words often belie his true feelings. Senator Warner has shown he has forgotten, or perhaps never believed, the oath he swore to uphold the Constitution.

"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter: So help me God."

Nowhere does the oath say "support and defend the Constitution with limits."

Update, January 15: Contrast this with Congresman Wittman's response here.

Some people will say anything.
Some people will believe anything.
Together, they make a dangerous combination that will destroy our Nation.

Watch the whole thing.

Exit polls indicated that 60 percent of voters say that the economy was the top issue in this presidential election. Sadly that is a very near-sighted and selfish view of the issues. I suspect that by "economy," what they really mean is they want the government to give them more free stuff. Their only concern is how much the government will provide with little effort on their own part. You don't have to look long to find the leeches jumping for joy over "obama phones" or free gas for their cars, or demanding that someone else to give them free contraceptives so they can sleep around and take no responsibility for their actions.

Virginia requires some sort of ID to vote. A photo ID is not required, just something showing your name and address. The list of acceptable IDs is quite extensive and inclusive to prevent any whining claims of hardship. The bottom item on the list warmed my heart when I saw it posted at my voting place.



Being a discreet person I didn't use my permit as ID when I voted, but the sign gave me a smile.

Thanks to @Holocryptic for grabbing the photo I didn't.

I was told "religion and politics do not belong in craft beer." Apparently the folks at Huebert Brewing didn't get the message either. Their Nobama beer has proven very popular.

They say sometimes life imitates art. Watching Wednesday's presidential debate, I was reminded of this scene from The Avengers movie.

The signs of a generation raised with a "you owe me" attitude are all around us. Heck, we even elected a president someone to live in the White House, based on promises that everyone is "owed" a share of what others have earned. This past week there was a widely reported robbery attempt at an internet cafe in Florida. A couple of hopey-changey thugs had their plans thwarted by an alert law-abiding citizen. The comments and excuses made by the thugs afterwards are quite revealing.

“I feel horrible. It doesn't feel good. It makes you think about life's decisions, and how you should live your life,” [Thug #1] Henderson said.

Here it comes, it was just a bad decision. Nothing more.

Henderson, who talked about the pain he feels in his buttock and hip, said the plan was to “barge in, get the money and leave.” He said “he never expected anyone to be armed.”

That's the money quote right there, and the problem with this country today. The predators never expect their victims to be armed. If more law-abiding people stepped up and took responsibility for their own safety, rather than relying on the nanny state to take care of them like helpless children, the crooks would expect folks to fight back, and they'd think twice about their actions.

“The gun was broken and rusty and wasn't loaded. Nobody was going to get hurt,” he said, standing with crutches.

However, Henderson obviously wanted his victims to think it was loaded, or he wouldn't have brought it along. Frankly, he's lucky to be standing at all, crutches or not. The writer of this article is just trying to elicit sympathy for this choirboy with that observation.

Henderson theorizes the reason why he was caught off guard is because, when [Thug #2] Dawkins entered the business, he busted a computer monitor with the baseball bat and “glass got into his face.” 

“He couldn't warn me,” Henderson said.

Aww, they're both just the victims of broken glass.

“I turned around to run and my leg gave out. That was when I got shot. I hit the ground, and he was still shooting. I thought I was going to die,” Henderson said.

Hey, jackass, everybody in that store thought they were going to die. The blame for both their fears, and your own, rests solely on you.

Henderson said that, “by the grace of God,” his “leg came back.”

Oh, that's rich choirboy. Suddenly you're finding God.

Henderson said he and Dawkins drove to a house to see a woman he said “is like a second mother” to him.

Apparently neither his "second mother" nor his real mother bothered to instill in him the morals of a civilized society.

“I couldn't breathe. I had lost so much blood. I don't know what she did, but she revived me,” he said, likening the experience to coming back from the dead.

Yea, it was a religious experience. You've made that claim already.

[Thug #2] Dawkins told the detective he was confronted by two people at the ball field and forced to assist in the robbery.

The gun wasn't loaded. So how was he forced? Again, we're supposed to believe the thug is the victim.

Though Henderson said he doesn't blame Williams for shooting, he takes exception with Williams shooting at him while he was down. 

“I was down, and I'm not going to continue to shoot you,” he said.

I guess this is part of the "fairness" issue we keep hearing about. I've got news for you, more and more civilized people are going to take exception to thugs like the two of you preying on innocent people. It's your own entitlement mentality and lack of morals that leads you to expect your victims to sheepishly comply.

I wonder, how long before we hear another idiotic "If I had a son..." comment from the Thug-In-Chief?

"And to anyone who says that church is no place to talk about these issues, you tell them there is no place better -- no place better. Because ultimately, these are not just political issues -- they are moral issues." -- First Lady Michelle Obama, June 28, 2012

I agree! Bring it on!