Can't We All Just Stay in Own Lanes?
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As The Pilot, in a recent editorial, so correctly pointed out, the National Rifle Association has nothing to do with puppies. Nonetheless, the NRA was involved in killing the "Puppy Mill Bill."
This is a vital bill for all animal lovers, because it goes a long way to end the cruelties said to go on in some breeder facilities. It should have been a shoo-in but it was blocked by vested interests, not the least of which was the NRA.
Now, I have been a life member of the NRA for decades and support its constant vigilance to protect our Second Amendment rights. However, puppies have nothing to do with gun control. In this case, as in an endorsement of Harry Reid, the NRA strayed out of its lane.
When I called them on this, a spokesman admitted that they opposed the puppy bill but denied the rumored endorsement of Sen. Harry Reid. According to the spokesman, no endorsement would be decided before September. In both cases, the NRA is clearly out of its league and should stay in its own lane.
Another case in point is the AARP. Personally, I dropped my membership years ago when I became convinced this organization was more interested in selling insurance than protecting retired people. But the AARP, too, has been getting deeper and deeper in closets of the administration as it veers away from its stated purpose of representing the retired and endorses socialist politics. The AARP is another group that should remember its roots and stay in its own lane.
Unions have long been political activists, but they are now going too far as they demand pensions so gargantuan that municipal governments and giant industries are being forced into bankruptcy.
I belong to three unions and acknowledge their value as intermediaries and negotiators for thousands of members. However, sometimes the leaders are dedicated representatives - sometimes they are petty dictators with delusions of power.
What hurts is when you realize that your dues are going for causes you oppose. When that happens, a change in leadership is called for. Unions should represent their members and stay in their own lanes.
Our judicial system is part of the three-pronged power of our nation. Lower courts rule on what the law states; the Supreme Court concerns itself with what the Constitution stands for. That was the intention of the Founding Fathers, but unfortunately our courts have become more and more inclined to rule on what the law "should" be as opposed to what it is.
Our courts have become activists, which makes who gets appointed to the bench a political football. Courts, too, should stay in their own lane.
The other two tines of that government power: Congress and the executive branch were designed to represent us - the citizens. That concept seems to have been driven off a cliff as each branch seeks total power.
Health care, banking, manufacturing and the capitalism that drives our nation need to be regulated. But regulation does not mean running things. Running things is simply socialism, which most Americans vehemently oppose. Congress and the administration don't see it that way. They are in the wrong lanes. They should stay in their own lanes.
We could come up with other examples, but these should be enough to demonstrate the trend. Note that each named organization was at one time genuinely pro-American - genuinely on the side of the people. And I am deliberately including Congress and the administration as one-time pro-Americans. But they have strayed into oncoming lanes.
There is nothing really new in the involvement of these organizations in the political world. It is the widening - the broadening of their meddling that gives us cause for alarm. They are beyond switching lanes; now they are beginning to cross the dividing line. We all know that can lead to head-on collisions with catastrophic consequences.
They should watch that divider - they should stay in their own lane.
Allan Jefferys, a former New York theater critic and newsman, lives in Pinehurst. Contact him at oldjeff@nc.rr.com.
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Comments
OldPilot 2 years, 10 months ago
Jefferys should take his own advice. His lane is apparently NY theatre during the 50's and aviation pre-1945. Luddites who dislike everything post the Eisenhower era really shouldn't be writing columns commenting on events in 2010 unless the columns are intended to be nostalgia period pieces.
Willbill 2 years, 10 months ago
“As The Pilot, in a recent editorial, so correctly pointed out, the National Rifle Association has nothing to do with puppies. Nonetheless, the NRA was involved in killing the "Puppy Mill Bill."
The NRA supports hunting, and the bill unjustly restricts or eliminates the breeding of hunting dogs.
Gabanga wrote, “Hiding behind the historically antiquated Second Amendment does our society more harm than good.”
False!
One study found that citizens use firearms for self-defense 2.5 million times annually. http://www.saf.org/LawReviews/KleckAndGertz1.htm
Firearms are used tens of thousands of times a day for such lawful purposed such as competitive and recreational shooting, hunting, and collecting. The Second Amendment does our society more good than harm.
Gabanga also wrote, “We are the MOST violent nation on this planet,and that includes the dictatorial regimes out there! The NRA is a killing field.”
False once again.
A study found that there is no correlation between firearms ownership and crime, and many of the countries with the strictest firearms prohibitions have higher murder rates than nations without such restrictions. http://www.law.harvard.edu/students/orgs/jlpp/Vol30_No2_KatesMauseronline.pdf For example, Russia has extreme firearms prohibitions, and yet their murder rate is 14.9 per 100,000. The murder rate in the U.S. is 5.4 per 100,000, and the U.S. murder rate ranks around 36th in the world. The U.S. is not the most violent nation on this planet, and gun control does not equal homicide control.
OldPilot 2 years, 10 months ago
The problem is that there are too many men out there that think the public display of a weapon is a substitute for brains or masculinity, and that goes for the "women" parading around as well. Get a life!
Willbill 2 years, 10 months ago
When my sister lived in Tennessee she advocated gun control, and she stated that she supported a total ban on handguns. When she moved to Atlanta with its high rate of violent crime her views changed, and she got her firearms carry permit, took up shooting as a sport, and she became an excellent marksman. It was a good thing she did. In two separate incidents attackers attempted to force their way into her car while she was stopped at traffic lights, and both times, she brandished her Glock and both times the attackers fled.
OldPilot you would say she was “Parading around,” but because she was armed, she was a survivor of crime rather than a victim.
OldPilot 2 years, 10 months ago
If you can't understand the difference between a weapon carried in a vehicle or concealed and public display I think you just proved the point that the public display of a weapon is no substitute for brains!
teufelhunden 2 years, 10 months ago
That was weak OldPilot, weak.
JER 2 years, 10 months ago
This is an honest to goodness question that has no political undertones: Why is it called the National Rifle Association? Should they not be called the National Firearms Association?
pinewoodnc 2 years, 10 months ago
I agree, Gabanga. Why we think that an amendment passed over 200 years ago that applied to THAT period in time with no law enforcement and people having to protect their families and property should be applicable almost three centuries later. Times change and laws need to change with them. Will we soon see people walking down the street with guns stapped to them?? With all the aggression and rage these days and with the NRA's strong stance on guns, we may well return to the times of the "Old West."
I don't understand the NRA's objection to the fight against puppy mills. If they wish to breed their "hunting dogs," than they should also be required to keep any breeding facility up to code and operate it in a humane fashion. Puppy mills are a travesty..period! No animal should ever be subjected to anything but total humane treatment. I cannot fathom how anyone can take a stand against legislation to prevent such cruel and torturous treatment. We are walking down a very fragile road.
OldPilot 2 years, 10 months ago
Sorry Teufelhunden, which translates literally as "devil dog", if that is your aspiration stop whining like an annoying puppy. Jumping into a sword fight, bring a sword. Jumping into an intellectual discussion, bring an intellect! Weak? How so? Your comment once again proves my point!
eflat7 2 years, 10 months ago
I will gladly give up my guns as long as there are no other guns left that can be used against my family, anywhere. Until then, I have the right to use an equal amount of force to defend my family's lives as is brought against me; including deadly force. Criminals don't care about laws. They love when the gun control advocates start spewing lies like the ones above. Just means easy pickins when they dont have to worry about who's carrying. Just like in gun free zones. What better place to jack someone? I will never display my gun in public... ever. It will come as a suprise to an attacker if I need to use it. I like it that way. I like to keep violent criminals guessing. I am no Billy Bad ___. I am just a family man that would do whatever it takes to protect my loved ones. I understand that a gun doesn't guarantee you will make it out of a life or death situation scott free, but it does give you a heck of a better chance.
Willbill 2 years, 10 months ago
Pinewoodnc said, “With all the aggression and rage these days and with the NRA's strong stance on guns, we may well return to the times of the "Old West."
According to the Department of Justice, in the year 1900, the days of the “Wild West,” and years before any so-called sensible gun control laws were enacted, the murder rate was 1.2 per 100,000. Today, the murder rate is 5.4 per 100,000.
Obviously, they were doing some things right in the old west, and gun control was not one of them.
“If they wish to breed their "hunting dogs," than they should also be required to keep any breeding facility up to code and operate it in a humane fashion. If they wish to breed their "hunting dogs," than they should also be required to keep any breeding facility up to code and operate it in a humane fashion.”
We all agree, including the NRA, that puppy mills must be outlawed. However, according to the animal rights loonies, up to code means a ban on the breeding of dogs for any reason. They even believe that pet ownership is the same thing as slavery. We are talking not about a “Very fragile road.” We are talking about an extreme “Animal rights” agenda.
Willbill 2 years, 10 months ago
OldPilot wrote, “I think you just proved the point that the public display of a weapon is no substitute for brains!” We have proven that being armed and prepared to defend ourselves against crime is much better than being a victim of crime.
OldSpook 2 years, 10 months ago
To paraphrase a favorite cliché that I have found to be true in many countries is; “You can achieve far more with a kind word and a handgun, than you can with just a kind word.” Have a nice day./Spook
nothingspecial 2 years, 10 months ago
Gotta love those Marines!
This is one of the best comeback lines of all time. It is a portion of a National Public Radio (NPR) interview between a female broadcaster and US Marine Corps General Reinwald who was about to sponsor a Boy Scout Troop visiting his military installation.
FEMALE INTERVIEWER: So, General Reinwald, what things are you going to teach these young boys when they visit your base?
GENERAL REINWALD: We're going to teach them climbing, canoeing, archery, and shooting.
FEMALE INTERVIEWER: Shooting! That's a bit irresponsible, isn't it?
GENERAL REINWALD: I don't see why, they'll be properly supervised on the rifle range.
FEMALE INTERVIEWER: Don't you admit that this is a terribly dangerous activity to be teaching children?
GENERAL REINWALD: I don't see how. We will be teaching them proper rifle discipline before they even touch a firearm.
FEMALE INTERVIEWER: But you're equipping them to become violent killers.
GENERAL REINWALD: Well, you're equipped to be a prostitute, but you're not one, are you?
The radio went silent and the interview ended. All over America, people were thinking: "Semper Fi, Marine!"