Gun Control or People Control

Gun nuts, watch out! They're preparing, one more time, to come after our guns. Sure seems that some crazy, liberal, unrealistic white people sit around and wait for any tragedy or disaster to start up their gun-grabbing agenda before a weakened society.

Take Hurricane Katrina, for instance. National Guardsmen were going door to door, seizing all guns, for a reason that still escapes me. Thank goodness for some intelligence in North Carolina's Legislature. That will not happen here. During disasters, even if you have to evacuate, you can take your guns AND pets with you.

And, of course, the horrific mayhem caused not by a gun or guns but by a yet-to-be-diagnosed-deranged, self-centered loner in Aurora, Colorado has set them off again. Twelve dead, 58 wounded by a lone gunman, armed "to the teeth", who chose a movie theater full of UN-armed citizens to show how big a man he wanted to be. That's a problem with some gun owners, I'll readily admit. They use a gun to impress others, to make up for some inferiority they have.

The current resident of the White House, in a closer-than-he-wanted race to stay there another four years (and send his wife and her friends on taxpayer-funded vacation after vacation after vacation) has not voiced his position on gun control or gun confiscation. He's a sneaky little guy, that's for sure. He rightfully sees gun control as political suicide. However, he has set the stage so that he can achieve what many of us believe will be part of his next term: stricter gun control. He is taking his guidance from another man. A man named Adolph.

"The most foolish mistake we could possibly make would be to allow the subject races to possess arms. History shows that all conquerors who have allowed their subject races to carry arms have prepared their own downfall by so doing. Indeed, I would go so far as to say that the supply of arms to the underdogs is a sine qua non (An essential condition) for the overthrow of any sovereignty. So let's not have any native militia or native police. German troops alone will bear the sole responsibility for the maintenance of law and order throughout the occupied Russian territories, and a system of military strong-points must be evolved to cover the entire occupied country." --Adolf Hitler, dinner talk on April 11, 1942, quoted in Hitler's Table Talk 1941-44: His Private Conversations, Second Edition (1973), Pg. 425-426. Translated by Norman Cameron and R. H. Stevens. Introduced and with a new preface by H. R. Trevor-Roper. The original German papers were known as Bormann-Vermerke.

That should be loud and clear to all of us. If you've legally purchased a gun since the Gun Control Act of 1968 was adopted, you had to fill out an ATF form proclaiming that you weren't nuts, on drugs, or an at large crook. In recent times, a section was added to that form, section 10a. It wants you to declare whether you are Hispanic or Latino or whether your are Not Hispanic of Latino. And, this from a FEDERAL government that takes shots at local cops for profiling?

Oh, but this is not new, either.

Regulations Against Jews' Possession of Weapons

11 November 1938

With a basis in §31 of the Weapons Law of 18 March 1938 (Reichsgesetzblatt I, p.265), Article III of the Law on the Reunification of Austria with Germany of 13 March 1938 (Reichsgesetzblatt I, p. 237), and §9 of the Führer and Chancellor's decree on the administration of the Sudeten-German districts of 1 October 1938 (Reichsgesetzblatt I, p 1331) are the following ordered:

§1
Jews (§5 of the First Regulations of the German Citizenship Law of 14 November 1935, Reichsgesetzblatt I, p. 1333) are prohibited from acquiring, possessing, and carrying firearms and ammunition, as well as truncheons or stabbing weapons. Those now possessing weapons and ammunition are at once to turn them over to the local police authority.

§2
Firearms and ammunition found in a Jew's possession will be forfeited to the government without compensation.

§3
The Minister of the Interior may make exceptions to the Prohibition in §1 for Jews who are foreign nationals. He can entrust other authorities with this power.

§4
Whoever willfully or negligently violates the provisions of §1 will be punished with imprisonment and a fine. In especially severe cases of deliberate violations, the punishment is imprisonment in a penitentiary for up to five years.

                                                          §5
For the implementation of this regulation, the Minister of the Interior waives the necessary legal and administrative provisions.


Pay close attention to section 5. Does this sound anything like a version of today's Executive Orders that our president has been signing? With a stroke of a pen, Obama can implement all sorts of restrictions on the people of this great nation. With a single stroke of a pen. No guns. No talk radio. No right to speek out. No right to gather together. No rights, no freedoms.

6 November 2012 cannot come soon enough.  

Raeford Brown                               

A Brave "Marine", this 12-year old named Cody Green

I come across stories from time to time that are worth repeating. Like this one of a 12 year old Indiana kid who lost his lifelong battle with Leukemia back in April. Cody Green is his name. He suffered over the years, but he was a hero, a brave youngster to the end. His courage was no less great than that of any man or woman, military or civilian.

Cody loved the marines. He would have made a great one.

From our friends across the pond comes this report in the UK's Mail Online. There has been a lot written about this story, both in the US and abroad. I particularly like Mail Online's report. You can read the whole thing by clicking here. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2138308/Heartbreaking-story-terminally-ill-boy-12-marine-honour-guard-hospital-night-died.html

The "Mail" writes (remember, they're writing in British):

Throughout his short life, young Cody Green had admired the bravery of the U.S. Marines.

But after years spent battling leukaemia, it was the youngster's courage fighting cancer which inspired his heroes to honour his bravery.

The 12-year-old from Indiana had suffered from the disease throughout his life. First diagnosed just before his second birthday, he had beaten leukaemia three times - but the chemotherapy had reduced his immune system and, (in April), he died from a fungus which attacked his brain.

And standing guard outside his hospital room that night was a local Marine named Mark Dolfini who was so moved by Cody's continued cancer battle that he decreed the 12-year-old to be a honorary member of the elite military unit.

Close family friend Keristen Ford told MailOnline that Cody was a 'witty' and determined child who never let his continued battles with cancer hurt his spirits.

'He was very aware of his illness he knew exactly what medications he was on and what time he should have them,' Ms Ford said.

'He knew that by him knowing when he had to take his medications and what they were, his mom had to worry less. He was very worried about anyone losing sleep over him.

His mother Tracy Green certainly had a lot on her mind over the past few months, as Cody had two younger brothers and two older stepbrothers.

On top of that, Ms Green was seriously injured at the Indiana State Fair as the country band Sugarland's stage fell. Seven people were killed, and Ms Green was one of the 58 injured. She had to have 30 staples in her skull and had steel rods and pins placed in her leg.

As she recovered, Cody was characteristically caring, helping his mother wash her hair when she had trouble moving in the months following the August 2011 stage collapse.

'When I started walking again after the incident, he was so worried about me, saying "you need to keep your feet up Mom! You have to watch your step,"' Mrs Green told MailOnline.

'He never complained, he never said "why me?" or "I don't want to do this".

'If he got sick, he would finish and say "I'm sorry" because you were holding the bucket for him. I always told him that he had nothing to be sorry about.'

Cody's repeat cancer battle inspired the local Marines, who thought 'he’s fought as hard as any marine has and because of that we’re going to honour him'.

They planned to give him a complete colour guard spectacle, but because Cody's condition was less stable following a stem cell procedure on March 12, they had to suspend those plans for fear of infecting Cody's sensitive immune system.

'He had a passion for our country and our military and it was more the marines got sparked in Cody and they heard of his battle,' Ms Ford told MailOnline.

The youngster's father David Snowberger told local station WLFI: 'They decided Cody, with the strength and honour and courage he showed through the whole thing, he should be a Marine.'

When Cody's condition took a turn for the worse, his family got in touch with a local Marine who said that he would rush to the hospital to be with the boy during his final hours.

Former Marine Mark Dolfini, 39, who was introduced to Cody through Mr Snowberger, presented the boy with a flag and Marine navigator wings.

'Unfortunately, Cody was not awake, he was on a ventilator, but we believe he knew,' Ms Ford said, having been at the hospital at the time of the ceremony.

In keeping with the Corps motto of Semper Fidelis, latin for always faithful, the Marine stood post outside of Cody's door all night, saluting Mrs Green as she went in and out of the room, right up until Cody passed on Saturday.

'The night before Cody passed, he stood guard at Cody's door at the hospital all night long for eight hours straight,' Mr Snowberger said.

Mr Dolfini, who was initially hesitant to go public for fear it would take away from Cody's story, spoke with MailOnline, telling how he knew he had to spend the night guarding Cody's door because it was what he deserved.

'There was no question that was my calling that night,' he said.

'I didn’t give myself a time constraint and I knew I was going to be there as long as I could be.'

The Marine Corp's website states that the title of 'Honorary Marine' reinforces the special bond between the American people and the Corps by 'recognising individuals in the civilian community who have made extraordinary contributions to the Marine Corps.

'The title Marine is a revered designation that affords a special distinction to those who earn it.

'Therefore, only the Commandant of the Marine Corps (CMC) can officially designate an individual as an "Honorary Marine".'

Cody - described by his father as 'a comedian' - was a fifth grade student at Carroll Elementary School in Flora, and his friends spent the first day back at school after his death honouring his memory.

Balloons in his favourite colour of green were released, carrying messages into the sky; green ribbons were tied round the trees and friends hugged each other while wearing green T-shirts and chanting his name.

'He was very witty,' Ms Ford told MailOnline.

'He was very comical. He always made you laugh, and he would always one up you because you couldn’t come up with good comeback quick enough for him! It was as if he had a whole book of them or something!'

His obituary on Jconline reads: 'He never asked "Why Me," and fought the illness with grace and humility, never complaining about his treatment or care, saying "Thank you" to the many health care professionals that cared for him.

.
All contributions will be donated to the cancer unit at Riley Children's Hospital.

 

Island Hopping

At Mya Cove, on Tortola, the winds picked up. We were in a protected harbor, so no worries. Chow time came, and Linda and Robie worked on dinner. I know everything tastes better on a boat, but I will attest to the fact that the boat food we ate during the entire trip was fit for any table, on the water or at home on a white-clothed dining room table. The menu for the week included pork chops, grilled filet mignon steaks, chicken tacos (you gotta give that a try), even a special boat lasagna.

After a good night's sleep, we were up at dawn. The weather had not gotten any better, so we decided to go ashore and rent a car.

Linda needed to get her ears checked at the local doc's office, so it gave us a chance to see some of the island that we had not seen before.


Larry and I stopped off at a boating supply store, and...as I like to do everywhere...we went by a dive shop. There, Larry met a couple friends. Even got a chance to dance with this guy.

What's a Caribbean dive shop without a parrot?

We decided to check out a restaurant where our hosts had been before. And, it was worth it. Outdoor seating, lasagna with a ton of meat (my style, for sure), a couple chickens walking around...

How cool is that?

And, our waitress had an award-winning Caribbean smile.

Bellies stuffed, it was time to tour Tortola. We made a circle, got lost, stopped and asked directions (yeah, even real men...like Larry and me...will do that...did I mention that Larry is a retired airline pilot???), picked up a lady who got us back to Road Town, where we were originally headed. The views were gorgeous.

 

                                                       Road Town

 

         Looking down from up yonder 

It was a good tour of the island. We had a blast. Stopped at the grocery store for more supplies. Yeah, we had eating on our minds. And, of course, we needed more ice.

"I like that one"

 

Juice. We always need juice.        

Back to Reggae, and time to prepare chow. If it seems like eating is a big part of our lives, well...yes. All of us enjoy quality food, and eating aboard a sailboat in the Caribbean is awesome. 







Just eat your heart out.

We did make it out of Mya Cove. But, prevailing winds did not allow us to visit Salt Island, where the remains of RMS Rhone lie. We headed back to the US. Well, sort of. We sailed over to St. John, one of the US Virgin Islands. Nice area, too. And, I'll have more on that, complete with a lot of pictures, next time.

Tripping through the Virgins

A year ago, for the first time in my life, I spent a week aboard a sailboat. Living, sleeping, eating, cruising. As a lifelong powerboater, I must admit that it was an interesting change of life, and a definite change of pace.

And, in May 2012, I got to do it again! My wife, Robie, and I were invited for a second straight year to spend a week, or so, with our friends, Linda and Larry, aboard their shared 34 or 38 foot Beneteau, Reggae. I say 34 or 38 because documents list it two different ways. I guess it depends on whether you're paying by the foot at a marina, or you're bragging about the boat.

We flew from Jacksonville (NC) to Charlotte to St. Thomas via USAirways. And, I will say up front, the connections were absolutely superb, the crews were friendly...not just officially courteous, but actually friendly. And, I can tell a difference. On every leg, going and coming, we left on time, and we arrived either on time, or a few minutes early. A real pleasure instead of a challenge. Congrats USAirways for running a topnotch operation.

In St. Thomas, we ran into the typical Caribbean airport chaos. In reality, it was organized chaos at its best. Cabbie bosses wanted to know where we were going, and quickly directed us to vans going our way. About a dozen of us boarded the van and headed straight to the Charlotte Amalie waterfront where ferries heading for Tortolla, on the British side, were waiting. We were politely and efficiently ushered to the check-in window where we purchased tickets and checked our luggage.

Not quite as prompt as USAirways, the ferry set sail about 15 minutes later than posted. But, no problem, mon. We're in the islands, and we're now officially on island time.

Our "escort" on the crossing

Within the hour, we're pulling into West End at Soper's Hole on Tortola. Had to check in with Customs and Immigration, assuring them we were the good guys, and weren't bringing anything into the country that we shouldn't. Friendly folks, they were. Made the international transition as easy as pie.

Ferry at Soper's Hole

Our friends, Linda and Larry, were waiting outside, and eagerly greeted us with hugs and handshakes. We loaded our bags into their dingy (a rubber boat with a motor) for a short ride to their moored sailing vessel about a hundred yards from the dock.

Our home for 8 nights

Gear stowed in the aft berth, it was time to get dinner started. Take note that we always looked after our bellies during the entire voyage. Our trip would take us southeastward, towards the eastern chain of the BVI's. Norman Island, Cooper Island, Salt Island. At least, that's the way the plans started out.

Sailing aboard Reggae

First thing Sunday, we cut loose from the mooring ball, and wound our way out the harbor. We headed for The Indians, a small outcropping of rocks off Norman Island. It took maybe an hour to get there. Maybe two, maybe three. Remember, we're now on island time, and the best I can tell you is that it's daylight and we've had breakfast. The Indians are so-named, the tale goes, because some wayward sailors of yesteryear said the rocks resembled Indian tee-pees. You've got to remember that sailing ships carried as much rum as they did fresh water. I don't think I need to paint you a picture, do I?

The four of us took to the warm, clear Caribbean waters, donned in our best snorkeling gear. We checked out the shallows around the outcropping, making note of the various tropical fish we saw. After a couple hours kicking around, we headed  back to Reggae. It was time to hook up to a mooring ball in an area known as The Byte. Calm waters, making it comfortable for cooking and sleeping.

We made our plans for the next day, plans that called for Larry and me to dive on a site he had heard was a good spot. Located in about 60 feet of water, on the southeast side of Norman Island, Santa Monica Rock only had one dive ball. The seas were running 4-5 feet, and the easterly winds were kicking in at about 20 knots. It would be a little more challenging locating the spot as we did not have an on-board GPS. However, I had brought along my trusty handheld Garmin, something I keep as a backup aboard my boat back in the States. I punched in the "numbers", and we headed towards the rock.

Larry plots our course

Unfortunately, as I had not gotten wet since the summer before, and I had obviously put on a few extra winter-pounds, I quickly learned that I needed more lead weight to get my plump backside to the bottom. As the seas were not comfortable on the surface, I chose to work really hard to stay on the bottom. Doing so, I didn't have the opportunity to see as much as I would have liked. And, I burned up twice as much air as usual. Twice as much as Larry.

Lesson learned. If you haven't been in the water in a while, do a shallow water dive FIRST. You can quickly determine how much weight you'll need. It'll also give you a chance to get the lay of the land, time to get comfortable in calm, quiet waters.

A kayak tour at The Caves

Back to Norman Island. On the west end, protected from the winds, the seas were calm. And, there was a great snorkel site known as the Caves. So, after a little food, back to the water we went. Well worth the effort, I'll tell you. Fish of all colors were everywhere. A nice dive, for sure.

We moored, again, in The Byte, planning to dive at a site at the harbor's entrance the following day. Food and a good night's sleep, that's all we needed. And, as usual, Linda prepared a great meal.

After breakfast, we headed for the dive buoy. An interesting dive, with a little more sediment than at Santa Monica Rock, a lot of fish life. And...a full fledged 3 to 3-1/2 pound spiny lobster hiding in a hole. I've picked up a lot of lobsters diving in the Caribbean and the Florida Keys. Most are small, in the pound and a quarter class. I've picked up a few larger ones, including a 7-pounder in Guantanamo Bay. And, this guy, under other conditions, would have made a great addition to our dinner table.  

Larry waiting to board Reggae

Ok, time to plan the next day. We decided to move to Cooper Island, a few miles away, to spend the night. The following morning, we intended to go to the site of the RMS Rhone, a British mail ship that sank in the 1860's. The ship is best known as the background in the 1970's film The Deep, starring Jacqueline Bissett. It is now a protected national site, and a popular destination for divers. A local diver calls it his underwater studio, and has been shooting underwater photos there for decades.

But, our plans didn't work out. Needing ice to keep our food cold, we learned, as the sun was heading down, that no ice was available at Norman Island. We quickly headed across the passage to Mya Cove, at Tortola. It's where Reggae is home moored, and our hosts know there's ice there.

But, the dive on HMS Rhone would have to wait. The weather turned a bit ugly, and we decided to hang out in the cove for a couple days. But, those days were not wasted. More on that with the next installment. 



   

The Loss of a Friend and co-worker

His name is Charles. Charles Foelsch. A family man. A man with a wife, two young girls and a young boy. A hard worker, he was, pulling his shift with Onslow County's Mosquito Control division. And, at shift's end, like so many other people these days trying to make ends meet, he worked a second job, at a marina in Jacksonville (NC). Tideline Marine, it's called. A place where I've enjoyed working (part time) during my retirement years.

Charles always had a smile, always more than willing to help anyone who needed his help. Including me.

Charles didn't like government waste. It irritated him, frustrated him to see taxpayers' dollars sqaundered. And, he made his feelings known. Not a good thing for a government employee to do.

Charles and his wife, Tiffany, were headed out Sunday night, after working at Tideline, to check on an old car. You see, along with two jobs, Charles would fix up worn-out cars and trucks and re-sell them, making a few bucks along the way. Bucks to help support his family. A hard working man, my friend Charles.

On a back road, he met an approaching car. Unfortunately, a deer was struck by the second car, and the carcass was thrown into Charles' windshield. Charles died from injuries in that accident. His wife, Tiffany, was injured, but not critically. Charles would have wanted it that way. Charles was a selfless man, putting others needs and wants ahead of his own.

Last year, when I was looking for a trailer to rent so I could pick up a load of supplies in Charlotte, Charles came to the rescue. He loaned me his trailer, and refused any payment. He said that's the way it is between friends.

In November, when I was preparing to erect almost 100-yards of vinyl fencing, Charles said he would help. Not only did he show up for work, he brought his brother-in-law and their tools. Reminded me of the old days when neighbors and friends gathered for a barn-raising.

In December, he met me at my boat on a Sunday afternoon to install an oil tank below decks, in an area where I couldn't squeeze my 6-2, 200 pound body. Charles was a small man, but only in his size. He did it because that's what he did for friends.

Not many people like Charles around these days. Or, maybe there are, and we fail to notice them. Charles may be gone, but he has left me with a memory of a great man, a humble man, a man with a smile for everyone.

And, you bet. As soon as I get to Tideline Marine, I'll add my token to a collection jar that Bill and Deb have set up. It will never replace Charles, but, hopefully, it will help his family in what has got to be not only a nightmare with the irreplaceable loss of a husband, a father, a friend, but with the real-earthly needs they face right now.

Look around you. There are a lot more Charles out there. Tell them how much they mean to you. How better you are for having known them. Tell them before it's too late. The world can change in a split-second. With absolutely no notice. And, as it was in Charles case, there was absolutely not one thing he could have done to alter the outcome. 

It's time to vote

Had an interesting caller on Live and Local, a talk radio show I host weekdays from 7 to 9am. It's on WRHT, Thunder Country 96.3, and covers a chunk of eastern North Carolina. He isn't going to vote in the primary, says it's a waste of time and money.

We were cussing and discussing NC's primary, and about the only serious race for consideration, Amendment 1. Some call it the Marriage Amendment. Other names are less nice. In general, liberals are urging voters to vote AGAINST this amendment. Conservatives are hoping it will pass. The amendment, proposed by heaven-only-knows who, wants the state's Constitution to be amended to include wording something like, the state will recognize marriage as being ONLY between a man and a woman. In other words, if you're gay or lesbian, the state will not see you as being married. Of course, a 1996 law does the same thing.

I'm not sure what the fuss is all about. Religious beliefs generally recognize marriage as only between a man and a woman. The LAW, right now, does the same thing. Of course, laws can be changed by those guys we ELECT to the North Carolina Senate and House of Representatives. If you have a beef with the law, see your ELECTED lawmakers. LEAVE THE CONSTITUTION ALONE! It was written by much smarter guys than we have running the state and this great nation. And, you cannot, and we should not, regulate moraility. Remember that old thing, separation of church and state?

The Marriage Amendment isn't the ONLY item on this year's ballot.
Though he's not in my current district, there's a marine, a former marine, who's running as a republican for the US House of Representatives from the Seventh District. That's in the Wilmington NC area. His name is Ilario Pantano. If he's successful Tuesday in his bid for the republican nomination, he'll go up against Mike McIntyre, an entrenched democrat. Mike's been there a long time, and...some say...he's done a good job. More conservative, I'll admit, than the regular democrat, but it might be time for him to sit back and take his retirement bucks. It is, without a doubt, time for some fresh blood in Washington, someone like Ilario. Ilario has been in close touch with the folks in North Carolina, folks who may have elected O-Damn-Bama four years ago, folks who have, by all estimates, realized the errors of their ways. It's time for a strong conservative in Congress, not only in NC's Seventh District, but in the Third District where I currently live. Ilario...I'm proud to call him a friend...is the man in the 7th.

In the 3rd, Republican Walter Jones is seeking election to another term. He was elected in 1994, signing the republicans' Contract With America, promising to serve no more than 12 years. That, you'll note, was 18 years ago. Though he's a republican, as noted, he's been rated as one of the most liberal voting republicans in the House, even more liberal than a lot of democrats.

There are no serious democratic contenders in this race, but there is one republican working to win the party's nomination. He's a veteran cop, Frank Palombo. 34 years as a cop, some 14 years as the chief of the New Bern Police Department, along with six years in the US Air Force, making him more than qualified to serve in Congress. He's conservative and practical, and he has a great personality. As with Ilario Pantano in the 7th, Frank Palombo would do us proud in the 3rd District.

Polls open at 6:30 am, and will remain open until 7:30 pm. In spite of what my friend, our radio caller, said this morning about not voting in the primary, I encourage you to take the time and do what I still consider an obligation. Though it's an expensive process, unless someone can come up with a better solution to "narrow the field of contenders", the primary race is our only option.

Well, well. I have been bizzie...

...and, I sincerely apologize for not posting my rantings and ravings. As you have likely found out, I have taken on the additional chore of a morning talk show on Thunder Country, 96.3, WRHT. The station's transmitter, 100-thousand watts of it, is located near Morehead City NC. The show is called Live and Local and my partner-in-crime and I say pretty much what we think. And, we take calls from you folks who want to agree or disagree with us. If you're in eastern NC, give us a "listen-up", Monday-Fridays 7-9 am. If you want to chat with us, call during that time. 866-963-1037. You'll get our producer, Jeff Hackett. He does NOT screen the calls. He simply gets some basic info so he can I-M me, letting me know who's calling and what they want to talk about. All we ask is that you keep it clean.

You don't have to agree with either of us. And, we'll listen to most anything you have to say. Of course, you must understand that we may challenge you. That makes for good conversation. We're always interested in government waste, and if you have examples, let us know. We'll
investigate, and try to get a response for you.

We talk, a lot, about local, state and national politics. We are conservative-oriented, and we express our viewpoints. We a pro-military, and pro law enforcement. We talk about important social issues, we say the things that others won't say (except those shock talk-show guys who say outrageous things just to get your blood boiling, oftentimes, without any facts), but I think we use a lot of good old common sense when we take positions.

We think that it is the DUTY and responsibility of every qualified US citizen to vote, but that they should vote responsibly, and not because of race or gender. Our leaders should be seen as neither man nor woman, nor black nor white.

We do not believe that being born poor, rich, black, white, man or woman entitles you to anything other than the rights guaranteed by the Constitution. There is no such thing as entitlement. There are classes in this country, but that doesn't mean that a person in one class can't move up or down or sideways to another class. That's life.

We think that the people who make money are good people. Without big business, there will be fewer employment opportunities for the rest of us. I really want enjoy working for a rich boss and a viable company. Yes, you and I help them get richer. And, when they get richer, they pay more taxes. I believe everyone, including big business, should pay their fair share, and I am not smart enough to know what that is. And, neither are you. I do feel that the more fair taxes they pay, the better off this country is.

My partner's name is Bill Hitchcock. He's been in the radio/TV/production business for a long time, and has produced saltwater fishing shows for a long time. All in all, a pretty good guy.

Bill and I don't always agree with each other, but our disagreements are good natured ones. We like fishing, and we are pro-God and pro-gun, but we're not stupid. We do not believe that every person out there should be armed. There are nuts running loose...you know who they are...there are crooks out there...and, these folks should have nothing more powerful than a cap pistol.

One area where we agree is politics. Too many politicians, not enough statesmen. We have enough laws- they just need to be enforced by police, judges AND THE PRISON SYSTEM. That's what we think.

We feel that Beverly Perdue, the first woman governor of North Carolina, is a joke and a disgrace to all women. Thank goodness, as you've read here already, that she got a little smarter during her first term, and chose not to seek a second one. The handwriting was all over the wall, the floor, and the ceiling. Raleigh and all of North Carolina gains, New Bern (her hometown) loses.

And, we are absolutely flabbergasted that Barack O-damn-Bama is the president of the greatest nation on this earth. What were the voters thinking? I am firmly convinced that Daly's Chicago politics remains alive and has infected the entire nation with a virus more powerful than any that have attacked our computers.

Along that line, I want to share my comments that I wrote recently in response to a YouTube posting that a high school classmate forwarded to me. And, I'll share her response, without giving her name (because I haven't asked her permission). What prompted all of it was the revelation, as I discussed on Live and Local that the fine folks at Homeland Security had ordered 450-MILLION rounds of .40 caliber handgun ammo. Now, folks, even for me, that's a lot of bullets. For more than one reason, I expressed concerns about this purchase:

For one reason or another, either Obama or his successor (Biden, in case something happens to Obama) will be forced to declare martial law when riots break out. ALL rights guaranteed by the Constitution will be suspended. That will include free speech (there goes talk radio), assembly (no one able to organize), and possession of guns.
The US Government, for many years, has been gathering details on private gun ownership. This is done through sales, registration, and other ways. Once martial law is declared, the goons will go door to door, collecting guns. Going up against armed citizens, those goons will need lots of ammunition to meet with what is sure to be heavy resistance.
This, no doubt, will be the end of the United States as we have known it for more than 200 years. It will be the beginning of a socialist dictatorship.

My friend responded, writing:

Please dear God, not in our lifetime. We would never recover...and yet Raeford, if he is killed, I can see it happening...look what they did when Dr King was killed. Raeford, I was having such a good Saturday before I read this email! It's good to know I have a friend who thinks and speculates and probably prays too...that the speculation will not come to pass. I enjoy hearing from you and I wish your morning radio show was on the internet.

My thanks for the comments you post, and for those of you who have called us. As always, we welcome you opinions.