Crime Reduction or Not, Oregon SB1503

Senate Bill 1503. What follows is my testimony submitted to the Oregon Senate in the 2024 legislative session:

“Thank you for your service to the free state of Oregon. Thank you for taking vows and oaths to uphold and defend the National constitution and the Oregon constitution. Since you said you would do that, you really must know that attacking the law abiding will not solve crime. Punishing criminals does. We do not need a money grubbing bureaucracy we need law enforcement especially of habitual career criminals. Gang members commit crimes. Repeat offenders make up most of the criminal numbers. This task force is worse than a band aid.
This bill locks guns to health. WRONG! This is not a health crisis. It is an accountability crises. Hold criminals accountable for their actions. Guns don’t commit crimes. People do that. These bad souls don’t need a doctor, they need to be held accountable for their own actions.
No task force will help this reality.
Follow the constitution(s). Support the police. Remove lenient judges. End restorative justice. Restore freedom for good citizens. Stop; wasting money.
Please?”

Covid-19, Thoughts

COVID-19, THOUGHTS

(April 1, 2020)

Yes, we are all “shut down” and “quarantined” in our respective homes. Only jobs deemed “essential” have employees showing up to work. Healthcare people, law enforcement personnel, transportation staff, sanitation employees, and a few more. Some may be tempted to despair during this season of challenge, illness and death.

Current models show that as many as a million or many more will die without taking preventive measures. With preventive measures (mitigation), there could still be 100,000 or more deaths. This dynamic situation is just what models show us as of 3/31/2020 (Presidential briefing). That will likely change daily as more data is fed into the models. Models are what is or is not fed into them, and must be given value accordingly.

“In all the world around me I see His loving care.” (He Lives, www.hymnal.net/hymn)

There are so many predictable reactions to something like this. “It’s nothing!”

“It’s the apocalypse!”

“It was deliberate by China!”

“It was the US Army!”

I must observe that despite all the wearying troubles facing humans, war and pestilence, a wide variety of reactions are predicable. Which reaction is best? Yes, in even the best-case scenario, we will grow weary and experience trouble, fatigue and even death, we can overcome despair! We must see victory over despair!

“And though my heart grows weary I never will despair.” (He Lives, www.hymnal.net/hymn)

In listening to Governor Andrew Cuomo of New York State, at first, I thought he was making more sense than usual. Then I noticed he complained a lot that the Federal government wasn’t performing to his expectation, all the while asking the Feds to do more and more. But lately, on 3/31/2020, I notice he is making noises about doing away with private health care. I think or wonder if I see his modus operandi. He has been angling all along for more central planning and provisioning of society. Human leaders are prone to this temptation, understandably. They will want to be more effective at everything the are responsible for.

But I think once duty has been done, we must trust the leading of the divine. Faith has its place. While we think we are wise, we are even then using the gifts we received at birth and developed from experience after birth. We follow the path God has laid for us. “It’s not the gale, but the set of the sail that determines the way our ship will go.” As we follow Him, we ought to say humbly,

“I know that He is leading, through all the stormy blast. ((He Lives, www.hymnal.net/hymn)

History holds claim to hope! We have dealt with Polio, Tuberculosis, Measles and much more.

What permanent changes will result for our society? Will the handshake go away? Will vote by mail become more attractive? Will hugs as a form of greeting or parting be less practiced? Will families see togetherness as a value or will the experience be a negative for them? Will work from home be even more widely practiced? Will Telehealth doctor visits be more highly used? Will “social distancing” be universally practiced even in the absence of a pandemic? Will governments increase surveillance of citizens in order to utilize contact tracking? (Contract tracking is used to detail the movement of a virus victim in order to see where his infection was caught.)

What I do believe is this: God lives and will bring His lessons to people who are willing to listen and see what He has done among us all.

“The day of His appearing will come at last.”  ((He Lives, www.hymnal.net/hymn)

%MCEPASTEBIN%

2020 A Brief Response to the State of the Union Speech

“The real test of a man is not when he plays the role that he wants for himself, but when he plays the role destiny has for him.” (Vaclav Havel)

“Discover your purpose in life, then do it on purpose.” (unknown)

A man “…shall not violate his word; he shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth.” Numbers 30:2b

I appreciated the speech very much for President Trump’s straight up content and delivery. He wasted not the attention of the nation by attacking his angry political opponents. Instead, he forged into the record his many accomplishments, from domestic to foreign.

While opposition scoffed, and behaved without dignity, President Trump stated that he had kept promises. Indeed, his presidency is marked by such kept promises, promises which predecessors for years have made and routinely broken. As an example, I think of his fully recognizing the capitol of Israel by moving our US embassy there. That’s good, and he values the word of the Lord by keeping Numbers 30:2b. Trump does what Trump says he will do.

I was lifted spiritually and emotionally by President Trump’s hopeful remarks. He sees the state of our USA with a hopeful heart. He looks for the best to come. In a statesman like manner, he heralded citizen standouts among both civilian and military, from radio host to sergeant. He seems to look at challenges as a man who not only knows both his capabilities and his limitations, but that bringing others together with him can exceed all our own expectations. Trump has faith, and by reason, he acts. He is a man of action. He wastes not a minute on political fantasies of power, but expresses purpose through action. Thereby, he expresses more statesman like behavior than his opponents. Indeed, his straightforward statements and actions serve to expose what many call the “political swamp.” Their childish antics during this speech are duly noted, but are certainly insalubrious. Trump’s approach is reminiscent of President Reagan, Pope John Paul II and Margaret Thatcher.

What a refreshing tonic is President Trump! He is openly standing against the attempts of socialism to gain full centralized control of the USA. He does what I’ve been yearning for over a very long time. He calls out the press for their lies and false narratives, supports the second amendment, celebrates the role of faith, eschews red tape, cuts regulation, confounds the regulators, has cut taxes, and respects the constitution. He is restoring the military, and bringing mutual respect of other nations. He hates the murder of the unborn, and loves the life saving medical possibilities for those babies who are born. He celebrates with the successes of the private entrepreneur.

Therefore, I am refreshed and invigorated to see a man in President Trump who has found his niche, his purpose, his destiny. That journey is more difficult than some imagine. Trump reminds us that we don’t have to accept mediocrity in government, and we are a free people. We are a free people to the extent that we stand against socialism of every kind, and act on our faith. As POTUS, he has far exceeded my expectations, and delightfully so.

Oh, What World Will It Be?

I have 4 grandchildren and 1 more on the way!  Of course, they bring much joy as they learn, grow and discover our world, their world.  The experience of observing their experience is exciting and rewarding!  What will their world be?  What will be the opportunities, challenges and life decisions?

Will they be inundated with the usual form of government which enslaves them with those typical demands?  Will they be forced to conform in the name of safety, technological advancements and high financial costs?

Or will they learn the value of personal achievement, and decision making that expresses their individual sovereignty?

I see today so many a downcast countenance resulting from that feelling that one can not improve one’s lot in life due to governmental, and societal corrals built against and around us.  Political Correctness (PC), seems to rule the day on every front.  Mao would be so happy, “Toe the Party Line!”

Is there hope for my grandchildren?  Yes!  We live in the one exception to the ordinary when it comes to our form of government.  Self government!  Self government to be sure, requires of each citizen personal responsibility.

I unequivocally support the second amendment!  Why?  Because it restricts the government and calls upon the citizen for great responsibility.  It demands upon us for high ethical standards at the most critical of human endeavor, the power over life and death in the matter of self defense.  We are born with this right to self defense.  And we must exercise the right to enjoy possession of the right.  Right choices are forced upon each individual in the face of this incredible responsibility.

So I hope for my grandchildren that they will make life decisions that reflect their individual sovereignty.  That they will never settle for less.  That they will reject dependency upon big, bloated, socialistic forms and functions of government.  That they will come to understand in practical ways how unusual in the course of history the United States of America really is.  That they will be personally responsible for the success of themselves and their fellow citizens and neighbors.

Thank you for visiting and reading.

Obama “celebrates…”

Obama: Muslims Built ‘The Very Fabric of Our Nation’ http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2014/07/28/Obama-Celebrates-Muslim-Contributions-to-the-USA
This is insulting and infuriating! These people have done nothing of the kind. The wounds of 911 have destabilized our country. These wounds have not been healed. There is no liberty in Islam. Participants therein are subjugated, dominated and murdered when they express individual liberty such as Americans know it.
My contempt for a reckless and foolish president are the more intensified!

—–
Here is what John Quincy Adams wrote about the Islamic prophet Mohammed:

In the seventh century of the Christian era, a wandering Arab of the lineage of Hagar, the Egyptian, combining the powers of transcendent genius, with the preternatural energy of a fanatic, and the fraudulent spirit of an impostor, proclaimed himself as a messenger from Heaven, and spread desolation and delusion over an extensive portion of the earth. Adopting from the sublime conception of the Mosaic law, the doctrine of one omnipotent God; he connected indissolubly with it, the audacious falsehood, that he was himself his prophet and apostle. Adopting from the new Revelation of Jesus, the faith and hope of immortal life, and of future retribution, he humbled it to the dust, by adapting all the rewards and sanctions of his religion to the gratification of the sexual passion. He poisoned the sources of human felicity at the fountain, by degrading the condition of the female sex, and the allowance of polygamy; and he declared undistinguishing and exterminating war, as a part of his religion, against all the rest of mankind. THE ESSENCE OF HIS DOCTRINE WAS VIOLENCE AND LUST: TO EXALT THE BRUTAL OVER THE SPIRITUAL PART OF HUMAN NATURE. [emphasis in the original]”

When Islam comes to majority in any country, you will see this emphasis of the brutal over the spiritual increase dramatically.

Lawlessness Is Not Leadership

“A prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.” United States Declaration of Independence

If William Jefferson Clinton’s presidency is remembered for sexual deviancy, and George W. Bush’s presidency is remembered for an inability to stand up for traditional republican principles, Barack Hussein Obama’s presidency will be remembered for executive branch lawlessness. He has after all been called an imperial president for good reason. His repeated encroachments on the limits of the office he holds (in session appointments or recess appointments), his contempt for a “negative” bill of rights, and his lack of regard for the gravity of the office (hundreds of golf outings, lavish vacations, and willful sidestepping of the most serious of the duties of this office: defending American lives, even to the point of allowing an ambassador and others to be tortured and murdered).

Perhaps the most egregious violation in his oath to uphold our constitution is his blatant refusal to uphold all our laws. As bad as was his open refusal to defend the DOMA (Defense of Marriage Act), the obstinate destabilization of our nation through illegal entry into our nation is in my opinion, criminal. Illegal entry is just that: illegal. On the face of it, he pledged to uphold our sovereignty, but now constantly threatens our sovereignty by appealing to the sympathies of citizens on behalf of the hapless who illegally cross our borders. With this he insults the dignity, intellect, and individual sovereignty of the citizenry. We know that adult criminals, gang members, and terrorists are crossing the border illegally amidst the government induced chaos. They indeed are victimizing those hapless with whom our president seeks to distract us. And there lies the insult with a sharp edge, he does not respect the individual citizen of this country by whom and for whom this government exists. Nor does he respect the “immigrant.” If he did, he would enforce the laws uniformly as required by law, so that all could have that fair shake he brags about so frequently. We are a nation of laws, not of charismatic speechifiers.

But that is characteristic of this man. What he accuses his enemies of is indeed what he is doing in secret. That will be exposed in time. What he brags as his accomplishments are not accomplishments but really things he renders impossible. There can be no “fair shake,” when that pathetic, dark cloud of lawlessness hangs like death over our once great land. Obama willfully destroys this government and culture in hopes of recreating it in the image of Marx and Alinsky. This compares favorably with and can only be done by the acts which may define a tyrant.

If not criminal, these offenses are certainly impeachable, though I believe also morally reprehensible. He is not doing the job, he is redefining the job. Unfortunately, the redefinition looks very little like the original. He adds authority where there is none, “I have a pen and a phone,” and reduces authority where there is plenty, by slashing our military, and opening the border. In neither case is this appropriate, nor effective leadership of a free people.

I believe the sovereignty of the individual trumps the sovereignty of any human government. For the individual not only pre existed any government, it follows that no government could exist without individuals. Individuals however can exist without central governance. Many might not like such an existence, but it is so nevertheless. Because of this belief in individuals, I believe in time, Obama’s plan will fail, the human spirit is rising even under this disastrous rule he has promoted. People will see the truth prevail, for truth, like magnetic power or gravity, will rise within the hearts of citizens, overwhelming the lies, the lawlessness, the poverty of leadership, the immaturity of ideologically steamrolling over individuals. The truth will rise, the majesty of creation will upend the dictatorial dreams of any tyrant. For tyranny is seen impoverished as against the voluntary, enlightened efforts of people working together to secure their liberty, lives, and satisfaction in personal accomplishment. Governmental transfers of wealth created by one to anyone who did not earn it is not grace, it is theft guided by feudalism. We however are a nation enlightened. We together have tasted true leadership many times in our short national history and we will see excellent leadership rise again. Vote for it. Believe it, hope for it, love it!