The Lone Libertarian

A Memphis television station has caught on to a law that went into place in Tennessee on May 22nd of this year, dubbed “Stand Your Ground” legislation. It appears that this NRA sponsored bill was put into play last legislative session. To be honest, I just learned about it while I was at the range this week.

I’m uncertain of the exact bill number, but I believe it is SB2672 from the 104th TN Assembly. Unfortunately the television and print media around here is really bad at reporting the bill numbers, and I had to dig for this one.

In summary, the legislation states the following.

• Those with gun permits (not engaged in criminal activity) can kill in self-defense. (inside and outside their homes)
• Those without gun permits, carrying in public (criminals) do not have the right to self-defense.
• Those citizens without permits may only use them in self-defense in their homes. (not in the legislation,but for reference)

It appears that 16 other states adopted similar statutes last year.

In short, a private citizen could not be sued by an attacker or the attacker’s family if the attacker is hurt or killed by the citizen’s lawful act of self-defense.

This is great because it gives the power back to law abiding citizens.  I am now free to defend myself and do not have to worry about lawsuits from the criminal or the criminal’s family.

Some have gone so far as to call this the “License to Murder.” I call it freedom.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

Your rights end when I’m in your cross hairs.

Well well, I took a small leave of absence over the past month due to health issues and general laziness, but I’m back.

Where should I start? Let’s start at home here in Tennessee’s 7th District with US Representative Marsha Blackburn. Mrs. Blackburn has set the local press on fire with an article she wrote for the National Review titled “Banking on Corruption: No Visas without visas.”

I think Blackburn’s narrative details one of many solutions that can be used to slow the invasion of our nation. Cutting illegals off from lines of credit, whether they be credit cards, mortgages, auto loans, and transfer of money to other nations would go a long way. However she loses me on her terrorism hook.

“And who will pay the piper when illegal immigrants cannot pay their bills? Not the bank. Instead, the American people can expect higher interest rates for those who can pay: you and me. After all, if someone is willing to apply for credit with fraudulent documents, what reason do we have to expect that person to be responsible for the charges?”

Then she gets really ornery and suggests that the Real ID be used by banks and financial institutions to curtail this activity in her lovely piece of legislation in the House called the Photo Identification Security Act (HR 1314). Tsk tsk, Mrs. Blackburn. Why do we have to resort to “Papers please?” If each state actually enforced the law, and didn’t give drivers licenses to illegals, this wouldn’t be necessary (and a hell of a lot cheaper). Since Real ID is cited in this legislation, I predict it will not pass the House, and will be another “do nothing” piece of legislation targeted at illegal immigration.

A Chancery judge in Grenada County Mississippi has halted outdoor football, volleyball, and band practice due to the heat. Hello Nanny State, I was wondering where you had been.

“Therefore, this Court hereby issues an immediate Temporary Restraining Order in the counties of DeSoto, Tate, Panola, Yalobusha. Montgomery and Grenada against any and all school-sponsored (i.e. sports-related activities) which include physical exertion and which are conducted outside between the hours of 9 a.m. and 7 p.m.”

Technically speaking it is not any hotter than it was last year, and if you really want to get technical, the evenings in which football will be played, the temperature will still be in the 90’s early in the season.

This order comes after the death of two North Mississippi varsity football players, one due to aneurysm the other’s death was of an unknown cause.  The way I see it is the school system is insured for these kinds of things, and the school system and parents can decide what is best for their students/children.

I watched most of the Republican Straw Poll in Iowa on C-SPAN today while doing menial house work. Laura Ingraham was the emcee of the event, and it really seems she, just like every other conservative talk show host, has it out for Ron Raul. She made a snide comment about Paul supporters in one of her blogs, and then did the unthinkable. Before introducing him, she openly criticized him and then condescended to Paul’s supporters. Here are a few choice nuggets from her introduction.

The inmates have left the asylum.

Apparently, Discovery Channel has announced there will be a show called “Ron Paul Bounty Hunter.”

To be fair, there should be some context. Watch the introduction here. Her diatribe begins at the 48 second mark. No other candidate got this treatment. This is pure fear. It would be one thing if what Paul suggested was something new. I guess there is a general fear of the basis of this country and its laws on both sides of the aisle.