SurvivalBlog presents another edition of The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods— a collection of news bits and pieces that are relevant to the modern survivalist and prepper from “HJL”. The bumpstock ban lawsuits are starting.
Bumpstock Ban Lawsuit
David Codrea and some compadres have filed a lawsuit in the D.C. Court, challenging Trump’s bumpstock ban. I’m praying that that they are successful, and this odious make-believe law is struck down.
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Reader T.H. sent in this interesting take on one of the lawsuits being filed. Apparently, in addition to the ATF ruling at least 10 times in the past that a bumpstock did not a machine gun make, the whole driving force behind this current ban may be false. According to this article, the ATF was not allowed to examine the firearms used in the Las Vegas killings which started this witch hunt. Imagine that…The ATF was not allowed to examine evidence in a major crime where the ATF was expected to do just that. The FBI is claiming that there is no easy way to find those documents. If you don’t want crazy conspiracy theories abounding, don’t give obviously false or absurd statements!
Homeschooling
Reader J.C. sent in this article on a Massachusetts woman who was handcuffed and arrested in front of her child for the horrendous crime of homeschooling. Apparently, Massachusetts has a law that states that to be able to homeschool, you have to file an education plan with your school district and they have to approve it. That law places total control in the hands of the district. In the case of this woman, they simply ignored her efforts and when she homeschooled her child, they used near-swat tactics to intimidate her. The scary thing is the number of agencies involved in this process and none of them thought to check their absurd actions. They even took the word of a school secretary on the interpretation of the case rather than investigating.
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If you want to remove your child from the indoctrination camps we call public school, but don’t know where to start, reader DSV has you covered. This article is a short primer on where to look in your state for the applicable laws and outlines what are the most common requirements. Don’t fall prey to the lie that you can’t do this. Of course you can! parents have done just that for thousands of years. When you look at the statistics, the only area where homeschoolers don’t have a leg up on public schools is forcing conformity to immoral societal standards. Get your kids out of public school before it’s too late for them.
The Jungle Antenna
Reader P. sent in this article on revisiting the Jungle Antenna. If your prepping covers radio communications (and it should), you need to know how to operate your equipment and make precise antennas that fit your needs. The Jungle Antenna has long been a standard that is easy to make, easy to erect, and performs well. The drawback is that you do need to perform some math calculations because just adding a random length of wire will not make a great antenna. Read the article and then practice making the antenna. You never know when you will need it and you don’t have to buy expensive commercial antennas.
Authority
Reader T.J. sent in this excellent article on authority. Morality is taught through authority. That’s why you accept the morality that your patents teach you. But social media has a problem today. They are trying to force a liberal/progressive morality onto you (or your children) by assuming authority. It’s always the same. The process starts by claiming you have to accept them because of your tolerance. But that tolerance soon turns to their intolerance towards you. Once you accept their authority, then you basically have to do it their way or leave. It is worth asking the question: “By whose authority?” when you are presented with these conundrums.
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Please send your news tips to HJL. (Either via e-mail of via our Contact form.) These are often especially relevant, because they come from folks who watch news that is important to them. Due to their diligence and focus, we benefit from fresh “on target” news. We often “get the scoop” on news that is most likely ignored (or reported late) by mainstream American news outlets. Thanks!
Here in the great state of Tennessee, I have met many families that home-school, and it is supported by the community and local authorities. I had heard it said many times before I acted on it, and am sorry I waited so long…. VOTE WITH YOUR FEET!
Bumpstock Ban Lawsuit
Once again, the NRA has shown its true colors. They should have been prepared ahead of time, and filed a lawsuit against this from day one. Or at least let everyone know what’s up and why they’re (not) doing what they’re. Instead, all I’m hearing is crickets from them.
Exactly. It’s noteworthy that groups such as the FPC and GOA are aggressively pursuing legal action in defense of our rights – regardless of the firearm part/style – while the NRA has been rather silent since the infamous Route 91 incident in Las Vegas last year. I’m a member, but all I’ve seen from the NRA in my mailbox are increased solicitations for more money. I’m concerned that there may be another looming Congressional action in the near future, similar to the 1968 GCA, containing so-called “common sense” compromises intended to appease gun haters for a while. We’re already seeing hints of it in Trump’s concessions. He’s been so immovable in his stance for border wall funding, yet weak in his defense of 2A rights.
That being said, here in CA we’re undergoing a shamelessly blatant trampling of our rights by emboldened Democrats, and both the NRA and CRPA (California Rifle & Pistol Assoc.) are lost in the background as white noise. Since I have a limited amount of my household budget to give to “charities” – after tithe to my church, of course – I’m going to reallocate for 2019 and shift my donations more to the FPC and GOA.
Gun Owners of America, the ONLY no compromise gun organization PERIOD!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zc9RM_aPu7E&fbclid=IwAR2O_VBBSA6lxBMhdi4n6K585Tjyqx0vL7E9BREXEsbCCw-4fSMtAyyixEI
This video is really informative of why homeschool is so important. It tells about how modern public education came to be. Start at about the 12:00 mark. I wish they weren’t quite so pro-trump. Trump has done a few good things and some bad things. He isn’t perfect. He isn’t worthy of worship. But if you focus on the parts about public school, it’s some good info.
The Jungle Antenna article is much appreciated. I typically like long wire antennas but this gem has me thinking about a winter project.
Thank you.
PS how’s that Elecraft sounding? 73s
In regards to the article: By What Authority? This article ultimately says ‘Authority is based on ‘Might Makes Right.’ The words ‘perhaps’ and ‘enforce’ and ‘everyone knew the rules’ reveals the article can site ‘no authority’ but the unspoken ‘Might Makes Right.’
“The holy men of the religion, perhaps relying on an oral tradition or written texts, would shape and enforce the moral code of the people..The check on the holy man was that everyone knew the rules and the source of the rules, things like stories and legends, so he could not just wing it. He had to live within the code too.” From the Article.
There’s no proof that Evolution creates a ‘moral authority’ as the rule of Evolution is Survival of the Fittest. … The biggest Mass Murders didn’t believe in a God in Heaven.
Wikipedia has an article about ‘Natural Law’ ~ which is the Moral Law coded into the conscience by God. [Many articles in Wikipedia are written by pagans. The concept should be explored elsewhere too.]
Here’s part of the article in Wikipedia for basic understanding. =
“Natural law (Latin: ius naturale, lex naturalis) is a philosophy asserting that certain rights are inherent by virtue of human nature, endowed by nature—traditionally by God or a transcendent source—and that these can be understood universally through human reason. As determined by nature, the law of nature is implied to be objective and universal;[1] it exists independently of human understanding, and of the positive law of a given state, political order, legislature or society at large.”
“Historically, natural law refers to the use of reason to analyze human nature to deduce binding rules of moral behavior from nature’s or God’s creation of reality and mankind. The concept of natural law was documented in ancient Greek philosophy, including Aristotle,[2] and was referred to in Roman philosophy by Cicero. References to natural law are also found in the Old and New Testaments of the Bible, later expounded upon in the Middle Ages by Christian philosophers such as Albert the Great and Thomas Aquinas. ” …
Modern natural law theories were greatly developed in the Age of Enlightenment, combining inspiration from Roman law with philosophies like social contract theory.”… Wikipedia delineates modern developments….”
*************
The Founding Fathers of the USA understood, that Natural Law comes from God. From the Declaration of Independence. =
“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.
“That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, …”
Except it is true.
Might does make right.
When the Good and righteous and principled aren’t willing to use their might and the servants of Satan are? Or worse, those employed to uphold the law turn it into enforcing evil rules?
You may have more than one AR-15 or similar and say you will use it to protect the innocent. Either police or churchgoer, if say a Mosque was sending out terrorists to kill a half dozen children each day would you violently oppose them? What about the Abortion Clinic a short distance away that has done so for the last few decades?
Then there’s “Gay Marriage”. SCOTUS says you must believe, or at least burn incense on Caesar’s altar. By what authority?
Where was the “right to life” of the 60 million dead innocents (we are just past the feast of the Holy Innocents – those Herod killed – on the Catholic calendar – and Pharoah did the same around when Moses was born).
While civil disorder is evil, it is not intrinsically evil.
Meanwhile, what happens when the left says SCOTUS has no authority when Trump replaces the next judge or two? I’m fully ready to agree and suspend and nullify Roe, Bob Jones U, Obergefell, and quite a few other decisions.
We agree to play by rules to avoid having to use “Might” – violence. But when the other side cheats? And we don’t respond? Compare how Hillary was treated by the FBI with the Mueller probe.
But there is a deeper reason we are failing. Note how the Title IX men are complaining about being accused of rape in a kangaroo court. Not how we should return to traditional “virgin until marriage”. And how we aren’t rejecting debt, only complaining that it is too burdensome. We don’t want righteousness, but loopholes.
@GGHD
“The Founding Fathers of the USA understood, that Natural Law comes from God.”
Does natural law come from God?
Certainly, God has written His law in our hearts.
“For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts” (Romans 2:14-15 KJV)
But why claim that God’s law as written in our hearts is the same as John Locke’s natural law? Why not claim that God’s law as written in our hearts is the same as God’s law as written on stone, that is, God’s revealed law?
And do we have God-given rights? Or do we have God-given duties?
There are two comments in reply to my first comment. … People need to talk the Bible over with a ~Pastor. … Survivalblog mentions Pastors and Churches in the Northwest part of the USA, ~frequently.
1. We know from the Bible, that there WAS A decision made by man, that WASN’T right. … The Might of the Roman Empire crucified the innocent man Jesus Christ. [Both True God and true man.]
Earthly Might can bring death, but only God can bring ~absolutely True Justice (True Right.) Maybe, I wasn’t clear in my first comment, or even this one. … There is plenty of information on the Internet about Natural Law, and many churches have Bible study courses where Natural Law is discussed. [Might makes Right is the rule of the outlaw motorcycle gang.]
2. God’s Grace extends to everyone, according to the historical Christian Churches. God is NOT capricious. Find out, the doctrines of your church; talk ‘Natural Law’ and what it means with a pastor.
Romans 2: 12~16 New International Version (NIV) =
12 “All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law. 13 For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous.
14 (Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by ~>nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law. 15 They show that the requirements of the law are~> written on their hearts,<~ their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts sometimes accusing them and at other times even defending them.) 16 This will take place on the day when God judges people’s secrets through Jesus Christ, as my gospel declares."
The idea of Natural Law is an idea in Christian Theology, plus in philosophy, and in other religions around the world. For a quick view of rules on the heart, see Wikipedia about the 'Golden Rule.'
Plus, talking to a pastor about the Golden Rule, will help lead to an understanding why Christianity is from God.
"Love God above all things, and love your neighbor as yourself." ~ A form of Jesus Christ's answer as to the Greatest Commandment question in the Bible.
@GGHD
“The idea of Natural Law is an idea in Christian Theology, plus in philosophy, and in other religions around the world.”
The question is whether or not natural law comes from YHWH. If you do not wish to answer the question, so be it, but the question remains.
Pastor Baldwin has an entire lecture discussing the “Biblical Evidence For Natural Law”, but his whole argument rests on that passage from Romans 2:14-15, and that passage proves nothing.
I see the appeal of the claim that man can discern God’s law from reason alone. I also see the hubris and the danger. How easy is it to substitute man’s laws for God’s laws under the guise of reason? How easy is it to substitute man’s will for God’s will under the same? And what is the point? Is it not all vanity? YHWH gave us His law. We do not need to discern it. We can read it in His Word.
“Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you.” (Deuteronomy 4:2 KJV)
montanagoose, I’m a Christian. … The God of the Bible, created Heaven and Earth. … Natural Law as set out in Wikipedia, is NOT about the ‘True’ God. … You might want to send your comments to Wikipedia.
There are plenty of sites that explain God in terms of human reasoning.
There are also sites that explain God through science. = The first ’cause’ of all subsequent causes.
There are also plenty of sites that explain why Christianity is the ~best religion for people.
Bless you for your comments…… But ‘Natural Law’ applies to all people.
That has been a typical understanding of: =
“(Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by ~>nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law. 15 They show that the requirements of the law are~> written on their hearts,<~ their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts sometimes accusing them and at other times even defending them.) 16 This will take place on the day when God judges people’s secrets through Jesus Christ, as my gospel declares."
montanagoose that’s me replying as Anonymous, because of my ineptitude of working the Internet. … I believe the God of the Judeo-Christian Bible ~created the Heavens and the Earth.
Natural Law is a term that can be found in the ideas of other people around the world. … Natural Law is not only found in Romans 2 of the New Testament. … The idea is part of the understanding of the human conscience, which provides a guide for what is right and wrong.
@GGHD
“Bless you for your comments…… But ‘Natural Law’ applies to all people.”
The premise of the Enlightenment is flawed. Man is not sovereign; God is sovereign. Man does not own himself; God owns everything. Different premise, different conclusion. Thus, we do not have a right to life, liberty, and property per se; we have a duty to obey God’s Laws – His Commandments, Statues, and Judgements. With such obedience, we shall also have life, liberty, and property. Without it, we shall have nought. Natural law is not God’s law. Natural law is humanism, a better humanism than most, but still humanism. Natural law does not apply to all people; God’s law applies to all people, however unpopular that notion might be.
The Law of the Patriarchs was in place prior to, and I believe at the same time as the Law of Moses, for the Gentiles and non-Jews. We can see that God established rules of Law early on for people like Adam, Job, Noah, etc. After learning good and evil, I’m sure Adam and Eve knew that the Law was determined by those acts. The punishment from their disobedience was carried with them from then on, and their predecessors learned the Law of God from them. Toady we carry the burden of sin that started with Adam and Eve but now have the Bible to learn the Law of Christ, a perfect Law that everyone can be saved by.
Regarding authority:
We must ask “by whose authority and by what standard?”
All legitimate authority ultimately comes from Jesus Christ as the scripture teaches that “For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him”.
Jesus title of “Lord of lords and King of kings is a political title and therefore as Lord, he is also our Lawgiver. Christ’s kingdom is inescapably political in the sense that it establishes a civil order that is based on Christ’s moral law (the Ten Commandments).
Scripture teaches us that Christ sits on His throne in heavenly glory ruling over the kingdoms of the earth. Scripture also teaches us that Christ has ordained and delegated authority to the governmental spheres of the individual (self-government), the family, church and the civil realm here on earth. Men who have authority in one or more of these spheres of government are called to be faithful and govern in the fear of God according to His word / law.
If anyone reading this blog wishes to know more, I would encourage you to read this great primer on the subject:
By This Standard – Greg Bahnsen
https://www.amazon.com/This-Standard-Authority-Gods-Today/dp/0915815842
On Homeschooling
Homeschool Legal Defense Association ( https://hslda.org ) is a valuable investment. People can join with yearly or lifetime memberships. They have all the information needed on the laws in each state, as well as an attorney available to ask specific questions. They also defend members against any school or government agency that comes against them. They are also proactive in trying to get better laws passed, and in trying to block bad laws from being passed. I highly recommend joining them.
On authority
“The rod is often necessary in school, especially after children have been accustomed to disobedience and licentious behavior at home. All government originates in families, and if neglected there, it will hardly exist in society; but the want of it must be supplied by the rod in school, the penal laws of the state, and in the terrors of Devine wrath from the pulpit.”
Noah Webster
My how times have changed. This quote came to my Attention in the book Scalia Speaks, pp 68
The error here is that substituting the rod for education, or using it as anything but a last resort (the passions might need something more than intellectual arguments or bad feelings, so violence or theft when repeated requires pain as the only argument the lizard brain will listen to).
Instead, instead of instruction and encouragement an rewarding virtue, we teach children not to respect reason or righteousness, but the ability to inflict suffering.
We also see it with the militarized police in the schools beating and handcuffing and arresting children over things that should be handled by discussion.
The family first (and a reason to homeschool) should show an example of judicial due process, and have the child consider and agree to the deserved punishment (look up CS Lewis on the Humanitarian Theory of Punishment for more discussion). Then they can accept they are getting their just desert for their action. Schools should do so to, but there is little control. Also you must first teach justice for mercy to have any meaning.
A family or other system showing a child that they can – without any attempt at showing why it is legitimate – punish, violently or not – merely shows violence – Might – is the only thing that matters.
You missed Webster’s point. When the family fails to do its job, others must. My point, how far we have come from the system that should be supporting the deficiencies such as “and in the terrors of Devine wrath from the pulpit” The failure results in the sad situation we face in this country today.
Boy Anonymous, your statement, “…you must teach justice for mercy to have any meaning” is powerful! Well written!
Hugh, I appreciate your insight in this commentary on the article.
“They are trying to force a liberal/progressive morality onto you (or your children) by assuming authority. It’s always the same. The process starts by claiming you have to accept them because of your tolerance. But that tolerance soon turns to their intolerance towards you. Once you accept their authority, then you basically have to do it their way or leave.”
I submit, however, that the people you point to are only one example of those who claim authority, then abuse it. Further, to claim authority does not bestow it. Those who submit to authority bestow it upon the claimant. The submission may be revoked at any time. Those who exercise authority in an illegitimate way count on people who have submitted to continue to do so.
Even God does not demand that we always submit. Hence, the gift of free will, choosing to submit to His love and authority in each moment. He knows the difference between coercion and persuasion.
A favorite quote related to this:
We are to take truth for our authority, and not authority for truth”
Lucretia Mott 1869
Carry on