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”. There is an interesting article today on toughening up America.
Build the Wall
When we last checked on Saturday night, the GoFundMe campaign for the border wall had reached over $29,270,216. The new Democrat controlled House needs to pay attention during this government shutdown. The people really want this wall. Here’s hoping Trump stays strong over the issue.
Asset Forfeiture in Texas
The numbers are in. The Texas law enforcement agencies made more than $50 million in 2017 from seizing people’s property. While some law enforcement leaders say civil asset forfeiture is a necessary tool for fighting crime, it’s clear that the whole process is being abused. Law enforcement has found this to be an effective tool to fund their operations and they don’t seem to really care about truth anymore. It’s all about the bottom line. What started as a program with the intention of making sure crime doesn’t pay has now turned into a lucrative substitute for money that they can’t access through taxes. In fact, unlike taxes, the harder they work at it, the more lucrative it is. I guess truth and innocence only matter in some cases. Thanks to reader H.L. for the link.
Defiance
It is now illegal to sell “assault” weapons to those under 21 in the Washington state area. The only problem is that “assault” is a made-up term and no one really knows what it means. Another bill in Washington seeks to define the term to include pretty much any semi-automatic rifle, but that law doesn’t take effect until six months later (July 2019). In the meantime, one Seattle based gun store is just ignoring the age limit law because without a definition of what “assault” means, there is no way to enforce the law. If you live in the area, are under 21, and desire a black rifle (or even a semi-auto hunting rifle), now it your chance to get it. The clock is ticking and you have less than six months. Thanks to G.P. for the link.
Background Checks
Here they come! On the 8th anniversary of the mass shooting that severely injured former Rep. Gabby Giffords, the House Democrats plan to introduce a bill that would require background checks on all gun sales, including private, person-to-person sales. While we are saddened that Rep. Giffords when through this ordeal, we are also saddened that she has taken this as an opportunity to violate your ability to protect yourself from others, including the government she worked for. It should be noted that similar legislation has been introduced in the past with the support of up to 14 Republicans. That bill went nowhere, but with the Democrats controlling the House, this one is pretty much guaranteed to pass. Hopefully the Senate will kill the bill before it reaches the president. Thanks to DSV for the link.
Guns are Not for the Little People
This article sent in by DSV reports that alderman Ed Burke, Chicago’s longest-serving alderman and one of it’s most powerful, has an incredible double standard. Guns are not for the little people like you and me, but they are okay for him and his cronies. Burke was recently recently arrested and charged with extortion because he tried to force a Burger King franchise to kick business his way or the building permits wouldn’t be approved. The FBI got involved and ended up raiding him. The alderman who has been a staunch anti-gun supporter had to turn in nearly two dozen firearms that were apparently in his office building. He probably won’t be charged with their possession though because an obscure 1872 law lists alderman as “peace officers” and those are allowed to carry firearms in Chicago.
Icom IC-R6 at Airshows
If you like airshows and you own an Icom IC-R6 scanner, reader T.J. has you covered. He sent in this video on programing the IC-R6 for the frequencies used at most airshows so you can hear the tower and the pilots communicating.
Toughening Up
Reader G.P. sent in this article on how Americans, especially parents, need to toughen up. We have become a nation of snowflakes that are offended by everything, everywhere. That is one good thing about hard times. It tends to make one much tougher. We’ve had it too easy for too long. The article points out how recently high school students threatened to walk out of school because of the “scary” resource officer there to protect them. The TSA says they are phasing out the most effective bomb/drug sensors (canines) because they have pointy ears and are scary to children. Northhampton, Massachusetts rejected a planned Walmart donation of $13,000 worth of ammo to the police department because, you know, bullets kill people.
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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!
Regarding Chicago Alderman Ed Burke, it reminds me of a quote:
“If you are for gun control then you are not against guns, because guns will be needed to disarm people. So it’s not that you are anti-gun – you’ll need the police’s guns to take away other people’s guns. So you are very pro-gun. You just believe that only the government (which of course is so reliable, honest, moral, and virtuous) should be allowed to have guns. There is no such thing as gun control. There is only centralizing gun ownership in the hands of a small, political elite and their minions.”
– Stefan Molyneux, January 7, 2016
Stefan has a YouTube channel.
I live in the state of Texas. I don’t know exactly what is being seized but i will say it is a border state. I know for a fact that there is a lot of money that goes south from illegals. And a lot of vehicles that are seized due to drug trafficking. I would imagine that a border wall would reduce that figure significantly.
They are all wrong…again.
The wall on the southern land border is sucking the oxygen out of the room just like every politician in DC.
Last time I checked, there are air and sea ports that require security. The northern border is also a concern even though patriots in the redoubt have part of that well covered.
The Government must secure all borders. The bad guys are watching with smiles on their faces.
The President should expand the discussion.
The topic of asset forfeiture is not unlike any other issue that people have an opinion on. Pick any topic that limits your freedom, and you will most certainly hear the loudest support for it from people who have absolutely no experience in the matter. This is why nothing ever changes and the ridiculousness continues. Pick any hot button topic and notice who it’s supporters are…
Tougher Gun control is pushed by people who do not own, or shoot guns.
Asset forfeiture is supported by people who have never had their property taken by government.
Stiffer prison sentences is supported by people who have never stepped foot inside a jail or prison.
Utah’s new DUI law dropping to .05… supported by the Mormons no less.
Increasing taxes being supported by people who have the most to gain from public money.
It seems we will give credibility to anyone with the least experience these days.
“Utah’s new DUI law dropping to .05… supported by the Mormons no less.”
Not this imported now-Utah Mormon.
The Canadian Border should be secured as well. Every day 300 Haitians and Nigerians run illegally into Canada from the US with expired visas. You really need to restrict visas because this is costing Canada a fortune in welfare and deportation hearings, that’s if we can catch them.
Icom IC-R6 scanner,
I noticed that he was using a digital voice recorder, does anyone have a recommendation on one, maybe that uses a SD disk and removable batteries?
No one has a right to drive a vehicle on public roads. No one has a right to fly an airplane. The qualifications for engaging in these activities are controlled by the state. They are not protected by the U.S. Constitution.
The 21st Amendment to the Constitution repealed Prohibition that became law under the 18th Amendment. The 21st Amendment eft it to the states to determine issues related to the sale of alcohol. Most states restricted alcohol purchases to those 21-years-old and older. A few states allowed those over 18 to purchase alcohol, at least until the federal government threatened to withhold highway funds. As far as I know, an 18-year-old cannot legally buy alcohol anywhere in the US today.
Perhaps someone can point out to me where 18-year-olds are barred from exercising the same legal rights exercised by the population in general except for this new issue of purchasing “assault weapons.” The 2nd Amendment protects that right, so a license should not be needed. Of course, in the 1990s there were legal restrictions put in place with regard to the sale of these rifles to everyone, but their possession was still legal, and there was no age restriction.
Were sale of “assault weapons” limited to, say, those under 65, there would be a great outcry against age discrimination. I wonder how successful the proponents of these new laws will be against those of cry out against age discrimination against those under 21.
I will be the first to admit that I have not studied the legal precedents in detail. I ask, however, exactly what constitutional restriction on the 2nd Amendment gives the anti-gun proponents the right to discriminate on the basis of age under this new law?
It will be interesting to see how all of this works out in the courts, although the process is unlikely to be very fast.
Asset Forfeiture
Ah yes, that paradigm of due process. Like every other law which basically comes down to the means justifies the ends. By people that have power and have the guns. So, you’re guilty till you prove you’re innocent. After they’ve taken your money to do so.
An American of middle eastern ancestry was traveling home with a lot of cash to share with relatives not too long ago. The bright lights at the airport grabbed his money and refused to give it back even when he went through the appeals process.
The Institute for Justice in Washington, D.C. stepped in to take his case. I don’t know if it’s been resolved yet. Incidentally, it’s a charity that fights for economic freedom and was on the top lists by Charity Navigator recommended by JWR not long ago.
The easiest way to solve the pain and suffering caused by this unfair and awful law is to change it through Congress and not the courts.
Don’t hold your breath though.
If you drive I-15 or I-5 you can be stopped for no other reason than the possibility of asset forfeiture. I suspect that the police are actually looking for drug smugglers and money runners for the cartel. I mean I think the police are trying to do what the law intended. But the problem for me occurs when they take some poor schlub’s money or car who isn’t guilty of selling drugs or working for that cartel. So the problem is in the oversight not being adequate to prevent this miscarriage of justice. It would be easy to fix but they don’t because in their mind once that money is confiscated it is their and they do not intend to give it up. THAT is where the problem is with this law. There should be a simple inexpensive and not time consuming way for the innocent caught up in this dragnet to get justice. Law enforcement should WANT this to happen but they do not and that is where they have gone extra-constitutional
Many years ago in high school history our teacher told us of the origin of the word “highwayman”. In merry old England the robbers would often stop travelers who lacked adequate protection or size and rob them. So the king put a quasi-military “highwayman” into force to protect the travelers. But the highwaymen were not paid particularly well and they realized they were in the perfect position to use their power and knowledge to steal money from unprepared travelers. So they did, hence the modern meaning of highwayman. That is what our police have become when they take money and property from innocent people.
I absolutely believe that words matter. In the process known as “asset forfeiture”, money is not “seized” or “taken”. It is STOLEN. Please call this disgrace by its rightful name.
AMEN!
It is theft under color of law.
I agree. And the remedy is to create a simple process where the individual(s) whose assets were taken could appear before a judge and prove the assets are legally his and not part of a crime. The police/DA should have no recourse if the individual proves his case but to return the money. If on the other hand the money is “dirty” anything the individual says under oath can be used to prosecute him. After all we all AGREE that if this is drug money and if the person carrying the money (or assets) is prosecuted for that crime THEN the assets can be constitutionally forfeited, right?
QUOTE
The article points out how recently high school students threatened to walk out of school because of the “scary” resource officer there to protect them. The TSA says they are phasing out the most effective bomb/drug sensors (canines) because they have pointy ears and are scary to children
Police Thugs don’t belong in school. Except I would homeschool, I would ENCORAGE any student to walk out until these unconstitutional, brutal, thugs, are removed from Schools. And we can bring back marksmanship classes.
TSA? Really? And Canines are NOT always the most effective. Are they tested to see if they are just responding to their handler (like Smart Hans the Horse that could apparently do square roots) or are really detecting drugs, or bombs?
Next they will ban an a salt weapon
https://www.amazon.com/Bug-Salt-2-0-Fly-Gun/dp/B07B8YW192
BUILDING THE WALL IS A FORCE MULTIPLIER FOR CBP OFFICERS AS IT CHANNELS ILLEGAL BORDER ACTIVITY TO A AREA THAT IS MORE EFFECTIVE IN APPREHENDING ILLEGALS, ISIS, DRUGS, GUNS AND MONEY. IT WII ENHANCE THE SOVIGENTRY OF THIS COUNTRY AND THERE IS NO PLACE TO BUILD SANCUTARY STATES, TOWNS OR CITIES WITHOUT ENDANGERING THE LIVES OF ALL AMERICANS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS AS WELL AS ORDINARY U.S. CITIZNS NO MATTER WHAT RACE OR COLOR OF SKIN. ONLY LEGAL IMMIGRANTS COMMING IN LEGALLY SHOULD BE ACCEPTED THAT WILL ASSUMILATE INTO OUR CHRISTIAN CULTURE AND LIFE STYLE ACCEPTED AS VALID U. S. CITIZENS AS THE IMMIGRATION SYSTEM IS BEING PROSTUTED BY CRIMINALS WHO WISH TO DESTROY THE U. S. FROM WITHIN THE SYSTEM.
THIS IS BAISED ON PERSON EXPERIENCE AS A ‘BORDER RAT LEO’, ON THE U.S. – MX. BORDER FOR + 20 YEARS SERVICES ! “BEEN THERE DONE THAT!”
“Here’s hoping Trump stays strong over the issue.”
If Trump were serious about the wall, he would have acted during the TWO YEARS he had a Republican majority in Congress. The wall is just the reality TV president putting on a good show.