Not Just Anti-Gun: Free Speech Control

The same man that worries about Guam flipping over now wants a constitutional amendment banning free speech.

“We need a constitutional amendment that would allow the legislature to control the so-called free speech rights of corporations,” Rep. Hank Johnson (D-GA) was quoted as saying by CNS News.

As reported by the  CBS Corporation.   GASP!

But wait this brain-trust has more.

“They control the media. They control the messages that you get,” he added. “And these folks … are setting up a scenario where they’re privatizing every aspect of our lives as we know it. So, wake up! Wake up! Let’s look at what’s happening.”

Control the media?  I have grim news, other than PBS they OWN the media!  Double gasp.

And gotta love the idea of  "privatizing every aspect of our lives" being cast as a bad thing.  More public housing!  More Collective Farms!  All media should be owned by the State!

How dare people think that just because they freely associate that they can just say whatever they want!

It's a good thing there aren't many corporations in publishing, telecommunications, entertainment, or the media.  Oh wait, I'm sure that "responsible" corporations will get exemptions.

Mind you.  This is the kind of person that thinks he can run your life better than you.  This same island-flipping ignoramus that thinks that free speech is a privilege not a right.

At least he is honest enough to be going for a full on Amendment.     As opposed to something Statutory or Executively invoked.

And of course giving the State the power to control free speech would Never be abused.  It's not like those evil  Republicans wouldn't ever get into power.

For reference good old Mr. A had a similar idea to limit the First Amendment to those corporations deemed to be "truthful"

But that  was almost a year ago.  What does Mr. A think now?

People have rights.Corporations aren't people.We need to sort this out. Saying corporations deserve free speech is like saying fish have souls.

And what about publishing? Would that not have a disastrous effect? Well...

And yeah, the sort of policy I'm advocating WOULD create a situation where people can say things that corporations cannot. That's by design, because they're real living beings and corporations are not.

And, for the publishing thing, it would absolutely create a situation in which corporations could be held liable for things that the author cannot. In which corporations would, hopefully, have to restrict their involvement in politically sensitive matters to avoid liability. This is one of the intended outcomes

Emphasis added. And what's Mr. A's dream as to what corporations should not be allowed to do:

They should not be able to speak on political topics, finance speech on political topics, exercise any manner of influence over elected officials or the election of officials Their shareholders, of course, have the right to do so but they have to do it on their own personal time and dime

Personal dime.   So those with the most personal wealth can just buy the most free speech.

But there's more Miss W (the Canadian friend mentioned here) was also there.  And oh boy did things get rough. I got down a bunch of lines from that little exchange. 

Hold on for some grade-A progressive pap.   And mind that Miss W despite liking guns is quite good on Single-Payer healthcare AND is very open to campaign contribution caps and thinks that SuperPACs broke the american political system.

Mr. A: I do not need to be in, or part of, a corporation, to succeed at political commentary
Miss W: Forget political commentary. How are you going to publish a novel without such resources?
Miss W: Which restricts the production of TV, movies, and games to the mega-rich individuals only.
Miss W: Entertainment is political. Everything is political.
Mr. A: Yawn
 Miss W: Cut out social commentary in your movies
Mr. A: Bullshit
Mr. A: Most movies don't really have any
Miss W: You include a gay character in a movie? You made political commentary, and there are groups out there that would like to have you taken off the air for it.
  Mr. A: it's unfortunate that North America is somewhat barbaric in this respectMiss W: Look... what speech would you have suppressed?
Miss W: Who decides?
Mr. A: We the people decide
Miss W: In the end, the speech that gets suppressed is the speech that is unpopular.
Mr. A: through the process of government, electing congressmen and senators
Mr. A: just like how we decide what to do with our army
 Miss W: Neo-Nazis are unpopular. But fifty years ago? It was people who said 'blacks are human beings' who were unpopular.
 Mr. A: but when you have 22 hours of "OBAMA RAPES BABIES" on TV for months straight.. well.. turns out, it has an impact

Nevermind that he –um- won.

 Miss W: The solution is not shutting people up, the solution is basic education so that which is stupid can be seen as stupid.
 Miss W: Speech that can't be heard isn't speech, Mr. A
Mr. A: Canada doesn't have enough christards clamoring to make their mythology a fact to ruin that system, thankfully
 Miss W: And you don't think the christards won't make use of the 'shut down people saying shit I don't like' power?

And Mr A never had a good answer to that.

Again, they're not just anti-gun.

Over the hump: closer to Stretch goal 3 than not.

The final stretch goal is within sight.

Less than 45 dollars remain and the winner of the Handgonne Drawing will get it all.

You'll get a Jackalope Rifle Company 50 caliber handgonne  and a full kit including:
A supply of 50 call bullets, miscellaneous shot,  patches, lube and fuse, A ramrod, lighter, touch hole pick, and powder measure, ans finally: a powder horn and two pounds of 3F black powder (shipping restrictions apply).

A bit more in the pot and the winner will literally have everything they need to use this beautiful handgonne.

And as  a tiny bonus here's something from 4chan

At least it's not a boot...

From the Internets:

 It's been over ten years since 9/11 and we're still living like this. I thought it might be temporary. Like Orwell said: 'picture a gloved government hand, feeling up your junk. Forever.'

Sad trombone...

Well thank goodness the US got rid of that Bush and  with the War on Terror over the TSA and Gitmo and the drones are all... oh right.

Here, this may cheer you up.  An AK from a shovel.   Seriously.  A guy took a shovel and used it to make an AK receiver.  Kinda puts that whole Russian Origami thing into perspective.

And the best part? Nothing of what Boris used to build that rifle is regulated, restricted, registered, or otherwise controlled in any way, shape, or form. For Heaven’s sake, the actual, legal "firearm" part of that rifle was constructed exclusively out of a shovel – how, exactly, are you going to control those? You could try to control barrel blanks, but, really, what are those except pipes of a certain internal and external diameter? Do you know how easy it is to make those? And the fiddly bits… do not make me laugh.

Which all brings us around to the coup de grace you all knew was coming – "gun control" is, has been, and will continue to be an abject and total waste of time, money, and effort. If a person really wants a firearm, given how many of them are in circulation, they will procure one by a variety of increasingly criminal methods. If that fails, however, they can simply make one, or find someone to make one for them. The concept of a magazine-fed, self-feeding, cartridge-based firearm has been so thoroughly explored, examined, and executed that any attempts to remove it from the collective knowledge base of humanity would meet with about the same success rate as trying to uninvent steam power. So how about we stop wasting everyone’s time? 

Same reason we have the War On Drugs.

This also ties into the whole "3D Printer Guns" fear.  Which I think Sebastian is right in putting in terms of the old Star Wars "strategy".   Sure in the short term  printing up a gun to order is scifi.  But you know what?   Now... missile defense works.  Just look at Iron Dome and Aegis.

And the fun part?  In the US it's already legal for a person to print up your own gun (at least in the free states).

Allllmost at Stretch Goal #2

All that stands between the Stretch Goal #2 in the Handgonne Raffle is twenty more dollars (that's less than two tickets).

The winner is already getting: a supply of 50 call bullets, miscellaneous shot,  patches, lube and fuse.

Just a bit more and the winner will get: A ramrod, lighter, touch hole pick, and powder measure.


Thanks to Jennifer for keeping the donation tally organized  and to all of you who have donated so far.

Update:  And we got it $230 so far.  You know what that means.  The final stretch goal is in sight!

Thanksgiving... ham? Sure. Ham. Ham!

As I mentioned a few days ago. I did not have any turkey on thanksgiving.

Instead I had ham.

 I started off with a concentrate that was lime juice, lime zest,  pressed garlic,  ground up fresh shallot,  black pepper, white pepper, cumin, soy sauce, cayenne pepper, and green onion.   Every twenty minutes I would cycle the broth in the pan over the ham. And that would ensure that the ham stayed moist.

He's Joe admiring the meal.  Thanksgiving was small this year, just the immediate family.

 And also a nice early Christmas gift of a walnut half-bent billiard pipe from Italy.  The wine is Uppercut which is amazingly complementary for steak.  An excellent red for red meat.

I love it when a plan comes together.

So Erin did the legwork and shook down all the "donors",  I organized the... loot and then gave the handoff to Brigid who delivered the package.  Photos of the loot to follow but go to the next link to see the good stuff.

Erin has posts of the client's satisfaction at a job well done.

I'll take some pride for my part in all this.  Especially in accessorizing the little ponies.

And I'll note that my raffle's (to which Spear has given one of his amazing handgonnes) still going on and getting mighty close to some very fun goals.

Update:  Here's a photo of the haul.  Before it got put into the super secret transport pod.

Ponies, Elvis, and Trashy Books. Oh My.

Yeah.... that feels about right.

Okay... I technically didn't have any pie today.  Or turkey.  I cooked a spiral ham for the family that was delicious. The key is to let the ham render its own broth that you can baste it in, even if it needs some help getting started.

Pictures will follow, a bit too dizzy just right now to pull off the camera.

But I'd like to wish a Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.

And speaking of the importance of Pie Dave in Texas has a mediation on our men and women in uniform and  Thanksgiving.

And on the broader subject of Ponies and Thanksgiving here's Erin's thoughts.  Erin you're good people, and your actions have a notable group on this creaky and cranky tribe that we find ourselves in.   In our own way we can all make a difference.  And even if we are going to that special kind of hell in a high speed wicker conveyance then what we do on the way still matters.

Character counts.  And on a related note the various Tam raffles and direct donations are still going on.  Some are ending today, but others are still going on.

Hope you had a Happy day and a satiating meal, and if you did have to be far from home or alone, I hope you had a moment to call back to those that love and care for you.