Montana Helo Pilot

Interesting or Disturbing?

2009-05-31T19:01:00.000-06:00

Marine Aviator's Memorial Day Wave Off

Mark Alexander
From Patriot Post Vol. 09 No. 21; Published 28 May 2009 | Print Email PDF

"The consciousness of having discharged that duty which we owe to our country is superior to all other considerations." --George Washington

Every week, the greatest challenge I face as publisher of The Patriot Post is determining which subject among all the current news and policy issues concerning liberty and constitutional integrity should be the target of my weekly column. I mention this because deep into this week's treatise and just a few hours ahead of deadline, I received a message from one of our Patriot readers that offered a far more powerful perspective on where we are as a nation than anything I'd been writing.

That message was from Mike McGinn, and began: "Only under the administration of a former 'community organizer,' a product of the corrupt Chicago political machine, who never served a day of his life in uniform, could a 20-year retired Marine Corps Officer be prohibited from visiting the Arlington National Cemetery resting place of his father, a 30-year retired Marine Corps Officer with distinguished combat service, on the most hallowed of days for our fallen and deceased military servicemen and women -- Memorial Day."

Interred at Arlington, Section 68 Site 113, are the remains of Mike's father, Marine Colonel James Arthur McGinn.

Col. McGinn was a graduate of the United States Naval Academy's Class of '57.

His USNA yearbook notes, "It was virtually impossible to be in Jim's presence for more than five minutes without laughing, even if you had just flunked a double-weight Electrical Engineering quiz. He was a farmer turned city boy who loved a party, a good book, and lots of romance, if and when he could separate himself from the arms of Morpheus."

After graduation, McGinn completed the requisite flight schools and flew the F-8U Crusader out of Marine Corps Air Station El Toro in California. As the war in Vietnam was heating up, then Capt. McGinn transitioned to an aircraft that would move him closer to the action -- the UH-1 Huey helicopter gunship. He flew two tours in Vietnam and earned the Distinguished Flying Cross in 1969.

His DFC citation reads: "For heroism and extraordinary achievement in aerial flight while serving as a Pilot with Marine Light Helicopter Squadron 357, Marine Aircraft Group Thirty-Six, First Marine Aircraft Wing in connection with combat operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On 6 March 1969, Major McGinn launched as Wingman in a flight of two armed UH-1E helicopters assigned the mission of supporting a flight of twelve helicopters which was to conduct the medical evacuation of casualties and the resupply of a reconnaissance company that was heavily engaged in combat with a large North Vietnamese Army force deep in enemy-controlled territory. Following a briefing in which he was informed that because of inclement weather the friendly unit had not been resupplied for three days, had run out of rations, and was dangerously low on water and ammunition, Major McGinn ignored the extremely adverse weather conditions as he skillfully maneuvered his aircraft below a fifty foot ceiling to locate the embattled company, and then returned to the Vandegrift Combat Base. Escorting the flight to the beleaguered unit, he established an orbit for the flight above the clouds. Undaunted by the heavy volume of hostile fire directed at his helicopter, Major McGinn then led the transport helicopters one at a time into the precarious area, fearlessly maneuvered his gunship on repeated rocket and strafing runs, and delivered his ordnance upon the North Vietnamese Army positions with such devastating effectiveness that the hostile fire was suppressed sufficiently to enable all the supplies to be delivered and all the casualties to be extracted. Before leaving the dangerous area, he boldly delivered his remaining rockets upon an enemy bunker with such pinpoint accuracy that the emplacement was destroyed. Major McGinn's courage, superior airmanship, and unwavering devotion to duty in the face of great personal danger were instrumental in accomplishing the hazardous mission and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service."

After serving in Vietnam, Col. McGinn was Commanding Officer of HMA-169 at MCAF Camp Pendleton and flew AH-1 Cobra helicopters. A year later, he became CO of HMM-165 afloat flying CH-46 Sea Knight helicopters. He served additional O-6 billets until his retirement in 1987.

Col. McGinn died on 21 July 2004, at age 69, after waging a 16-month battle with a brain tumor.

Like his father before him, Mike McGinn is a retired Marine aviator. He flew F/A-18 Hornets from 1988 to 2004, including combat tours over Bosnia and during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

He writes, "Each Memorial Day, we go to visit Dad and pay our respects, driving up from Southern Maryland. This is the first time I've been turned away from the Cemetery grounds."

Mike and his wife left their home early Monday morning, expecting to encounter the usual entry delay into the Cemetery grounds for Memorial Day.

Inching their way through traffic that morning Mike and his wife made it to second in line at the entrance checkpoint, with an Arlington National Cemetery access pass and a DoD military officer vehicle sticker clearly displayed on his windshield, when they were abruptly waved off and directed to leave the area immediately. Apparently, Barack Hussein Obama's motorcade was en route for the ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknowns and the area was being locked down for security.

The McGinns were not turned away on previous Memorial Days when President George Bush arrived to place a wreath at the Tomb, but a lot has changed in the last year.

For the record, while James Arthur McGinn was serving his country and flying Crusaders for the Marine Corps, Ann Dunham was giving birth to her son, BHO, Jr., somewhere between Nyanza Province, Kenya, and Honolulu, Hawaii. As Capt. McGinn was preparing for combat in Vietnam, young Barry O was on his way to Indonesia with his mother and her second husband, Lolo Soetoro. As Maj. McGinn was earning his DFC, BO was converting to Islam, even though his mother was an avowed atheist. As Maj. McGinn was returning from Vietnam, BO was returning from Indonesia for an elite private school education in Honolulu, where he was mentored by Communist Party member Frank Marshall Davis. As Col. McGinn was completing his Marine billets, BO was attending Occidental College and then Columbia University; a period of Obama's life that to this day remains shrouded in mystery and devoid of college transcripts.

In 1994, as Mike McGinn was launching in his F/A-18 for combat tours over Bosnia, Obama was in Chicago, being mentored by Jeremiah Wright, and Marxist Weather Underground terrorists William Ayers and Bernardine Dohrn, who were, in turn, launching BO's political career. In 2003, when Mike was flying missions over Iraq, the "community organizer" was on a mission to be elected to the U.S. Senate with the help of John Kerry and other treasonous Leftists. The rest is, as they say, history...

So, as combat veteran Mike McGinn was in line to visit the gravesite of his heroic father this week, a wastrel and hard-left community organizer was having lanes cleared for his presidential motorcade.

Now, I certainly am not suggesting that BHO had a personal vendetta with the McGinns, but this incident is a tragic metaphor, if you will, for the state of our nation under the leadership of a man who has no honor, and who is an avowed enemy of liberty and its most ardent Patriot defenders -- those who uphold their oaths "to support and defend the Constitution," not undermine it.

The current circumstances notwithstanding, let me say to both James and Mike McGinn, on behalf of your fellow Patriots across this grateful nation, Fideli Certa Merces -- "to the faithful there is certain reward," as noted on all Marine Honorable Discharge orders.

May the "consciousness of having discharged that duty" be and remain, "superior to all other considerations."

Semper Vigilo, Fortis, Paratus et Fidelis!

Mark Alexander
Publisher, PatriotPost.US

Right wing extremist?

2009-05-09T22:27:00.002-06:00

You tell me. I am sure by now that many of you are familiar with the report released by the Department of Homeland Security. Allow me to quote part of that report.

" (U) Rightwing extremism in the United States can be broadly divided into those groups, movements, and adherents that are primarily hate-oriented (based on hatred of particular religious, racial or ethnic groups), and those that are mainly antigovernment, rejecting federal authority in favor of state or local authority, or rejecting government authority entirely. It may include groups and individuals that are dedicated to a single issue, such as opposition to abortion or immigration." p.2

There are at least to things in that quote that would make me a right wing extremist. The first would be state authority. How do you call someone a right wing extremist when that is granted by the 10th Amendment of the US Constitution. "The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people." Are they calling everyone that abides by the constitution a right wing extremist? I am not opposed to the Federal Government. I am opposed to the size of it, and wasteful they are. I also do not like how they abuse power and try to run over the states.

Lets take the second one. Abortion. I AM IN OPPOSITION TO ABORTION!!!!! And to illegal immigration for that matter. But abortion is a religious aspect for most people. Whether they think it is right or wrong will depend largely on their religious beliefs. Are they attacking religion? Are they saying that every religion that opposes abortion is a right wing extremist religion?

Allow me to quote again.

"(U//FOUO) Proposed imposition of firearms restrictions and weapons bans likely would attract new members into the ranks of rightwing extremist groups, as well as potentially spur some of them to begin planning and training for violence against the government. The high volume of purchases and stockpiling of weapons and ammunition by rightwing extremists in anticipation of restrictions and bans in some parts of the country continue to be a primary concern to law enforcement. "

It is not just right wing people that are buying guns and ammo. It is republican, democrats, and independents! They are appearently calling anyone that buys guns an extremist. WELL, I OWN GUNS, AND I BUY AMMO!!!!! Does that make me an extremist? I lawfully use the firearms I own to lawfully hunt and provide food for myself. I also use these firearms for pleasure. Does that make me an extremist?

The statement on veterans is and offense to all Veterans! I am not even going to comment, because I am not sure I can do it in a civil matter. We should hold up our veterans, not tear them down!

I want to touch on one other aspect here. Profiling. After 9/11 security and law enforcement personnel were told they could not profile those of Arab decent just because those were the ones that had plan and executed the attack on 9/11. Well, here comes this report, and I would say we have profiling. They are telling security and law enforcement personnel to profile based on abortion, guns, political beliefs, and immigration. How is that not profiling? Is that not hypocrisy to say you can do it in one case, but not another?

You tell me, am I an extremist?

State Rights

2009-05-09T21:13:00.002-06:00

Amendment X

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people.

That is the Tenth Amendment of the US Constitution. I think it has been severely abused by the Federal Government. I personally think that they have crossed the line many times and tried to find technicalities to regulate trade. I am going to provide a link to what Glenn Beck has to say on the subject. Pay attention to the part about the farmer. In this case, the Federal Government had no right to rule on his actions, or to regulate his business.

www.glennbeck.com/content/articles/article/198/25060/

Now we come to what I really want to talk about.

HB 246 - Exempt Montana-made firearms and ammunition from commerce clause

This bill was signed into law here in Montana. The law states that firearms and ammunition made, purchased, and kept in Montana are exempt from Federal regulation. Based on the 10th Amendment of the US Constitution this power is reserved for the state. Montana is taking advantage of this power and right. Because the products do not cross state lines, it is not considered interstate commerce, and therefore can not be regulated by the Federal government. Most likely this will be challenged at some point. If Montana stands alone, the chances of failure are high. If other states join in, and they are all challenged, then the Supreme Court will have to hear the case. So far Texas, Utah, and Tennessee are following. But I would say that we will need more states than that for this to work. Glenn Beck used a term "Emerging Consensus". The basic idea is that the more states that get on board, the more likely the Supreme Court is to follow if a case makes it to them. Now, I don't agree with this totally, but in this case it won't hurt.

Ok, a rabbit trail for a second. You may be asking why I don't agree with emerging consensus. Well if most of the states are enacting laws that violate the US Constitution, this would still be emerging consensus, but the Supreme Court would have the obligation and sworn duty to rule based on the Constitution regardless of feelings.

Back to the subject. I am proud that Montana would take a lead and take a stand in this area. And I honestly hope that it will be forced and end up at the Supreme Court for a ruling. Once the Court rules on this, every state and every court has to follow precedence. I also believe that Glenn Beck talks about a couple cases regarding this as well when it comes to commerce and state rights.

The downside to this, is that the process will take several years to complete. It will take time for other states to get on board, and enact their own laws. These laws will have to be challenged. Once challenged they will go through the Court of Appeals. Then on to the Supreme Court. At that point, the decision is crucial. I pray that we have the right Judges on the bench at that time.

Most people who know me, know that guns are a huge part of my life. I shoot for fun. I reload for fun. I hunt with them. And if necessary, I will use them for protection of myself and the ones I love. It seems at times that the Federal government would like to take all of that away. I hope that this bill that Montana passed and was signed into law will force the hand of the Federal Government. It does not seem to be enough that people are buying every gun and box of ammo out there. Should that not tell them that we do not trust them, and that we want out Constitutional right to guns protected?

I realize that this is not very detailed. I will try to get some links to the court cases referred to. That will help back it up.

I like this speech. What do you think?

2009-02-06T20:32:00.001-07:00

The following remarks were delivered February 16, 1999 at the Harvard
Law School Forum. Provided by the FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771,
FRESNO, CA 93794

16 March, 1999

By Charlton Heston

I remember my son when he was five, explaining to his kindergarten
class what his father did for a living. "My Daddy," he said, "pretends
to be people."

There have been quite a few of them. Prophets from the Old and New
Testaments, a couple of Christian saints, generals of various
nationalities and different centuries, several kings, three American
presidents, a French cardinal and two geniuses, including
Michelangelo. If you want the ceiling re-painted I'll do my best.
There always seem to be a lot of different fellows up here. I'm never
sure which one of them gets to talk. Right now, I guess I'm the guy.

As I pondered our visit tonight it struck me: If my Creator gave me
the gift to connect you with the hearts and minds of those great men,
then I want to use that same gift now to re-connect you with your own
sense of liberty ... your own freedom of thought ... your own compass
for what is right.

Dedicating the memorial at Gettysburg, Abraham Lincoln said of
America, "We are now engaged in a great Civil War, testing whether
this nation or any nation so conceived and so dedicated can long
endure."

Those words are true again. I believe that we are again engaged in a
great civil war, a cultural war that's about to hijack your birthright
to think and say what resides in your heart. I fear you no longer
trust the pulsing lifeblood of liberty inside you ... the stuff that
made this country rise from wilderness into the miracle that it is.

Let me back up. About a year ago I became president of the National
Rifle Association, which protects the right to keep and bear arms. I
ran for office, I was elected, and now I serve ... I serve as a moving
target for the media who've called me everything from "ridiculous" and
"duped" to a "brain-injured, senile, crazy old man." I know ... I'm
pretty old but I sure Lord ain't senile.

As I have stood in the crosshairs of those who target Second Amendment
freedoms, I've realized that firearms are not the only issue. No, it's
much, much bigger than that.

I've come to understand that a cultural war is raging across our land,
in which, with Orwellian fervor, certain acceptable thoughts and
speech are mandated.

For example, I marched for civil rights with Dr. King in 1963 -- long
before Hollywood found it fashionable. But when I told an audience
last year that white pride is just as valid as black pride or red
pride or anyone else's pride, they called me a racist.

I've worked with brilliantly talented homosexuals all my life. But
when I told an audience that gay rights should extend no further than
your rights or my rights, I was called a homophobe.

I served in World War II against the Axis powers. But during a speech,
when I drew an analogy between singling out innocent Jews and singling
out innocent gun owners, I was called an anti-Semite.

Everyone I know knows I would never raise a closed fist against my
country. But when I asked an audience to oppose this cultural
persecution, I was compared to Timothy McVeigh.

From Time magazine to friends and colleagues, they're essentially
saying, "Chuck, how dare you speak your mind. You are using language
not authorized for public consumption!"

But I am not afraid. If Americans believed in political correctness,
we'd still be King George's boys-subjects bound to the British crown.

In his book, "The End of Sanity," Martin Gross writes that "blatantly
irrational behavior is rapidly being established as the norm in almost
every area of human endeavor. There seem to be new customs, new rules,
new anti-intellectual theories regularly foisted on us from every
direction. Underneath, the nation is roiling. Americans know something
without a name is undermining the nation, turning the mind mushy when
it comes to separating truth from falsehood and right from wrong. And
they don't like it."

Let me read a few examples. At Antioch college in Ohio, young men
seeking intimacy with a coed must get verbal permission at each step
of the process from kissing to petting to final copulation ... all
clearly spelled out in a printed college directive.

In New Jersey, despite the death of several patients nationwide who
had been infected by dentists who had concealed their AIDs --- the
state commissioner announced that health providers who are
HIV-positive need not .. need not ... tell their patients that they
are infected.

At William and Mary, students tried to change the name of the school
team "The Tribe" because it was supposedly insulting to local Indians,
only to learn that authentic Virginia chiefs truly like the name.

In San Francisco, city fathers passed an ordinance protecting the
rights of transvestites to cross-dress on the job, and for
transsexuals to have separate toilet facilities while undergoing sex
change surgery.

In New York City, kids who don't speak a word of Spanish have been
placed in bilingual classes to learn their three R's in Spanish solely
because their last names sound Hispanic.

At the University of Pennsylvania, in a state where thousands died at
Gettysburg opposing slavery, the president of that college officially
set up segregated dormitory space for black students.

Yeah, I know ... that's out of bounds now. Dr. King said "Negroes."
Jimmy Baldwin and most of us on the March said "black." But it's a
no-no now. For me, hyphenated identities are awkward ... particularly
"Native-American." I'm a Native American, for God's sake. I also
happen to be a blood-initiated brother of the Miniconjou Sioux. On my
wife's side, my grandson is a thirteenth generation native American
... with a capital letter on "American."

Finally, just last month ... David Howard, head of the Washington D.C.
Office of Public Advocate, used the word "niggardly" while talking to
colleagues about budgetary matters. Of course, "niggardly" means
stingy or scanty. But within days Howard was forced to publicly
apologize and resign.

As columnist Tony Snow wrote: "David Howard got fired because some
people in public employ were morons who (a) didn't know the meaning of
niggardly,' (b) didn't know how to use a dictionary to discover the
meaning, and (c) actually demanded that he apologize for their
ignorance."

What does all of this mean? It means that telling us what to think has
evolved into telling us what to say, so telling us what to do can't be
far behind.

Before you claim to be a champion of free thought, tell me: Why did
political correctness originate on America's campuses? And why do you
continue to tolerate it? Why do you, who're supposed to debate ideas,
surrender to their suppression?

Let's be honest. Who here thinks your professors can say what they
really believe? It scares me to death, and should scare you too, that
the superstition of political correctness rules the halls of reason.

You are the best and the brightest. You, here in the fertile cradle of
American academia, here in the castle of learning on the Charles
River, you are the cream. But I submit that you, and your counterparts
across the land, are the most socially conformed and politically
silenced generation since Concord Bridge.

And as long as you validate that ... and abide it ... you are-by your
grandfathers' standards-cowards.

Here's another example. Right now at more than one major university,
Second Amendment scholars and researchers are being told to shut up
about their findings or they'll lose their jobs. Why? Because their
research findings would undermine big-city mayor's pending lawsuits
that seek to extort hundreds of millions of dollars from firearm
manufacturers.

I don't care what you think about guns. But if you are not shocked at
that, I am shocked at you. Who will guard the raw material of
unfettered ideas, if not you? Who will defend the core value of
academia, if you supposed soldiers of free thought and expression lay
down your arms and plead, "Don't shoot me."

If you talk about race, it does not make you a racist. If you see
distinctions between the genders, it does not make you a sexist. If
you think critically about a denomination, it does not make you
anti-religion. If you accept but don't celebrate homosexuality, it
does not make you a homophobe.

Don't let America's universities continue to serve as incubators for
this rampant epidemic of new McCarthyism.

But what can you do? How can anyone prevail against such pervasive
social subjugation?

The answer's been here all along. I learned it 36 years ago, on the
steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C., standing with Dr.
Martin Luther King and two hundred thousand people.

You simply ... disobey. Peaceably, yes. Respectfully, of course.
Nonviolently, absolutely. But when told how to think or what to say or
how to behave, we don't. We disobey social protocol that stifles and
stigmatizes personal freedom.

I learned the awesome power of disobedience from Dr. King ... who
learned it from Gandhi, and Thoreau, and Jesus, and every other great
man who led those in the right against those with the might.

Disobedience is in our DNA. We feel innate kinship with that
disobedient spirit that tossed tea into Boston Harbor, that sent
Thoreau to jail, that refused to sit in the back of the bus, that
protested a war in Viet Nam.

In that same spirit, I am asking you to disavow cultural correctness
with massive disobedience of rogue authority, social directives and
onerous law that weaken personal freedom.

But be careful ... it hurts. Disobedience demands that you put
yourself at risk. Dr. King stood on lots of balconies.

You must be willing to be humiliated ... to endure the modern-day
equivalent of the police dogs at Montgomery and the water cannons at
Selma.

You must be willing to experience discomfort. I'm not complaining, but
my own decades of social activism have taken their toll on me. Let me
tell you a story.

A few years back I heard about a rapper named Ice-T who was selling a
CD called "Cop Killer" celebrating ambushing and murdering police
officers. It was being marketed by none other than Time/Warner, the
biggest entertainment conglomerate in the world.

Police across the country were outraged. Rightfully so-at least one
had been murdered. But Time/Warner was stonewalling because the CD was
a cash cow for them, and the media were tiptoeing around it because
the rapper was black. I heard Time/Warner had a stockholders meeting
scheduled in Beverly Hills. I owned some shares at the time, so I
decided to attend.

What I did there was against the advice of my family and colleagues. I
asked for the floor. To a hushed room of a thousand average American
stockholders, I simply read the full lyrics of "Cop Killer"-every
vicious, vulgar, instructional word.

"I GOT MY 12 GAUGE SAWED OFF I GOT MY HEADLIGHTS TURNED OFF I'M ABOUT
TO BUST SOME SHOTS OFF I'M ABOUT TO DUST SOME COPS OFF..."

It got worse, a lot worse. I won't read the rest of it to you. But
trust me, the room was a sea of shocked, frozen, blanched faces. The
Time/Warner executives squirmed in their chairs and stared at their
shoes. They hated me for that.

Then I delivered another volley of sick lyric brimming with racist
filth, where Ice-T fantasizes about sodomizing two 12-year old nieces
of Al and Tipper Gore.

"SHE PUSHED HER BUTT AGAINST MY ...." Well, I won't do to you here
what I did to them. Let's just say I left the room in echoing silence.
When I read the lyrics to the waiting press corps, one of them said
"We can't print that." "I know," I replied, "but Time/Warner's selling
it."

Two months later, Time/Warner terminated Ice-T's contract. I'll never
be offered another film by Warners, or get a good review from Time
magazine. But disobedience means you must be willing to act, not just
talk.

When a mugger sues his elderly victim for defending herself ... jam
the switchboard of the district attorney's office.

When your university is pressured to lower standards until 80% of the
students graduate with honors ... choke the halls of the board of
regents.

When an 8-year-old boy pecks a girl's cheek on the playground and gets
hauled into court for sexual harassment ... march on that school and
block its doorways.

When someone you elected is seduced by political power and betrays you
...petition them, oust them, banish them.

When Time magazine's cover portrays millennium nuts as deranged, crazy
Christians holding a cross as it did last month ... boycott their
magazine and the products it advertises.

So that this nation may long endure, I urge you to follow in the
hallowed footsteps of the great disobediences of history that freed
exiles, founded religions, defeated tyrants, and yes, in the hands of
an aroused rabble in arms and a few great men, by God's grace, built
this country.

If Dr. King were here, I think he would agree.

Thank you.

A liberal agreeing on no gun control?

2009-02-06T20:06:00.004-07:00

By MICHAEL COREN Sun Media

I hate guns. They terrify me. I have never owned one and never will. I
have little sympathy for the gun culture or the gun lobby. Both seem
crass and crude. If I had my way, guns would not exist. But - and this
but is the size of a Liberal grant - we do not live in a perfect world
and I am prepared to admit that reality sometimes stings. More than
this, the relative lack of gun control legislation in the United
States had nothing, absolutely nothing, to do with a 6-year-old in
Michigan shooting another child to death. Nor had it anything to do
with other child killings, with murders by street gangs, with any of
the shootings in Canada.

Indeed, gun control is one of the great misnomers of modern times. We
cannot control guns and we don't have to either. What we have to
control is the decaying social fabric of North America and our
headlong rush into an ethical vacuum. Good God, this one isn't rocket
science.

A few fundamentals: Guns are extraordinarily common in Canadian and
American rural communities, where the crime rates are lower than
anywhere else in either country. Farm kids shoot from an early age and
are in the company of firearms before they can walk. Yet there are
hardly any violent rampages and so-called accidental discharges of
weapons. Guns have existed in very large numbers for more than two
centuries. They were common among ordinary families from the 1740s.
Children did not kill with them.

After 1945 Canada was flooded with handguns brought home from Europe
and Asia by soldiers. Teachers of the time report of half of the class
bringing dad's shooter to school. These were military weapons, deadly
and efficient. Were there mass slaughters? Of course not. But
according to some zealots, it's all about registration.

So just who are these people so anxious to tell us what to do and how
to do it? Curiously enough, the activists campaigning for draconian
gun control seem to be the same activists who are calling for a lower
age of sexual consent, for more children's rights, for increased
funding of daycare rather than support for families, for a wholesale
dismantling of the society that has served us so well for so long.

If you doubt me, just take a look. It is an almost infallible rule
that the more permissive a person is on social and moral issues the
more in favour they are of strict gun control. Coincidence? Please. It
is not that such people are sinister, simply that they are wrong.
Dangerously wrong. Ignore the disease, misinterpret the diagnoses and
then prescribe the wrong medicine.

It's too late for that nonsense now. The patient is dying and we have
to operate fast. As for the ailments, they should be obvious.
Single-parent families and the absence of male authority figures.
Parents never seeing their kids because both are working and junior is
parented by the television. Teachers emasculated and unable to
chastise children who instead revel in their thuggery. An obsession
with the self-esteem of kids who in fact scream for boundaries and
borders. Endless discussions about children's feelings, encouraging
them to act out the slightest whim. Constant attacks on the virtues
of family, chastity, faith, respect, order and tradition. TV that
deadens the mind and the sensibilities with graphic violence,
grotesque pornography and vacuous pop videos, and then hosts long
discussions wondering why kids are going wrong. I want, I need, I
must have, I know, I am, I rule, I'm cool, I'm everything. You're
nothing, you're not me, you don't understand, you suck, you don't
matter. And I'm the centre of the universe. I know it because I feel
it and nobody dares tell me otherwise.

Laugh when Jimmy uses obscene language, believe that Susan can do no
wrong even when the cop and the teacher tell you otherwise, decide
that your "self-fulfillment" in some job is more important than Jake
seeing his mother when he comes home from school, and say you can't
control what Brittany watches on television when you haven't even
tried. It ain't about guns, it's about you. And you, and you. Don't
blame mechanics for your own madness.

Michael Coren is a Toronto-based writer and broadcaster


---------------------------------------------------------------------

I have to say, I was quite surprised when I read through this after the first sentence. I do agree that gun control is not the problem, and can not fix anything. Guns are not the problem! The social problems in this country are the problems. And giving government handouts will not solve that. The only way to solve the problem is to get back to Biblical roots. A biblical based marriage and family. If you do this, and that family will follow the Bible, they will raise kids the way they should be. If this cycle continues, eventually the social problems will be fixed based on biblical standards. With out the Bible, you will not fix this problem. With the Bible, and God, you can!

2009-01-10T21:55:00.000-07:00

Theodore Roosevelt:

It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled, or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes short again and again, who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, and spends himself in a worthy cause, who at best knows achievement and who at the worst if he fails at least fails while daring greatly so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.

From a speech given in Paris at the Sorbonne in 1910

Front Porches

2009-01-10T20:34:00.002-07:00

I know most of you are thinking, what do front porches have to do with anything? A lot actually, at least with society. Do you have a front porch? When was the last time you sat on it? When was the last time you had your neighbors over?

Several things brought this thinking around. For one, I was driving around aimlessly (yes I do that) through Bozeman. I noticed that the majority of house do not have porches. Most only have steps to a front door, or at best a concrete pad out front. Seems that most houses have a nice deck out back inside the privacy fence. People want their privacy. The other occurred today. I was sitting on the porch looking at the Bridgers off to the east, and watching the cows wander around the field. As I sat there, the neighbor came riding up on the four wheeler, hopped off and came up on the porch. He has seen the smoke from the fire (I was burning the garbage). He was just checking to makes sure all was fine. We sat and talked for an hour or so.

Growing up, our house had a front porch. I can remember neighbors coming over and sitting on it with my parents. We new all the neighbors, and most of the families for several blocks. Every one said hello, or at least waved in greeting. If a neighbor needed help, they got it without asking. I see that same thing out here in the farm country. You neighbor may be a mile away, but you know who he is, and you can count on him.

It seems to me that cities and busy life do away with this. You don't trust you neighbor, and think you are too busy to get to know them. I would dare say that if you would take the time to shut off your TV, walk over, and knock on the door, you will probably find a nice person. And with time and effort, you will develop a trust and a friendship.

Another year, and what a year it was!

2008-12-28T22:44:00.004-07:00

Another year has passed, and very quickly it seems. Faster than I would like, yet at times, not fast enough. This year had its ups and downs, but God is in control and knows what is best for me. That, I am so thankful for! Without God, I don't know how I would have handled the downs. It is easy to take the ups, and think you have accomplished something yourself without God. In reality, He allowed you to do it, and gave you the ability. The downs are tough, but I have a God that loves me. Without Him, I don't know who I would turn to. I am also so thankful for the Godly people in my life.

So a review:

My year started with me living in Troutdale, Or. I was continuing my flight training with Hillsboro Aviation. April 3, 2008 I completed my instrument rating. On April 16, 2008 I completed my commercial rating for helicopters! What a dream come true! I have always wanted to fly. God allowed me to start that dream in June of 2007.

At that point I move back to Montana. I moved in with Tim and Michelle Klompien. They are such an amazing couple. They have taken me in and treated me like their own son. They are like second parents to me. They are such a Godly couple and I have grown so much under their teaching and discipleship. This is another highlight of my year!

In September, my sister had her baby. Kaden, they say is going to be like me. Walking early and nothing but trouble! Congrats to my sister Bethany and her husband Luke.

October saw my bro Jeremy marry the love of his life Allison! She is a great addition to the family. They are adjusting to married life in Rock Springs, Wyoming.

And that brings us to the present. I am still living in Bozeman (really 20 miles west on a farm). I am still working at Empire Building Materials. And I am still loving the mountains and the snow.

The year has brought new friends, which I am really enjoying. The year has brought many lessons as well, some of which I am not enjoying so much. But I know it is for the best, and God is in control. I look back at the last year, and know that I have it so good. I am so blessed by God. The only regret is causing pain in a friends life. I hope she can forgive me for that.

The year has ups: Helicopter trainng, a new nephew, a new sister-in-law, and new friends. The year has downs: Friends lost in battle (Semper Fi), young lives lost in accidents, and relationships not going the way I wanted. But we must take the ups and downs, knowing that God is in control, and we must learn from them. We must learn and grow in Christ! I pray I will continue that.

So what does 2009 bring? Many ask what the new year resolutions will be? I don't know. Time will tell. More than likely the future year will bring a shoulder surgery. That will be a down. The year will bring surprises, both good and bad. I am excited to see what will happen!

How do you know you are saved?

2008-11-25T22:15:00.001-07:00

Did you try?

2008-11-24T21:50:00.002-07:00

Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs even though checkered by failure, than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much because they live in the gray twilight that knows neither victory nor defeat.
Theodore Roosevelt
26th president of US (1858 - 1919)

Veterans Day

2008-11-11T22:43:00.002-07:00

The following letter is probably very well known. It has been quoted in movies, and I am sure used in many other forms.

Executive Mansion,
Washington, Nov. 21, 1864.

Dear Madam,--

I have been shown in the files of the War Department a statement of the Adjutant General of Massachusetts that you are the mother of five sons who have died gloriously on the field of battle.

I feel how weak and fruitless must be any word of mine which should attempt to beguile you from the grief of a loss so overwhelming. But I cannot refrain from tendering you the consolation that may be found in the thanks of the Republic they died to save.

I pray that our Heavenly Father may assuage the anguish of your bereavement, and leave you only the cherished memory of the loved and lost, and the solemn pride that must be yours to have laid so costly a sacrifice upon the altar of freedom.

Yours, very sincerely and respectfully,

A. Lincoln

Today around the country, many ceremonies marked the remembrance of the soldiers that served our country. As I sit here, I recall stories that my father told of his time in the military. I have friends that are currently serving, many of whom have served several tours of duty in Iraq or Afghanistan. Words indeed can not do justice to tell how thankful I am to those that serve this great country.

To my family, friends, and fellow Marines, that have served, or are serving:

Thank you for your service! This country owes you more than you will ever get. Some of you have come away with mental scars. Some physical. Some paid the ultimate price. But because of you, we still have our freedoms. May we never forget the sacrifices made by our soldiers. Without their willingness to serve, we would have no freedoms. I pray that you will take pride in serving. Stand straight, head up, and chest out.

Semper Fi!!!!

Killing

2008-10-17T21:40:00.002-06:00

I have had this conversation lately with a good friend. This person know some details that I cannot and will not share on this blog. Let me say though that this is a subject that has been wrestled over for quite some time and this is what I have written down with the encouragement of this friend. I look forward to any comments.

Can we kill biblically? I would say yes. First I must say that there are different types of killing.

1. Murder
2. Killing in self defense
3. Killing in war
4. Killing as a part of government law

Ok, let me address murder first. This is probably the easiest and most straight forward. It is wrong to kill someone in hate, or in a premeditated way. Ex 20:13 "Thou shalt not murder." Some translations say kill, but some people will argue that the hebrew word actually would translate better as murder. I don't know hebrew and don't claim to be an expert. God commands us not to take the life of another person due to our greed, hate, and own sinful desires.

Self defense. This actually falls under government allowed and biblically allowed.
Ex 22:2 - If a thief is found breaking in and is struck so that he dies, there shall be no bloodguilt for him. This is actually where the government based its laws in self defense. This is also God saying that if a person comes into your home intending to do harm, you can defend yourself, and if you kill him, there is not guilt on your part. We can also look at Rom 13:1
Rom 13:1 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.
If we look at this, God is the one that has instituted the government. In the USA, they have written laws that allow us to protect ourselves. The castle doctrine, adopted by every state that I know of, states that your home is your castle. You can retreat no further. You can use any force necessary to protect your castle.

Let me say that in this case, if God allows me to have a family, as the man and head of the household, I am responsible for protecting those that God has given to me (both physically and spiritually), and I would use all force, including killing, to protect that.

Now one time where I believe that self defense would be wrong, would be if we retaliated to persecution. They are specifically attacking us against Christ. We never see an example in the Bible where anyone retaliated to persecution. They either fled or stood and were a witness for Christ. If I am ever in that position, I pray that God gives me the strength to not react but to be a faithful witness for Christ so that others can see the love of Jesus and come to Him.

3 and 4 fall under the same category really. They are both permissive under government authority. Take war. There is killing in war. You have to use force to get the objective complete and to win the war. A war is started under government authority, and they give you the authority to use force and deadly force. God also used wars and permitted killing under these circumstances.

Government laws are the same. The death penalty has to be carried out by another person. God had very strict laws in the old testament. How do you think they got carried out? The leaders and those appointed by them carried out the punishment. Police are appointed to protect, and are permitted under certain circumstances to use deadly force. Those working in prisons that perform executions were appointed by the government and are authorized to carry out killing. God has established this pattern, and has used it for His glory.

Under these circumstance, it is my belief the it is ok and biblical to kill.

Let me say now that killing is not an easy thing. It has huge ramifications in your life and in others lives. There are many people that are affected and killing should not be taken lightly. All lives are precious in Gods eyes, and to needlessly take that is wrong.

I have asked myself, could I kill? The answer is yes, but it is something I pray I never have to do.

Flying

2008-09-25T21:42:00.003-06:00

One of the things I love in life is flying. No matter how much I get annoyed with people at work, or situations in my life, when I get in the air, I feel free. The cares of the world just go away. When I am flying, I get to sit back a view God's creation. When you see the views from the air, you just can't help but be in awe. I get to see the magnificent mountains with the streams and river flowing down the valleys. I see elk grazing on the side hills, bears foraging for food, and deer running through the golden wheat fields. I am so fortunate to see things from the air, that many people will never have the chance to see. God's creation is absolutely amazing!

I dreamed of flying for many years. At first it was airplanes. Then I saw a helicopter in action on a forest fire. That changed my mind right there. I thought, "I want to do that some day!" Finally in 2007 I was able to see the dream start to come true. I took my first lesson on June 1, 2007. On Aug 16, 2007 I got my private license. That was huge accomplishment for me. I was now a pilot. I continued, and finished my instrument rating on April 3, 2008, and finished my commercial license on April 16, 2008. I am currently working on my CFI so I can teach others to fly.

I am so blessed to be able to fly. God has blessed in so many ways that may have kept me from flying. It is by His hand that I am flying and I pray that I can honor and glorify Him with all I do flying!

War, right or wrong?

2008-09-23T21:23:00.003-06:00

I have been having this discussion with a friend lately, and it was suggested that I post my thoughts here. The discussion included whether war, or in this case, the war in Iraq, was necessary, constitutional, or biblical. So here are a few thoughts. I would appreciate any comments.

Some would argue the constitutionality of this war, but President was acting on information he received. That and he was acting to protect our country and the freedoms afforded in it. So many people seem to forget that fact, and would rather nitpick the war than to support our troops who willingly go into harms way, risking life and limb to protect our right to say negative things about them.

Is the war necessary? Maybe, maybe not. What if we had never gone into Iraq? What would it be like today? Maybe they would have had WMDs by now. How many more people would have died under Saddam's rule? Is it better to wait for another attack on the US to go in, or to do a pre-emtive strike and make sure another attack does not happen?

Now to the important question. Is it biblical? I guess you could ask if war itself is biblical. Yes and no again. Due to the fall on man in the garden of Eden, sin was introduced to the world. Now, people no longer got along. We see the first murder recorded in Gen 4. As there are more and more people on the earth, people start taking sides in a matter. To complicate things, God confused their languages at Babel. Then disagreements start a fight, people join sides and you get a little war. All the result of sin. Selfishness, greed, jealousy can all start a war, or just a wrong reaction. I guess I am saying war is a result of sin.

God used war. He told Israel to destroy the inhabitants of Canaan. Isn't that war? And God commanded it. He also allowed other countries to make war with and to conquer Israel as punishment for disobeying. Again this is a result of sin being in the world, but God used it.

How does all of this tie in to the Iraqi war? I don't think you could claim it is unbiblical. All one can say is that God is using it somehow. How would you know that God isn't using the US to punish Iraq? I just don't think you can make a claim as to a war being unbiblical. We do not know why God has allowed it, or what He is doing through it.

War is never pleasant. People get hurt and people get killed. It is not easy to watch someone die. You do learn to deal with it though. It is not easy to deal with death, especially when you know the person wasn't saved. You know that he is suffering more in eternal separation from God.
If war could be avoided, and lives saved, it would be great, but you cannot always avoid it.

Where were you?

2008-09-11T17:27:00.003-06:00

I was sitting there in my truck at work today when I heard that phrase. September 11, 2001. I was at work when it happened. I clocked out and when I got back to my dorm room, and friend called and said to get to a TV or radio. I flipped the radio on and heard the news instantly. I spent many hours that day (outside of class) watching the news to find out all the details. The images do not fade in my mind. It still angers me to this day, that someone could so easily plan and execute something like that, and justify it in the name of religion.

I wonder how easily people (and even myself at times) forget what happened? We remember once a year. See the images once a year. But then go back to our lives, because it does not affect us anymore. Because we forget so easily, how does that affect our security as a country. People feel that their rights are being violated by having to go through extra security at the airport or train depot. Or maybe are afraid that their emails or phone calls are being record, and think this is a violation of rights. Would you rather have an easy time at the airport, or would you rather go through that extra security and know you are safe from another 9/11? I will take that latter option.

I would also like to thank all of those that serve us. To the police, fire, medical and military that fight to make out streets and nation a safe place to live. They strive to make us secure from another attack, and I will support then 100%.

A special thanks to my friend Ryan, who serves out country in the Army! He has done two tours of duty in Iraq. Thank you my friend for serving and protecting our freedoms.

And to all my fellow Marines, SEMPER FI !!!!! God Bless!

Defamation of religion? Against who?

2008-08-31T22:26:00.003-06:00

Take a look at this article. I would be interested in what you think.

http://www.aclj.org/News/Read.aspx?ID=3032

I won't go into my opinion of the UN at the moment, other than to say I don't like them much.

As for this article, and the Muslim nation's resolution? The resolution is a blatant attack on other religions and an attempt to further their own without resistance. I am a Christian, so I will only talk about the impact it would have on me. If this resolution were to pass, my beliefs would be stifled. Any time I tried to share my beliefs, it would be considered a defamation of religion, or specifically, Islam, and I could be imprisoned, and maybe even killed for it. Now if my dying for my beliefs brought more people to Christ, I would gladly do it. But what about Muslims defaming Christians by calling us infidels? Would that cease? Or is this just a one way street?

What do you think?

My first deer hunt

2008-08-27T18:33:00.002-06:00

I was thinking about this as I drove to work in the dark this morning. I was a cool morning and cloudy, and just made me think of the trip up to hunt.

I was 12 and finally old enough to go big game hunting here in Montana. I have been out several times with my Dad to the rifle range to get the 270 (Voure Arms Mauser 98 Military, Sporterized) he bought me sighted in and ready to go. I had even spent several evening helping (and learning how to) reload for it. I was ready to go and excited. I didn't sleep that well due to the excitement. Finally fell asleep and it seems like only seconds till my dad was shaking me telling me it was time to get up. I rolled out of bed groggily and quickly got dressed. It was a cold morning with about 2 inches of fresh snow on top of already 6 inches. I got into my snow gear and headed down stairs. My mom had hot chocolate ready so I got a mug full for he trip up. I checked and double checked to make sure the bolt was in my rifle and I had my box of freshly loaded rounds. I could hear the 72 chevy suburban running out side. I threw my gear in the truck and climbed in up front next to my dad. My older brother climbed in back. It was colder than I thought and the defroster was having trouble keeping up. My dad's friend Bruce (who I have learned so much from!) showed up and off we went.

It was dark and cloudy out, with a touch of snow falling. The truck was finally warming up as we headed out of town for the 45 minute drive. We only saw a couple cars on the road, and you knew it was hunters heading out to their opening day spots. We finally turned onto the two track that led through the field and up the first hill to where we would park. It struck me that we couldn't see anything that wasn't in the headlights. Kind of like a tunnel effect. We got to the hill, and my dad climbed out and locked in the hubs. Kicked it into four wheel low for the climb up. It still amazes me today how steep that hill is, and they have improved the road. We made it up with out chains and dropped down a little on the other side of the ridge and parked.

I bundled up, and climbed out just as the first hints of gray where showing on the horizon. It was going to be a cold day. (The high turned out to be about 4 degrees and the low had been -10). My dad took me up over the ridge to the north and set me down with some trees behind me on a noll overlooking the draw running up to the mountains. He then positioned my brother and then took up a positions himself where he could see me but still have a clear shot if needed. Bruce headed back down the hill to push the deer out of the fields to us. I only saw some does, but my brother shot a nice buck.

I never did shoot anything that day, but I had so much fun. I was a great memory of hunting with my Dad and brother. Every year for 6 years my Dad, brothers, and I (and usually Bruce) spent opening day up there. I will hopefully return again this year (didn't make it last year) with my Dad for another hunt. And whether or not I get anything, I get to spend time with my father who is a great friend to me. The memories will last a lifetime.

Grandparents

2008-08-25T20:03:00.004-06:00

I dearly wish that I had the opportunity of knowing my grandfathers. Both of them died before I was born. I envy those that have time with there grandparents. It is not something to be taken for granted. I hope that those reading this that still have living grandparents will spend a lot of time with them. You will not regret it!

On my Mom's side, he was a hunter. If fact he used to take my mom with him on the week long elk hunting trips in Montana (lived in Billings). This seems a little odd considering my mom would never go hunting with us. She does go out with my Dad when he has no one else to go with. I would have loved to talk to my grandpa about his hunting stories and trips. His tips and advise. I have shot a few deer with the old Winchester Mod 70 270 (pre 64) that was passed down to my mom and dad when he died. That is my only connection with him.

On my Dad's side, as far as I know he was not a hunter. He was a very Godly man and was a teacher at Multnumah Bible College in Portland, OR. From what I hear, he was well liked by all the students and there were waiting lists to get into his classes. His love for God and people I can see in my father, and I hope can be seen in me. I have recently got a hold of some recordings of his classes. I am trying to listen to them. It is the first time I have ever heard his voice. Seems odd to be saying that because most people know what there grandparents voices sound like. I am thoroughly enjoying listening to these recordings.

There is one man that I have always considered my grandpa. This family took us under their wings when we moved to Montana in 1982. They practically adopted us. They have been my grandparents for years. I am so thankful for their involvement in my life! The advise and example they set is so valuable. As I get older and see them get older and closer to death, I try to spend more and more time with them. She is one of the best cooks I have ever known. But the biggest trait that I see is her prayer life. She never stops praying for me, and I can see the power of that in my life! He is like a big teddy bear. When younger we would wrestle with him, go sledding, and just have fun. His biggest infuence in my life though is not the fun we had, but his love for God. He buries himself in his study preparing Sunday school lessons, and writing a book. He used to teach a Montana Bible College (at that time it was Montana Institute of the Bible) which is now in Bozeman, MT. The mans wisdom is astounding. He is truely a hero in my eyes.

Some day as time passes, these grandparents too will pass away. And although it will be a sad occation, I will look back with joy on the infuence they had on me and the fond memories, and rejoice knowing that they are in heaven with the God that they love so much. I look forward to the day I will meet them there. I pray that if I am blessed with grandchildren, they can look at me and say, he loves God more than anything, and I want to be like him.

Intro

2008-08-24T18:05:00.002-06:00

Let me introduce myself. My name is Andrew Bradley. As you can tell from the blog title, I am from Montana. I grew up in Lewistown, MT. I really love hunting and shooting. I spend a lot of time researching guns. I have worked as a guide for elk and deer hunts. I have been hunting since I was old enough to hold a gun. I enjoy hiking, camping and most sports.

Helo Pilot. That is a little deceiving at this point. I am a rated commercial helicopter pilot, but that is not my job. Some day I will be flying as a pilot. Currently I am working on my Certified Flight Instructor rating.

The most important thing in my life is my relationship with Jesus Christ. I am a sinner, and God set His son Jesus to die for my sins. I have accepted that free gift of salvation offered and now have a real personal relationship with Jesus. Without Christ I am nothing and can do nothing. I thank God for Christian family and friends. I thank Him for allowing me to pursue my dreams of flying. God is so good!

You never know what might show up on this blog! A lot with God, family, country, guns, and helicopters.