“GUARD WITH JEALOUS ATTENTION THE PUBLIC LIBERTY”

Yesterday, I received a message from U.S. Senator Rand Paul regarding defending our Second Amendment Rights and a Presidential Memorial Certificate honoring the memory of Ron’s service in the Armed Forces signed by President Obama.

There is something incongruous about this, to say the least, but that’s to be expected in politics.

 Senator Paul’s message is yet another example of the wide division of the population on this topic.

Ironically, he mentions the recent secret banning by Obama of “the re-importation of nearly a million American made M1 Garand and Carbine rifles that “carried the U.S. through World War II seeing action in every major battle.”

Mr. Obama’s citation is in recognition of Ron’s “devoted and selfless consecration to the service of our country in the Armed Forces of the United States.”

Don’t get me wrong: I support our troops. I just don’t support our current wars.

I also support the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution, the part of the United States Bill of Rights that protects the right of the people of keep and bear arms that was adopted in 1791.

During the debate of the ratification of the Constitution, Patrick Henry, eloquently argued for “the dual rights to arms and resistance to oppression” saying, “Guard with jealous attention the public liberty. Suspect everyone who approaches that jewel. Unfortunately, nothing will preserve it but downright force. Whenever you give up that force, you are inevitably ruined.”

The fight between the gun-grabbers and the gun owners continues. I don’t know about you, but I’m “locked and loaded” and will support Senator Paul’s efforts to keep up the good fight. 

▪ Here is Senator Paul’s message:

“Dear Fellow Patriot,

 “Nearly 1 million American rifles.

 “Banned by a stroke of Barack Obama's pen.

 “In a move unprecedented in American history, the Obama Administration quietly banned the re-importation of nearly one million American made M1 Garand and Carbine rifles.

 “The M1 Garand, developed in the late 1930's, carried the United States through World War II seeing action in every major battle.

 “General Patton at the time called the M1 Garand "the greatest battle implement ever devised."

“The rifle is largely credited with giving American soldiers the advantage and securing victory for the allies.

“During the Korean War, nearly one million of these rifles were brought to South  Korea and left with the South Korean government afterward.

“Now, South Korea wants to give American gun collectors the chance to get their hands on this unique piece of history.

 “A piece of American history that Barack Obama would like to see go down the memory hole.

“That's why I want as many Americans as possible to put themselves on record opposing this gun ban by signing the Official Firearms Freedom Survey the National Association for Gun Rights has prepared for you.

“After World War II, the United States government sent millions of these rifles overseas to our allies and friends.

“Over the past 50 years, many of the countries we lent them to returned them to America to be bought and sold by firearms collectors.

“This is nothing new.

“Make no mistake; these rifles were made in America, by Americans, for Americans, to defend freedom on foreign shores.

“As a part of our history, they are greatly sought after by American shooters and collectors.

“But according to Hillary Clinton's State Department there is a danger they might ‘fall’ into the wrong hands.

“That they might, possibly, one day be used in a crime.

“No mention of the hundreds of thousands of gun owners deprived of the opportunity to own an integral part of American history.

“The State Department's outrageous claims are nothing more than a thinly veiled ploy to distract from the real issue:  President Obama's deep seated hatred for gun rights.

“While his gun-grabbing base is giddy with praise at this back-door gun ban, law-abiding citizens across the United States are crying foul.

“Let me be clear: at no time in U.S. history has the ownership of this firearm -- or any part of this firearm -- been illegal, restricted or banned.

“Americans have collected World War II M1 Garand and Carbine rifles for decades.

“Now they are sold through the Civilian Marksmanship Program.

“You can even purchase a newly manufactured model from Springfield Armory that was made just a month or two ago.

“And the M1 Garand's caliber or capacity is no more dangerous than the millions of modern firearms owned by Americans across the country today.

“As you can see, there is absolutely no justification for this unconstitutional gun ban by the Obama Administration:

-A new so-called ‘Assaults Weapon Ban’ -- targeting ALL semi-automatic rifles and shotguns -- which, unlike the Clinton ban, would NEVER expire;

-An outright BAN on ‘high capacity’ magazines -- banning the sale and manufacture of magazines holding more than just a handful of rounds;

-A National Concealed Carry ‘Standard’ -- designed to make it even more difficult for law-abiding citizens to carry a gun to protect themselves and their families from assault;

-Mayor Michael Bloomberg's ‘Catch-All Gun Control Scheme’ -- to create a national ‘cannot buy registry,’ allowing citizens to be stripped of their Second Amendment rights on a Justice Department whim, effectively banning all private gun sales.

“That's why it is essential that Americans like you and I take a stand against the M1 Garand gun ban!

“It has been common practice since the end of World War II to re-import these American made rifles from the foreign allies they were lent to during the war.

“But the Obama Administration departs radically from the American tradition.

“In fact, on top of banning American citizens from owning these historic firearms, Obama's State Department is arranging for the destruction of nearly one million of them -- ironically, at a time of ballooning federal deficits.

“It's an outrage!

“These firearms -- truly pieces of American history -- rightly belong in the hands of U.S. citizens.

“That's why I was glad to hear that the National Association for Gun Rights is helping fight this power grab in the U.S. Senate.

“Do you believe the U.S. Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and the Second Amendment are the supreme law of the land?

“Do you believe that President Obama banning the re-importation of these historic firearms is an unprecedented and unconstitutional power grab?

“Do you support Congress forcing President Obama to reverse his ban and save these American made rifles from destruction?

“If you said ‘Yes’ to these questions, please sign the Firearms Freedom Survey the National Association for Gun Rights has prepared for you.

“Your survey will put you squarely on the record AGAINST Barack Obama's Rifle Ban.”

He asks that along with signing the survey, he hopes a contribution will be made to help pay for “the massive program to launch the designed to force President Obama to reverse this ban.”

That plan includes “Direct mail. Phones. E-mail. Blogs. Guest editorials. Press conferences. Hard-hitting internet, newspaper, radio and even TV ads if funding permits. The whole nine yards.”

Adding to a call for contributions, he said, “the National Association for Gun Rights will continue contacting Second Amendment supporters to turn up the heat on targeted U.S. Senators.”

“So please put yourself on record AGAINST Barack Obama's Rifle Ban by signing NAGR's Firearms Freedom Survey.

“Thank you in advance for your time and money devoted to defending our Second Amendment rights.”

“For Freedom, [signed] Rand Paul, United States Senator" and added this post script:

“P.S. In a move unprecedented in American history, Barack Obama secretly banned the re-importation of nearly a million American made M1 Garand and Carbine rifles.

“The M1 Garand, developed in the 1930's, carried the U.S. through World War II seeing action in every major battle.”

▪ Here is the wording from the gold crested Presidential Citation:

“The United States of America honors the memory of Ronald C. Smith. This certificate is awarded by a grateful nation in recognition of devoted and selfless consecration to the service of our country in the Armed Forces of the United States. [signed] Barack Obama, President of the United States.”

He left out his middle name: Hussein.

▪ Today’s Guest Columnist is Mona Charen, writing about “Obama and the Future Fallacy” (courtesy of Townwhall.com’s editor, Jonathan Garthwaite.)

A DIFFICULT FEW WEEKS IN AFGHANISTAN

▪ Army Staff Sergeant Robert Bales, the 11-year military veteran with a string of commendations for good conduct, is in an isolated cell in the military prison at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas after being arrested for the March 11^th shooting spree in Afghanistan that killed 16 people, nine of them children, and setting many of them on fire.

Charges are expected to be handed down soon and he could face the death penalty.

Following his three tours in Iraq, after sustaining a concussion and losing part of a foot while serving there and receiving 20 commendations, he was sent to Afghanistan. His lawyer says the “possibility of post-traumatic stress disorder and the adequacy of his screening for the head injury will be examined.”

Afghanistan was his fourth tour. On the home front, he and his wife were facing financial difficulties and behind in mortgage payments. The house was put on the market this week. They bought the house in for $280,000 in 2005. The listing price is $229,000. If they get a buyer, they will likely have to take money to the settlement table-another example of the current epidemic that has befallen the housing market.

All the stories of the troubled Bales are coming out about his other financial problems, his rap sheet, and his dissatisfaction at being passed over for promotion.

War zone exposure tops the list of those suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder’s three sub-forms: acute, chronic, and delayed-onset.

Now after fighting his country’s wars, Staff Sergeant Bales is fighting his own wars: PDS and the fight for his life.

In the meantime, POTUS and Leon & the Defense Department (a great name for a rock band) are scrambling to put a palliative coating on the impact of this tragedy, along with the unrest following the recently burned Korans, and the adverse effects on our foreign policy with Afghanistan.

No doubt the policy is now in the crisis stage, not just in Afghanistan but also in the United States. With Osama bin Laden now dead, finally killed in Pakistan on May 2, 2011, after being on FBI’s list of Ten Most Wanted Fugitives and Most Wanted Terrorists with a $25 million bounty for ten years, and eluding death by remaining in hiding during several presidential administrations, many Americans are wondering aloud if it is time to declare this mission accomplished or incomplete.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton recently expressed her dismay of the tragic massacre but denied the incident would weaken the U.S’s. resolve in Afghanistan.

"This is terrible, awful—I can't even imagine the impact on the families who were subject to this attack and the loss of children in this terrible incident," she said. "This is not who we are, and the United States is committed to seeing those responsible held accountable," she added.

She went on to say, "Now, we've had a difficult and complex few weeks in Afghanistan. This terrible incident does not change our steadfast dedication to protecting the Afghan people and to doing everything we can to help build a strong and stable Afghanistan. ... But, we recognize that an incident like this is inexplicable and will certainly cause many questions to be asked” and vowed that the US would hold fully accountable the persons determined responsible.

Accountability by the US Government. Now that’s something you don’t hear often.

▪ The Fratricide of Blue on Blue

The Baltimore City Police Department is making the major changes recommended by the Independent Review Board, contacted by the City of Baltimore at $70,000, regarding the “friendly fire” death of Officer William Torbit, Jr., at the Select Lounge on January 9, 2011.

The independent reviewers determined that “the cardinal rules of policing were not followed and a disorganized response contributed to a chaotic situation surrounding the shooting.”

Officer Torbit Jr., on duty in street clothes that deadly night, was responding to a fracas at the Select Lounge, described on their website as “the premiere destination for sophisticated club connoisseurs, savvy socialites, Baltimore Ravens and the who's who of Baltimore”.

Investigators say that “Torbit likely fired the bullet that killed Sean Gamble as he was stomped by a group of six to eight people. Not knowing that Torbit was an officer, uniformed officers fired 42 shots in six seconds, striking and killing Torbit and wounding four others, including a uniformed officer.”

Responding to the report, Deputy Police Commissioner John Skinner said changes are being implemented immediately. “These are complete organizational changes. Unfortunately, this was a horrible tragedy, but we've tried to turn this into moving the department really aggressively in the right direction for the future.”

Changes include restrictions on who can work in plain clothes, the wearing of a badge in plain sight or an identifying vest, and the Department conducting internal investigations during the criminal investigations rather waiting for the final report.

Skinner said under the new rules, “Torbit would have been in uniform the night of the shooting. Training structures have been modified to focus on split second decision to use deadly force, “not just the mechanics of using a gun,” he added.

Preserving peace, protecting property and arresting offenders is a tough enough job without worrying about inadvertent “friendly fire” or the fratricide of blue on blue.

It appears that Officer Torbit’s autopsy report has fallen down the memory hole but at the very least, changes are being made.

▪ In Ron’s words: “One of the things about talking on the radio for a living is that you have to defend what you say every step of the way. Challenges to your conclusions aren’t filtered through the letters-to-the-editor department.”

 ▪ Due to requests, you can hear Ron recite Crazy Tim’s Rules. Scroll down the home page to the Friday, March 9^th post. It’s a good dose of Ron “cackling” at his best.

▪ Michelle Malkin, Daniel J. Mitchell and Michael Tanner are today’s guest columnists, courtesy of Townwhall.com’s editor, Jonathan Garthwaite. Its news you won’t find in the Baltimore Sun today or any day.  Ah, the Baltimore Sun. No wonder it always rolled off the left side of our porch.

Good News

Pat Buchanan sent me a very gracious note about Ron—and a very generous donation to the Ron Smith Pancreatic Cancer Research Fund at Hopkins.

Pat wrote that Ron was “a tough and tenacious warrior for all the things in which we both believed —and one of the pleasures of writing a book was the assurance that Ron and I would renew our friendship.

“He lived a good and productive life and I am proud to have called him a friend.”

Pat was the last guest Ron interviewed in the WBAL studio. He’d read Suicide of a Superpower and wanted to discuss the book with him while he still had time. Ironically, the day Pat was booked for the interview, Ron received a signed copy of the book in the mail, inscribed “To Ron Smith—In admiration of the good fight he has waged in our common cause, and in appreciation of all he has done for this author. God bless, my friend.”

That book was within Ron’s reach during his final days and is now with his other favorite things on display in our home in his honor with Pat’s note tucked inside the front cover.

(You can hear Ron's interview with Pat Buchanan here: Part 1 - Part 2 )

▪ William Nelson, M.D., Ph.D., director of the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, sent me a letter on behalf of everyone at the Center for establishing the Ron Smith Pancreatic Cancer Research Fund in Ron’s memory. 

He said, “We have entered a new era in cancer medicine. We are transforming from a model in which we see patients for the first time when they begin experiencing symptoms to one that detects, manages, and often eradicates cancers before patients even know they have them. I am proud to tell you that research done at the Kimmel Cancer Center is driving this progress. Our investigators have led the world in deciphering the specific cellular alterations that cause cancers and drive their growth, and now our clinicians are leading the world in moving these discoveries to personalized therapies.” 

“Our discoveries have led to simple blood tests that can detect the tiniest of tumors and treatments that attack cancer cells without harming normal cells.

“The research that is leading to these pioneering breakthroughs would not have been possible without the support of donors like you. Unquestionable we have more work to do before these exciting new treatments become the new standard of care for cancer patients. Private philanthropy has uniquely positioned the Kimmel Cancer Center to make revolutionary advances against cancer—advances that could only be imagined a decade ago. Therefore, I want to personally thank you for helping us usher in this new era in cancer medicine.”

▪ I want to personally thank all of you for your donations fulfilling Ron’s commitment to pancreatic cancer research at Hopkins and helping usher in this “new era in cancer medicine” in Ron’s memory.

▪ Team Reason is working on the next event: Sunday, May 20th, an outdoor family-friendly BBQ bash at Andy Nelson's Southern Pit BBQ, Ron's favorite BBQ place.  This is an event FoRS won’t want to miss: fine "Q" and their "Extra Fixin’s" and a mighty fine way to remember Ron. Details on the Events page.

▪ Michael Barone is today’s guest columnist, courtesy of Townwhall.com’s editor, Jonathan Garthwaite,  "Pundits Gasp as Economy Dents Obama’s Poll Numbers.”

HAPPY HUMP DAY!

Good for some, not so good for others:

▪ Maryland judges will receive a 3 percent annual salary increase for three years starting July 1, 2013. The House of Delegates voted Tuesday to phase in a pay hike for judges, a three percent increase over the next three years. Since it was passed as a “joint resolution” rather than a “traditional” bill, First Lady Katie’s husband won’t have to sign it, but she, along with other district court judges currently earning over $127,000 a year, will benefit from the boost with their estimated earnings topping $141,000 by July, 2015.

The Chief Judge of the Maryland Court of Appeals, who tops the totem pole, will see his $181,000+ yearly salary increase to over $195,000.

▪ Governor Martin O'Malley appears before a pair of committees today in Taxappolis to convince lawmakers to approve his proposal for a sales tax on gasoline to pay for road and bridge projects. He’s acknowledged that it is “difficult to convince lawmakers to approve the tax as gasoline prices top $4-a-gallon in the Baltimore area,” but I’m sure he’ll do his best to get it passed. It’s been a long time since the former Mayor of Baltimore and now 61st Governor of Maryland pumped a tank of gas and watched the dollars add up as quickly as the national deficit. You need a Big Gulp to wash the bad taste out of your mouth after the big gulp you take when topping off the tank.

▪ Citigroup, MetLife, and SunTrust need to study harder. They failed the Fed’s “stress test” yesterday. Fifteen other fine financial institutions made the grade. The “stress test” has been conduction yearly since 2009 but the 2010 or 2011 results were not publicized. We can all get a better night’s sleep now, knowing that the American banking system overall is in good shape.

▪ Jermaine Jones has apparently dropped out of "American Idol." No doubt Ryan Seacrest is misting his throat more than necessary for the big announcement tonight. Fortunately, unlike the Oscars, the show can’t run over and J.Lo will have to weep within the allotted time. A Fox spokeswoman declined to comment on the matter or confirm Jones’ tweet.

▪ Good news, bad news from The Commerce Department:

The overall economy grew 1.7 percent in 2011.

 U.S. foreign aid payments totaled $33.3 billion in the fourth quarter, slightly lower than the $33.5 billion in payments made in the third quarter.

The current account trade deficit increased 15.3 percent in the October-December quarter, to $124.1 billion. For the year, the current account deficit rose 0.6 percent to $473.4 billion (the largest imbalance since 2008).

The January deficit for U.S. trade in goods and services increased to $52.6 billion (the largest monthly imbalance in more than three years).

▪ Really good news: March Madness is in full swing!

▪ Time to think about putting your Encyclopaedia Britannica collection on e-Bay unless you’re a book collector or a hoarder as it’s going out of print after 244 years and “will focus on its online encyclopedia.”  

▪ Dr. Walter Williams is today’s guest columnist, courtesy of Townwhall.com’s editor, Jonathan Garthwaite, writing about the timidity of Americans and their acceptance of “all manner of intrusive governmental acts.”