Posted on 01/25/2014 12:21:50 PM PST by Dick Bachert
By now, this story is old news to those involved in the on-going battle to preserve the Second Amendment.
For those who are not, here's the story:
A national newspaper chain with nearly 100 publications and 1.6 million readers is considering building “state-by-state databases” on concealed weapons permit holders, according to an internal e-mail. The plan, laid out in an email from a top editor at North Carolina-based Civitas Media, could be similar to a controversial project a New York state newspaper carried out in 2012 which included an online map that identified gun owners in two counties by name and address. Civitas' database project was detailed in a Jan. 19 e-mail to newsrooms across the chain, which has papers in 11 states, including Ohio, Illinois and Pennsylvania. The newest project "examines the explosion of ‘conceal and carry’ gun permits across the U.S.,” wrote Jim Lawitz, Civitas’ director of content, in an e-mail first obtained by the Buckeye Firearms Association. “Through public records act requests, we will attempt to build state-by-state databases that list those who have the right to carry a concealed weapon.”
After learning of this, I sent the following email to Mr. Michael Bush, President and CEO of Civitas:
From: Dick Bachert [mailto:richard.bachert@comcast.net]
Sent: Friday, January 24, 2014 4:20 PM
To: Michael Bush
Subject: Bad idea
Mr. Bush, The proposal to publish a CCW database state by state is a really bad idea. You might want to have a chat with Jim Lawitz about it before it goes much further.
Have a nice day.
Dick Bachert
Citizen and Vietnam era vet.
(For those on my rather voluminous email BCC list, here's a link to the situation referenced in this email. You might also wish to send Mr. Bush, CEO of Civitas Media an email as well.)
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2014/01/24/newspaper-chain-seeks-to-build-state-by-state-concealed-weapon-databases/ "One of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by your inferiors." Plato
Except for the 40%+ who still support obozo, these words have NEVER been more accurate.
***********************************
Several drinks over his capacity at his favorite Maryland horse track, Harry Hopkins, chief adviser to that hero of American "progressives", FDR, candidly blurted out to a group of reporters THE progressive formula for political success still the norm under Obozo, to wit: "We shall tax and tax, spend and spend and elect and elect. The people are too damn dumb to understand!"
Now who do you suppose those people might be?
************
All men lose when freedom fails, when good men rot in filthy jails. And those who cried "Appease, appease..." Are hanged by those they sought to please.
Within 11 minutes, I received this reply from Mr. Bush:
From: "Michael Bush"
To: "Dick Bachert"
Sent: Friday, January 24, 2014 4:31:06 PM
Subject: RE: Bad idea
A bad idea indeed.
Civitas Media never had any plans or intentions of publishing in print or online lists of holders of “conceal and carry” permits. Nor will Civitas Media develop databases of permit holders. A poorly crafted internal memo meant to highlight editorial discussions and planning incorrectly indicated that such a database was being planned; it has been considered and rejected.
Michael C. Bush
President and CEO
To which I responded with this:
From: Dick Bachert [mailto:richard.bachert@comcast.net]
Sent: Friday, January 24, 2014 4:43 PM
To: Michael Bush
Subject: Re: Bad idea
Great!
That said, we shall continue to monitor your activities -- just in case the individual who constructed that "poorly crafted internal memo" has his/her word processor returned.
It might be safe to plug in your email server in a few days. It may take that long for the inbound traffic to subside.
Have a really great day and thank you for your response.
Dick Bachert
5 minutes later, Mr. Bush sent this:
From: "Michael Bush"
To: "Dick Bachert"
Sent: Friday, January 24, 2014 4:48:28 PM
Subject: RE: Bad idea
Thank for writing back. It might be good for me to take a couple days off from email anyway! Thanks for the quotes below as well!
Michael C. Bush
President and CEO
To which I replied thus:
From: Dick Bachert [mailto:richard.bachert@comcast.net]
Sent: Friday, January 24, 2014 5:00 PM
To: Michael Bush
Subject: Re: Bad idea
Mr. Bush,
You are more than welcome.
And let me wish you abundant success with Civitas -- with one qualifier: Do please to remember that, despite the growing abuses off it, we still have a Constitution, one key element of which is the FIRST AMENDMENT. If we should ever lose the SECOND AMENDMENT, the others will quickly follow. If you don't believe that, you need to study the history of what happens to a nation where the people are incapable of resisting a government run amok. There was even a time when Democrats embraced that view, to wit:
"The right of citizens to bear arms is just one guarantee against arbitrary government, one more safeguard against the tyranny which now appears remote in America, but which has historically has proved to be always possible." The late Senator – and presidential candidate -- Hubert Humphrey (D Minnesota)
My humble little video on these vital topics is here if you can spare a few minutes in what has, I'm sure, become a rather busy day:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dqw7kXG0kxU
Regards,
Dick Bachert
And, here's where it got interesting – and somewhat poignant:
Dear Dick, “It is not too late” to answer the question you posed in your video. My grandparents were among those who fled from tyranny to come to this country. My grandmother loved this Country so much for the freedoms that it provided that she spent a lot of time teaching me this when I was young. I have not forgotten, best,Michael
My bottom line in all of this?
1. Those of us who continue to resist ANY encroachments on our God-given rights to protect ourselves and our loved ones from tyrants and criminals of the private or PUBLIC variety CAN, if we take swift and concerted action, have an impact.
2. Organizations most often consist of folks holding widely varied worldviews. It does happen that someone down the food chain will, unbeknownst to the folks in the corner offices, act in ways inimical to the values of those charged with guiding the organization. This may be a classic case of just that.
3. The tops of organizations are subject to often radical changes as people come and go, bringing in NEW values while the OLD ones move out.
4. I believe Mr. Bush's words in that last email were from his heart and I'm going to give those words the benefit of the doubt. One would have to be a complete hypocrite to invoke the name and spirit of a beloved grandmother to conceal a hidden agenda. I do not believe Mr. Bush is a hypocrite.
5. All of that said, I'm sure those concerned with where this country has gone and may be headed will continue to monitor all the opinion molding organizations out there for any signs that they have an agenda inimical to the Constitution and the freedoms for which so many have fought and died.
You can count on me to do so!
Kudos! for all the right reasons.
Concomitantly, why not make a database of all the non-gun owners and where they live?
Two can play this game. Let’s consider a state by state database of the names and home addresses of newspaper editors and reporters.
If they are going to spend a small fortune building a database of Consealed Carry Permit holders, they have an agenda. I don’t know what it is yet. My first guess is they are going for a financial gain. If that is not correct, keep a real close eye on them because they have a socialist agenda.
Anytime you buy something that can be used towards living a self reliant lifestyle with a credit card, you are adding your name to the data control list of the Agenda 21 keepers. From fish hooks to ammunition to vegetable seeds. They all indicate that you will be one of the ones who will resist the orders to move to the city high rise.
The computers that we have today keep track of the most inane things. Adding your name voluntarily isn’t what I consider to be the smartest thing a person can do.
I sent the first of three messages starting at 11:48 am Pacific. The first response came in about four minutes. The second response in two. And the third response was time-stamped just one minute after my email.
This would appear to mean that I received three responses while you were waiting for yours.
It does seem as if Civitas has some players with anti-gun sentiments and that not everybody there shares them. We'll see.
My time stamps were off because of the time zone difference. It is possible that my response was in about 40 minutes. But the fact is they were liklely inundated and had to get out the responses very quickly and stop the tsunami.
That would put it within just a couple of minutes of mine. Makes sense.
We may have been among the first to whom he responded. Who knows how long he spent at the computer today. If he was truly unaware of this nonsense and was blind-sided by an employee with an agenda he is probably pretty ticked off.
Prior to the Heller and McDonald decisions, gun owners would find themselves at a distinct disadvantage in the public arena due to nonsense like the corrupted version of the Miller decision.
It was hard to logically refute the "collective rights" interpretation when it had, in fact, been adopted by some of the highest courts in the land.
That's not so anymore which makes people like me all the more impatient to see the right restored and much less willing to tolerate liberal misbehavior.
Soon I suspect we will see a changing attitude among gun owners here in Kalifornia. Assuming we get the proper results in the many cases awaiting rulings here, we will be well positioned to take our case to the legislature and DEMAND repeal of their infringements.
It's time that it stopped being a felony to attach a three ounce plastic pistol grip to a rifle.
Guys, Shortly after posting this piece, I had the following exchange with Michael Bush. I share it in hopes that he IS what he purports to be and will direct Civitas into areas more aligned with our Constitution and freedom generally.
We have two ways to go here: We can give these folks the benefit of that earlier mentioned doubt and attempt to bring them to our side or we can continue to hammer them, causing them to adopt positions they do not, in fact, now hold or intensify those they do. It’s the old tried and true, more flies with honey than with vinegar thingy.
That said, those of you inclined to do so certainly should pursue the proposed Civitas publication/personnel database and we all should closely monitor their activities vis-a-vis the proposal for the CCW database. If they should go public with the CCW database — ALL BETS ARE OFF!
My last exchange with Michael Bush follows below.
From: Dick Bachert [mailto:richard.bachert@comcast.net]
Sent: Saturday, January 25, 2014 11:22 PM
To: Michael Bush
Subject: Trip to Monticello
Michael, This is my last unsolicited email — PROMISE — but thought you might find this one of interest:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8p1xeAckrPU&feature=c4-overview&list=UUFDlhK80EdO28R-iGTXiGaw
Dick
Michael’s reply:
Thank you for sharing it. This is very well done; I particularly enjoy the digressions. I have been to Monticello four times. Once on a boy scout trip when I was very young. I returned again in college and then I took my children there when they were small. Last year, when moving to North Carolina with me wife, we went to Monticello as she had never been there. I surprised myself that even after all these years, I still got that childlike feeling of awe as I walked the house and grounds. Although I have been to Mount Vernon twice and enjoyed it immensely both times, there is just something extra special about Monticello, be well, Michael
Guys, Shortly after posting this piece, I had the following exchange with Michael Bush. I share it in hopes that he IS what he purports to be and will direct Civitas into areas more aligned with our Constitution and freedom generally.
We have two ways to go here: We can give these folks the benefit of that earlier mentioned doubt and attempt to bring them to our side or we can continue to hammer them, causing them to adopt positions they do not, in fact, now hold or intensify those they do. It’s the old tried and true, more flies with honey than with vinegar thingy.
That said, those of you inclined to do so certainly should pursue the proposed Civitas publication/personnel database and we all should closely monitor their activities vis-a-vis the proposal for the CCW database. If they should go public with the CCW database — ALL BETS ARE OFF!
My last exchange with Michael Bush follows below.
From: Dick Bachert [mailto:richard.bachert@comcast.net]
Sent: Saturday, January 25, 2014 11:22 PM
To: Michael Bush
Subject: Trip to Monticello
Michael, This is my last unsolicited email — PROMISE — but thought you might find this one of interest:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8p1xeAckrPU&feature=c4-overview&list=UUFDlhK80EdO28R-iGTXiGaw
Dick
Michael’s reply:
Thank you for sharing it. This is very well done; I particularly enjoy the digressions. I have been to Monticello four times. Once on a boy scout trip when I was very young. I returned again in college and then I took my children there when they were small. Last year, when moving to North Carolina with me wife, we went to Monticello as she had never been there. I surprised myself that even after all these years, I still got that childlike feeling of awe as I walked the house and grounds. Although I have been to Mount Vernon twice and enjoyed it immensely both times, there is just something extra special about Monticello, be well, Michael
Guys, Shortly after posting this piece, I had the following exchange with Michael Bush. I share it in hopes that he IS what he purports to be and will direct Civitas into areas more aligned with our Constitution and freedom generally.
We have two ways to go here: We can give these folks the benefit of that earlier mentioned doubt and attempt to bring them to our side or we can continue to hammer them, causing them to adopt positions they do not, in fact, now hold or intensify those they do. It’s the old tried and true, more flies with honey than with vinegar thingy.
That said, those of you inclined to do so certainly should pursue the proposed Civitas publication/personnel database and we all should closely monitor their activities vis-a-vis the proposal for the CCW database. If they should go public with the CCW database — ALL BETS ARE OFF!
My last exchange with Michael Bush follows below.
From: Dick Bachert [mailto:richard.bachert@comcast.net]
Sent: Saturday, January 25, 2014 11:22 PM
To: Michael Bush
Subject: Trip to Monticello
Michael, This is my last unsolicited email — PROMISE — but thought you might find this one of interest:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8p1xeAckrPU&feature=c4-overview&list=UUFDlhK80EdO28R-iGTXiGaw
Dick
Michael’s reply:
Thank you for sharing it. This is very well done; I particularly enjoy the digressions. I have been to Monticello four times. Once on a boy scout trip when I was very young. I returned again in college and then I took my children there when they were small. Last year, when moving to North Carolina with me wife, we went to Monticello as she had never been there. I surprised myself that even after all these years, I still got that childlike feeling of awe as I walked the house and grounds. Although I have been to Mount Vernon twice and enjoyed it immensely both times, there is just something extra special about Monticello, be well, Michael
Guys, Shortly after posting this piece, I had the following exchange with Michael Bush. I share it in hopes that he IS what he purports to be and will direct Civitas into areas more aligned with our Constitution and freedom generally.
We have two ways to go here: We can give these folks the benefit of that earlier mentioned doubt and attempt to bring them to our side or we can continue to hammer them, causing them to adopt positions they do not, in fact, now hold or intensify those they do. It’s the old tried and true, more flies with honey than with vinegar thingy.
That said, those of you inclined to do so certainly should pursue the proposed Civitas publication/personnel database and we all should closely monitor their activities vis-a-vis the proposal for the CCW database. If they should go public with the CCW database — ALL BETS ARE OFF!
My last exchange with Michael Bush follows below.
From: Dick Bachert [mailto:richard.bachert@comcast.net]
Sent: Saturday, January 25, 2014 11:22 PM
To: Michael Bush
Subject: Trip to Monticello
Michael, This is my last unsolicited email — PROMISE — but thought you might find this one of interest:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8p1xeAckrPU&feature=c4-overview&list=UUFDlhK80EdO28R-iGTXiGaw
Dick
Michael’s reply:
Thank you for sharing it. This is very well done; I particularly enjoy the digressions. I have been to Monticello four times. Once on a boy scout trip when I was very young. I returned again in college and then I took my children there when they were small. Last year, when moving to North Carolina with me wife, we went to Monticello as she had never been there. I surprised myself that even after all these years, I still got that childlike feeling of awe as I walked the house and grounds. Although I have been to Mount Vernon twice and enjoyed it immensely both times, there is just something extra special about Monticello, be well, Michael
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.