Texas governor challenges Obama to 'come and take' the Lone Star state's guns

UK Daily Mail ^ | 3 January 2016 | Kelly McLaughlin

[Windflier]

Funny thing. The original Goliad cannon wasn't that big or impressive a piece of ordnance. But it stood for something.

Do you know if the famous cannon of Goliad is still kept in that city? My wife and I stopped in Goliad during a trip last year, and would have made it a point to see it if we knew it was there. I really should have asked.

[archy]

Do you know if the famous cannon of Goliad is still kept in that city?

Sort of. Last I was out that way, it was in the museum at the Mission Espiritu Santo in Goliad State Historical Park, at Goliad in Victoria County.

You may get some arguments about *which* cannon was the one depicted on the Gonzales flag, and there are a couple of possible contenders. But the fellas who were there and knew for sure are now long gone, and took their stories with them, mostly. No matter: they set the example for us, and then as now, it war'n't much of a cannon anyway- but it was quite a symbol.

But I know a good ol' Texian boy we can check with....Oh, Squantos! How 'bout it. Don't tell me you done swiped those nice folks old brass cannon?

BTW: my vote for the Gonzales cannon goes to this one.

[archy]

You've been added to the Texas state ping list. Welcome!

'preciate it! And thank you!

[WTFOVR]

Thanks for the correction ... Duh-oh! ;)

[archy]

Those means were defined by the term “Arms” - a term confined to a very specific definition, as it was understood by those who wrote the Amendment.

Ah. So the Strategic Arms Limitation Agreement was only about those personally carried weapons? Nope, don't think so!

Meanwhile, back at the ranch:

GOA files amicus brief in U.S. v. Watson

[WTFOVR]

As usual, people attempt to apply the meanings of words used in modernity with the meaning that was used at the time of the American war for Independence. Ever hear of the term “Original Intent” or “Historical Context”? Obviously, no, you have not. Rather lame attempt on your part.

[Arthur Wildfire! March]

Who knows? Maybe originalism can be taught. But that would require a radical overhaul of education.

[Arthur Wildfire! March]

My personal dream is this — prohibit the federal government from regulating non-nuclear, non-WMD hand-held firearms, period. No federal laws about such weapons outside of federal property .

And let states have leeway to regulate machine guns etc. And states would be in charge of presidentail/candidate security — each negotiating with candidates individually, but with enumerated restrictions.

No ammo tax. No clip-size limit. No gun tax. No nuisance suits regarding guns.

Each state can work it out for itself.

[archy]

But that would require a radical overhaul of education.

Are you familiar with a 1959 novel by retired Admiral Robert A. Heinlein entitled Starship Troopers? [NOT the motion picture of that same name but little else] And by chance are you a veteran of U.S. military service?

Ret. Admiral Heinlein suggested a governmental reform or two that might lead things in the direction you mention, and even outlined a proposed *History and Moral Philosophy* course somewhat similar in some respects but very different in others from the fairly boring Government and Civics classes I attended in the early 1960s. But including the history behind many of the governmental foundations takes much of the boring right out of the classroom.

In 1993 I was one of a handful of local citizens involved with a long-range planning committee for one of our three local school corporations; of which I am a graduate. Since that school can trace its origin back in excess of two hundred years, that could have been quite a chunk to bite off, but we settled on 25 years hence, and a H&MP addition to the curriculum was among the ideas considered. No Child's Behind Left Alone and ISTEP killed it, of course, and instead the carrot-and-stick methods of rating teachers for bonuses or early retirement seems to be taking hold instead.

And where do those expelled teachers go? You might think that attorneys and lawyers would be the most represented trade in the state legislature, but it's not here. It's teachers, active and *retired* and professional educators, with a smattering of local school members pitched in. The result has been about what you might imagine.

[archy]

My personal dream is this - prohibit the federal government from regulating non-nuclear, non-WMD hand-held firearms, period. ... . And let states have leeway to regulate machine guns etc

But that's not the original intent you described. You DO know who Tenche Coxe was? Surely you would consider a delegate for Pennsylvania to the Continental Congress in 1788-1789 as one of the original founders...?

Who are the militia? Are they not ourselves?

Is it feared, then, that we shall turn our arms each man gainst his own bosom. Congress has no power to disarm the militia.

Their swords, and every other terrible implement of the soldier, are the birthright of an American.

[T]he unlimited power of the sword is not in the hands of either the federal or state governments, but, where I trust in God it will ever remain, in the hands of the people.

-Tenche Coxe. Per Wikipedia entry linked above, Pennsylvania militia records of 1780, 1787, and 1788 listed Coxe as a militia private. He was appointed revenue commissioner by President George Washington on June 30, 1792, and served until removed by President John Adams

I would dearly love to be able to invite Mssrs Henry Knox and former Private Tenche Coxe to one of our local shoots. Hold your ears, lads!

[Arthur Wildfire! March]

Are you familiar with a 1959 novel [Starship Troopers]?

Sorry, just the movie. I did notice the idea of military personnel having the vote. Intriguing. Expanded my consiousness [although that precise idea not workable].

“And by chance are you a veteran of U.S. military service?”

No, but I’ve studied military history.

‘Ret. Admiral Heinlein suggested a governmental reform or two that might lead things in the direction you mention, and even outlined a proposed *History and Moral Philosophy* course somewhat similar in some respects but very different in others from the fairly boring Government and Civics classes I attended in the early 1960s.’

Actually, I’ve given education reform a lot of thought. We need something that 3/4 of state governments agree on.

One thing to help represent the military viewpoint would be to empower veterans who have seen action to vote for a debate planner who can mandate fair ‘web conferencing’ debates [no coordinator, just a timer]. Each professor, congress critter, and judge could be mandated to no more than one annual debate by someone invited by the veterans’ debate planner [funded by voluntary contributions].

‘But including the history behind many of the governmental foundations takes much of the boring right out of the classroom.’

Right. History is exciting [even scary and horrifying] from a military viewpoint.

I’ve also worked on another mandate — that certain movie clips be required viewing unless the child has a parental slip — such as from Pearl Harbor, Saving Private Ryan, Sergeant York, etc.

I also wrote another suggestion — a cyber-based de-centralization of education with options to educate children with computer game technology as well as videos, with each church allowed to work out its own [though muslims would need to be a little careful the way I suggest it].

My suggestions might have shocked a few people. Never checked for feedback:

Our Nation’s Future, part 1 [education] vanity

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/3290790/posts

You might want to offer your own ideas or input:

[Arthur Wildfire! March]

‘But that’s not the original intent you described.’

I’m trying to dovetail freedom with political reality. Right now, states have far more leeway than I described due to court precedent. Original intent could go a long way to increase gun rights, but voters would shy away from it when it comes to WMDs, machine guns, etc.

So better the states have enumerated power than the ATF.

[archy]

Are you familiar with a 1959 novel [Starship Troopers]?

Sorry, just the movie. I did notice the idea of military personnel having the vote. Intriguing. Expanded my consiousness [although that precise idea not workable].

Not at all. Those serving in the military were specifically excluded from exercising the franchise; it was only after serving an honorable tour- and there was no way that enlistment could be refused- that the veteran could vote. And it was not just military veterans; long-serving civil servants and other career governmental employees- including medical specialists and educators- were included as well, although most of their career paths began with a single two-year volunteer hitch.

One can lead a child to knowledge but one cannot make him think." Suddenly he pointed his stump at me. "You. What is the moral difference, if any, between the soldier and the civilian?"

"The difference, I said carefully, "lies in the field of civic virtue. A soldier accepts personal responsibility for the safety of the body politic of which he is a member, defending it, if need be, with his life. The civilian does not."

Actually, I’ve given education reform a lot of thought. We need something that 3/4 of state governments agree on.

We need something that ONE state agrees on, adopts and proves workable first. John T. Gatto has offered some interesting ideas.

Right. History is exciting [even scary and horrifying] from a military viewpoint.

The other side of the coin is economics. Put them together, and THAT's scary!

I’ve also worked on another mandate — that certain movie clips be required viewing unless the child has a parental slip — such as from Pearl Harbor, Saving Private Ryan, Sergeant York, etc.

Fake. Try Das Boot, Clint Eastwood's Letters from Iwo Jima, or if Europe 1945 is your thing, try Brad Pitt as a tank commander in Fury

Oh yeah, for the foreign language students, 9ya rota, [don't forget that more folks speak Russian than French and German combined] Talvisota [in Finnish] for the circumstances that led to the Second World War, and, so far as our decade in Iraq/Afghanistan the 2009 Japanese documentary *Catshit One.

I also wrote another suggestion — a cyber-based de-centralization of education with options to educate children with computer game technology as well as videos, with each church allowed to work out its own [though muslims would need to be a little careful the way I suggest it]. ... . My suggestions might have shocked a few people. Never checked for feedback:

Oh, Lordy: The glass teat. JUST what we need. BTW: you heard about Oregon's plan to kill off student loans for college?

[Arthur Wildfire! March]

‘Try Das Boot, Clint Eastwood’s Letters from Iwo Jima, or if Europe 1945 is your thing, try Brad Pitt as a tank commander in Fury’

I never got to see Das Boot, but Fury was at the library. Incredible portrayal. Letters/Iwo Jima — didn’t talk radio criticize it? Or is my fuzzy memory off. I saw it. Very powerful IMHO.

Not too worried. Mandatory viewing is a ‘throwaway idea’. I’m actually more determined to have ‘mandatory debates’ — fair time/no moderator/web conferencing. If all students, for example, made to hear Israel debate with a rep from Mecca. Etc.

[bert]

-——Letters from Iwo Jima-—

Is there a copy or production of Letters in english or is it always in Japanese with english subtitles”

[Arthur Wildfire! March]

I posted a fresh vanity.

Empowering States to Revolutionize AND Modernize Education [vanity]
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/3381604/posts

Not sure what a ‘glass teat’ is, but I’ve been swapping ideas with people online for a long, long time now and know what people want, what education needs, and how people learn. Curiosity should be tickled and the driving force rather than a regimented plan. Children, particulary males, must be incentivized and challenged more intensely than girls.

FRegards ....

[Arthur Wildfire! March]

Bless you, Bert. I doubt it. We’re all supposed to feel stupid if we only speak English, the most important language on earth. And it takse a lifetime to master English, so they can go take their bilingual snoodiness and stick it where the sun don’t shine.

I personally think that the most recent Pearl Harbor does a fine job — especially in certain parts — of empahasizing the need for military preparedness, the vulnerability of static defense [such as conserving fuel by keeping so many ships statically placed], the danger of being too trustful, etc.

And the start of Saving Private Ryan — that beach scene shows how risky and dangerous it is to let someone like Hitler get too powerful.

[bert]

yes, yes, you are right, but this was a Clint movie!!

and, I have heard there is such an English dubbed version

[Arthur Wildfire! March]

Glad to hear it. I’m getting sick of half a movie being in subtitles [Rewind, replay, pause — broken momentum and white text with a white background]. Almost as bad as annoying ‘mood’ music or strobe lights all the time.

I don’t mind a smattering of foreign dialogue, but good grief!

[Arthur Wildfire! March]

Annoying mood music — shrill violins, saxaphone ‘traffic jams’, hard-note lingering piano pounding, constant trumpets so loud you can’t hear the mumbling actors.