Free Republic

Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump -- who said he has a concealed carry permit -- called for the expansion of gun rights Friday, including making those permits applicable nationwide. In a position paper published on his website Friday afternoon, Trump called for the elimination of gun and magazine bans, labeling them a "total failure." "Law-abiding people should be allowed to own the firearm of their choice. The government has no business dictating what types of firearms good, honest people are allowed to own," Trump wrote.

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) - Puerto Rico's governor signed an executive order Friday banning the use of plastic bags across the U.S. territory, defying legislators who just days ago rejected a similar bill. The ban will take effect in mid-2016 and will be preceded by a six-month educational campaign, Gov. Alejandro Garcia Padilla said.

No more Trump? Glenn Beck‘s program with Pat Gray and Stu Burguiere is taking HuffPost‘s stance on Donald Trump a giant step further — they’re going to pretend he doesn’t exist. “It’s the Glenn Beck Program with Pat & Stu, now 100% Trump Free, with 100% Less Trump,” Gray announced on Wednesday’s program. “I’m sick of it,” said Burguiere. “So we’re moving on. Can’t do another show.” Late last week, HuffPost declared that the site was moving the presidential frontrunner to its entertainment pages. Although they’re not entirely doing that.

If you've been watching the news recently, you'll know of the huge debate in the U.S over the role of the Confederate flag in contemporary America. Many see it as a reminder of the many pre-Civil War injustices while others see it simply as a way to honor the soldiers who died for the Confederacy. Many large US companies, like Walmart and Amazon, have already banned the sale of any Confederate flag merchandise as a reaction to the recent events. Now, it appears that Apple has decided to join them by pulling many Civil War wargames from the App Store....

Amazon.com is making a HUGE mistake with their recent banning of sales of the Confederate flag. Not only is this a marketing blunder, they've got a LONG way to go if they're going to start banning offensive items. Amazon, are you ready to REALLY impact your future sales? You've got a LOT of work to do now that you've opened Pandora's box. What about the book entitled 'The International Jew; The World's Foremost Problem'? This is offensive to Jews and should be banned! Why is Amazon worried about offending their black customers (Confederate flag ban) but not Jewish customers? What...

It wasn’t too much of a surprise when New York City moved to ban the use of e-cigarettes (or “vaping”) right before Christmas last year because it looked too much like smoking. After all, Gotham bans everything they can lay their little regulatory hands on if it looks like somebody might be enjoying themselves. (Foie gras ban, anyone?) But the state government tends to be at least somewhat slower on the trigger. Not in this case, though. Albany has already taken the next step towards banning vaping indoors all across the state. The fate of a bill banning electronic cigarettes...

You can’t have an event like the Charleston shooting take place during election season without all of the candidates being asked to weigh in on gun control. (Once again pretending that any of the currently proposed gun control laws might have prevented that attack.) And since he’s still being discussed as a serious contender for some reason, Bernie Sanders was no exception. But when reporters asked the Vermont Senator to offer his thoughts on gun control, he took a pass. Bernie Sanders says he wants to talk — at length — about guns.Just not now.Two days after a white man...

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Sports fans may have to leave their Blackhawks, Indians or Redskins gear at home if they plan on entering a Madison public school next year. Starting this fall, public school students in Wisconsin's capital city cannot wear shirts, hats or other items that display the name, logo or mascot of any team that portrays a "negative stereotype" of American Indians. Those who do must change or face suspension or expulsion.

Illinois lawmakers are close to banning — or partially banning — new versions of some of the most popular products on any convenience store shelf. The Illinois state Senate is poised to vote on two proposed laws outlawing powdered alcohol, often called Palcohol, and powdered caffeine. Chicago Democrat Ira Silverstein is pushing the powdered alcohol ban, and the proposal cleared a legislative committee last week. Illinois Watchdog reached out to Silverstein, but he did not immediately return our calls. Silverstein has said, however, that he's afraid for young people. "It's the type of item that can be sprinkled on food...

I call them the Busybody Brigade (The BB for short). The Left’s army of activists who look for problems that don’t actually exist, and solve them with restrictions that don’t actually work. Their motto: “There should be a law….” They are meddlesome. They are relentless. And they are on a quest to influence almost every decision you make, from sunrise to sunset. It’s all in an attempt to “better the collective” and control your life. Let them, help you. After all, it takes a village. The BB is alive and well in Seattle, where a new ordinance on the books...

Ahead of President Obama’s annual picnic with members of Congress, the White House prohibited television cameras and photographer access to the event. Only allowing print pool reporters were allowed to cover Obama’s speech. That annoyed White House reporters including ABC News reporter Jon Karl, who pointed out that it was a change from year’s past. “In a break w/ past practice, the WH is prohibiting TV & photo coverage of today's Congressional picnic at the White House,” he noted on Twitter.

League City in Texas has banned the processing and detention of illegal unaccompanied minors in their community. Heidi Thiess, League City Councilwoman, told CNN’s Ashleigh Banfield that they don’t believe the federal government is following its own laws and the resolution they passed is aimed at the overall problem of illegal immigration and human trafficking. When Thiess was asked if she understood the criticism that they are turning their backs on these people who just need help, she disagreed pointing out that the unaccompanied children are only 18% of those in detention right now and if the federal government were...

Nearly half of all illegal immigrant children don’t show up for their deportation hearings, federal officials testified to Congress on Wednesday, underscoring just how easy it is for those surging across the border right now to disappear into the shadows. The number could be even higher for the current surge of unaccompanied children flooding across the border, who are often released to illegal immigrant parents who have no incentive to bring their children to immigration courts. And federal authorities specifically refuse to ask the legal status of the parents or relatives who come to claim the children, officials acknowledged. “We...

Today, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie (R) vetoed A.2006/S.993, sponsored by Assembly Majority Leader Louis Greenwald (D-6) and Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg (D-37). This legislation sought to arbitrarily lower New Jersey’s magazine restriction from fifteen rounds to ten

LYNNWOOD, Wash. – Michelle Obama’s national school lunch overhaul is getting a little ridiculous. The First Lady worked with federal bureaucrats to strictly limit what types of foods can be served in school cafeterias across the country in an effort to fight childhood obesity. The federal regulations on meat, vegetables, salt, and other aspects of the school lunch has been met with staunch indignation from students who have either trashed their mandatory fruit and vegetables or opted not to eat lunch at all. Now, the Edmonds School District in Washington state and others are cracking down on birthday cupcakes and...

It’s an Obama world.The US Air Force kicked Christian Gideon’s volunteers off base in March. The Bibles were too offensive and violated the separation of church and state rule.But US military personnel are expected to adhere Islamic practices during Ramadan.Stars and Stripes reported: U.S. personnel accustomed to drinking their coffee on the drive to work will have to put that habit on hold for about a month. It’s one of a few lifestyle changes Americans will have to make during the holy month of Ramadan.Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. Officials expect Ramadan to begin at sunrise...

The Washington Free Beacon, which has broken several scoops related to Hillary Clinton, has been banned from using the Clinton archive at the University of Arkansas: A Hillary Clinton donor who serves as dean of the University of Arkansas libraries has banned the Washington Free Beacon from the school’s special collections archives, after the news outlet published revealing stories about Hillary Clinton based on documents available at the university library. The ban came days after the Free Beacon ran a story about Clinton’s 1975 defense of a child rapist that drew from audio recordings available at the University of Arkansas...

Last week, a bill was introduced but never heard in the Washington State Senate that considered a proposal to tax electronic cigarettes at 95 percent of their cost; the same as other tobacco or tobacco substitute products. A similar proposal is currently working its way through the Washington House as part of the House budget bill package. Whatever the intentions of policymakers, singling out a specific product or group of products for extra severe tax assessment is contrary to the principles of sound tax policy and will harm the state’s economy overall. First and foremost, the tax code is the...

Would you rather sip on unpasteurized milk or a cold glass of soda? Do you prefer Saturday lunch at a fast food joint or a farmers market? Regardless of your choices, your food freedom -- your right to grow, raise, produce, buy, sell, share, cook, eat, and drink the foods you want -- is under attack. Here are ten food freedom issues to keep an eye on in 2014. 1: FDA May Ban or Restrict a Growing Number of Food Ingredients. The FDA has proposed banning oils containing trans fats, an ingredient found in foods like coffee creamers and muffins....

Every day it seems that our country becomes increasingly insane and the further deterioration of our country becomes move evident. Nowhere is this trend more prevalent than it is in our schools. Over the last several decades, many physical activities have been banned at schools with dodgeball being the big baddie that had to be put down. Now comes news that at the Weber Middle School in Port Washington, Long Island, have banned footballs, baseballs, games of rough tag, and even cartwheels without the supervision of a coach or an adult. Yes, the wussification of America continues its relentless pace....