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Toledo Blade: 'Special Squads of Police' Should Disarm Americans
Newsbusters.org ^ | 4/27/07 | Warner Todd Huston

Posted on 04/27/2007 9:22:47 AM PDT by Mobile Vulgus

Since the VT shootings in Blacksburg, Virginia, we have seen all manner of wild-eyed, anti-gunners come out of the woodwork to cynically use this crime as a chance to beat their gun grabbing drums. But, proposing that we send government Stormtroopers to smash down the doors of every home with a gun in it to confiscate their Constitutionally legal firearms is a step I haven't seen in a purportedly responsible newspaper. That is, until the Toledo Blade published a proposal for taking away our right to self-protection that included "Special squads of police" with unlimited powers to confiscate all guns. A hit squad that would traipse about the country invading homes at will and accosting peaceful citizens everywhere.

The author of this tyrannical proposal is Dan Simpson, who is described as "a retired Ambassador" and a "member of the editorial boards of The Blade and Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. " He is a former US Ambassador to various African states... which can easily be read to mean one who thinks government knows best, darn the citizen's rights, apparently.

The piece that oozes from his pen seems overly long, the first half being an attempt by this anti-gun advocate to make it seem as if he really loves guns. After all, he played Cowboys and Indians as a kid and also had a Red Ryder BB gun. Then, later in life, carried a .357 as a "diplomat". But after the hard to believe disclaimers are dispensed with, Simpson launches into his gun banning proposal.

Now, how would one disarm the American population? First of all, federal or state laws would need to make it a crime punishable by a $1,000 fine and one year in prison per weapon to possess a firearm. The population would then be given three months to turn in their guns, without penalty.
There is a major problem legally with this supposed diplomat's plans. He never once mentions that the 2nd Amendment is a Constitutional right of the people to keep and bear arms. His proposal is completely illegal according to the Constitution of the USA unless a Constitutional Convention is called to consider amending the law of the land. One would think that an "Ambassador" would be interested in little things like following the law... but apparently not Mr. Simpson.

Worse, and as mentioned, he wants to form a veritable Stormtrooper army that will maraud throughout the country.

The disarmament process would begin after the initial three-month amnesty. Special squads of police would be formed and trained to carry out the work. Then, on a random basis to permit no advance warning, city blocks and stretches of suburban and rural areas would be cordoned off and searches carried out in every business, dwelling, and empty building. All firearms would be seized. The owners of weapons found in the searches would be prosecuted: $1,000 and one year in prison for each firearm.

... On the streets it would be a question of stop-and-search of anyone, even grandma with her walker, with the same penalties for "carrying."

Perhaps Mr. Simpson became too used to the despotic, all powerful leaders in the failed African states to which he was sent as Ambassador and their style of autocratic government made him envious. But whatever the case, Simpson truly has no grasp of the country in which he lives because he doesn't mention any of it. No mention of the Constitution, our history, world history and the despots who ruled with an iron fist over an unarmed populace, or the principles upon which this country was founded make even a tiny appearance in his piece. Just his desire to hand all power to his hand picked goon squad who will roam about the country attacking law abiding citizens.

The hit squad Simpson envisions isn't his only anti-gun measure, of course.

He proposes gun dealers still be "allowed" to sell guns but only to museums. He thinks hunters should still be allowed their gun but he has created his own ideas of a classified "hunting weapon" that will have to be locked up with the police except during "hunting season" -- a vague notion in Simpson's mind obviously. After all, "hunting seasons" are different all over the place and allow for hunting different types of game all year long. Obviously Simpson has no clue of what "hunting season" really means. His idea would necessitate a Federal Hunting law, and would take more power from the various states.

Speaking of hunters, Simpson appears to imagine that all hunters are mass murderers just waiting for their chance to kill all around them, too. But, that their murdering rampages might be a "lesser sort of issue."

There could conceivably also be a rash of score-settling during hunting season as people drew out their weapons, ostensibly to shoot squirrels and deer, and began eliminating various of their perceived two-footed enemies. Given the general nature of hunting weapons and the fact that such killings are frequently time-sensitive, that seems a lesser sort of issue.
Simpson also seems to imagine that Mexico and Canada would rush into the gun selling business once we illegally outlaw them and send our Stormtrooping armies throughout the country to confiscate US citizen's firearms.
America's long land and sea borders present another kind of problem. It is easy to imagine mega-gun dealerships installing themselves in Mexico, and perhaps in more remote parts of the Canadian border area, to funnel guns into the United States. That would constitute a problem for American immigration authorities and the U.S. Coast Guard, but not an insurmountable one over time.
Yet, both Mexico and Canada have stricter gun laws than do we, so how he imagines that they would suddenly both become the virtual WalMart of guns is hard to imagine.

All in all, Simpson has done nothing but reveal that he thinks he is smarter than everyone around him and that only HE should be allowed to make all the rules. He also imagines himself smarter than the Founders as well as more able than the Supreme Court to adjudicate what should be allowable under the US Constitution.

It is no wonder that this man doesn't understand America, he seems quite unlike one.


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: 2ndamendment; banglist; bradywatch; comeandtakeit; dansimpson; fascist; guns; ohio; rkba; secondamendment; selfdefense; simpson; toledo
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To: Mobile Vulgus
Daniel Simpson
AKA Daniel H Simpson

Born: 1939
Gender: Male
Race or Ethnicity: White
Occupation: Diplomat

Nationality: United States
Executive summary: US Ambassador to the Congo, 1995-98

University: English, Yale University
University: African Studies, Northwestern University
Teacher: Eghosa Anglican Boys' School, Benin City, Nigeria (1961)
Teacher: Libyan Army Military College, Benghazi, Libya
Administrator: Deputy Commandant for International Affairs, US Army War College (1993-94)
Consul General in Zaire from 1978 to 1980
US Ambassador to Congo 1995-98br> US Ambassador to the Central African Republic 1990-92
American Academy of Diplomacy
US Institute of Peace

Daniel H [HOWARD] Simpson. Born in 1939. Married twice; wife Barbara Ashley Ball [Simpson] July, 1983. He and his wife have six children and four grandchildren.

Author:
U.S. Africa Policy: Some Possible Course Adjustment.
by Ambassador Daniel H. Simpson. 29 AUG 1994
Accession Number : ADA284915, ARMY WAR COLL STRATEGIC STUDIES INST CARLISLE BARRACKS PA

Elected secretary, Brother Foundation, Pittsburgh PA, March 2007. Associate editor and member of the editorial board of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and The Toledo Blade since 2001.

121 posted on 04/27/2007 12:11:24 PM PDT by archy (Et Thybrim multo spumantem sanguine cerno. [from Virgil's *Aeneid*.])
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To: Mobile Vulgus

http://www.nndb.com/people/752/000120392/

Daniel Simpson
AKA Daniel H Simpson

Born: ?

Gender: Male
Race or Ethnicity: White
Occupation: Diplomat

Nationality: United States
Executive summary: US Ambassador to the Congo, 1995-98

University: English, Yale University
University: African Studies, Northwestern University
Teacher: Eghosa Anglican Boys’ School, Benin City, Nigeria (1961)
Teacher: Libyan Army Military College, Benghazi, Libya
Administrator: Deputy Commandant for International Affairs, US Army War College (1993-94)

US Ambassador to Congo 1995-98
US Ambassador to the Central African Republic 1990-92
American Academy of Diplomacy
US Institute of Peace


122 posted on 04/27/2007 12:11:31 PM PDT by Oakleaf
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To: CholeraJoe; BlackbirdSST

I wish I were as confident as you guys. Remember what happened during Katrina? No problem finding “cops” to go house to house and confiscate legal firearms from law abiding citizens.


123 posted on 04/27/2007 12:14:53 PM PDT by Jed Eckert
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To: Mobile Vulgus
Zaire, formerly the Congo, 95-98 for the Toon http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ho/po/com/10458.htm
124 posted on 04/27/2007 12:16:03 PM PDT by NonValueAdded ("The arrogance of ignorance is astounding" NVA 4/22/07)
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To: Grunthor
Agreed. The “squad” would need a VERY large replacement pool. They should be single, non-parents, with a small nuclear family.

Obviously, simpson (like the mullahs) will send others to do his deeds.

This proposed action would turn this country into a burning cauldron.

125 posted on 04/27/2007 12:16:10 PM PDT by Tahoe3002 (Death to Terrorists!!! Semper Fi! USMC 1970-1981)
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To: Mobile Vulgus
I'll shoot any one dead who breaks into my home without a warrant - especially gun-grabbing cops. They've been warned.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

126 posted on 04/27/2007 12:16:40 PM PDT by goldstategop (In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives In My Heart Forever)
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To: Leftism is Mentally Deranged
If squads of police burst into private homes and steal legal guns from law-abiding citizens in the USA:

If allowed to continue, the USA will not be worth living in.


127 posted on 04/27/2007 12:16:44 PM PDT by archy (Et Thybrim multo spumantem sanguine cerno. [from Virgil's *Aeneid*.])
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To: Mobile Vulgus
Any one who wants to come for our guns by force had better be prepared to kill us. I'd gladly choose death over subjection to despots.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

128 posted on 04/27/2007 12:20:09 PM PDT by goldstategop (In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives In My Heart Forever)
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To: Mobile Vulgus
The recurring fantasy of the anti-gun zealots is that they will be able to (1) take control of the legislation, (2) dictate whatever they like regardless of the Constitution, (3) enforce their wishes using the coercive mechanism of the State, in this case the "special police," and (4) sit back and watch their despised political opponents rumble with the police while they watch the whole thing on TV, their own hands never getting dirty.

Civil wars don't work like that. Yes, the first people the gun owners will be shooting at will be these "special police" but it won't stop there. When one section of the population declares a shooting war on another, the bullets tend to fly both directions. "Let's you and he fight" just isn't going to happen.

I expressed that opinion to a very liberal friend who accused me of threatening him. He didn't seem to grasp that he had been threatening me. They don't.

129 posted on 04/27/2007 12:27:57 PM PDT by Billthedrill
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To: GovernmentShrinker
The editor who chose to publish this piece must be on our side, since it certainly promotes the idea that gun-banners aren’t playing with anywhere near a full deck.

You don't know the Toledo Blade very well.

They actually believe this stuff is what should be done.

This is consistent with the kind of coverage guns get in that newspaper.

130 posted on 04/27/2007 12:31:11 PM PDT by untrained skeptic
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To: Tahoe3002
Agreed. The “squad” would need a VERY large replacement pool. They should be single, non-parents, with a small nuclear family.

If they don't have small families before the bloodletting begins, they will afterward.

131 posted on 04/27/2007 12:43:04 PM PDT by archy (Et Thybrim multo spumantem sanguine cerno. [from Virgil's *Aeneid*.])
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To: Billthedrill; Eaker; AK2KX; Ancesthntr; ApesForEvolution; archy; backhoe; bayouranger; Badray; ...
Civil wars don't work like that. Yes, the first people the gun owners will be shooting at will be these "special police" but it won't stop there. When one section of the population declares a shooting war on another, the bullets tend to fly both directions. "Let's you and he fight" just isn't going to happen.

I expressed that opinion to a very liberal friend who accused me of threatening him. He didn't seem to grasp that he had been threatening me. They don't.

The prototype for what's coming here is not the US Civil War, but the Finnish Civil War of 1918. In about 4 months of fighting, the Finns killed off about 30,000 of their fellows, about one percent of their national population at the time; we managed about 2% from 1861-1865, but that was spread out over four years.

Only about 10,000 of the Finns who died from the fighting, the rest perishing in prison camps or during postwar executions.

A similar casualty rate of one percent of America's 300 million population would result in- well, you do the math. But it's not likely Americans would put an end to it after just four months, either.

Accordingly: CWII ping.

132 posted on 04/27/2007 12:57:50 PM PDT by archy (Et Thybrim multo spumantem sanguine cerno. [from Virgil's *Aeneid*.])
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To: GovernmentIsTheProblem

A classic the hunted hunting the hunter scenario:>)


133 posted on 04/27/2007 12:58:48 PM PDT by beltfed308 (Rudy: When you absolutely,positively need a liberal for President.)
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To: Billthedrill

Very well put.

I’m unsurprised he didn’t get it.


134 posted on 04/27/2007 1:01:11 PM PDT by FreedomPoster (Guns themselves are fairly robust; their chief enemies are rust and politicians) (NRA)
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To: Let's Roll

>His “special squads” should start by kicking in the door at the Toledo Blade in search of his useless butt!<

I would imagine that within hours after this article hit the streets more was known about Dan Simpson than he would care to know.

I’ll bet some folks went so far as to track down his mortgaged property, owned property, all bank accounts, tax records, medical records, vehicle registrations, ex wives, current wife, children, grand children and all their addresses with the phone numbers being verified. He wouldn’t be able to take a deep breath without a team knowing it.

Who does he think does the Intel work in the US, Communists who hate our lifestyle and freedoms or Patriots willing to die for the Constitution and the Bill of Rights?

Does he really think that the law enforcement men and women will support such an action?

If we thought Cho should have been assigned a bed in the closest medical center, this wacko must already have his reservations confirmed.


135 posted on 04/27/2007 1:01:37 PM PDT by B4Ranch ("Steer clear of entangling alliances with any portion of the foreign world." -George Washington-)
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To: Mobile Vulgus; All
Heads up everyone, it begins!

Congressional Leaders Moving To Pass Gun Control without a Vote

136 posted on 04/27/2007 1:02:58 PM PDT by processing please hold (Duncan Hunter '08) (ROP and Open Borders-a terrorist marriage and hell's coming with them)
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To: BlackbirdSST

LOL!!


137 posted on 04/27/2007 1:04:32 PM PDT by stephenjohnbanker ( Hunter/Thompson/Thompson/Hunter in 08! Or Rudy/Hillary if you want to murder conservatism)
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To: Mobile Vulgus
"Toledo Blade: 'Special Squads of Police' Should Disarm Americans"

Try it.

138 posted on 04/27/2007 1:04:54 PM PDT by Czar ( StillFedUptotheTeeth@Washington)
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To: BlackbirdSST

I laughed when I read this; the dude’s political insight into the mindset of Americans is so wacked out that it’s hard to imagine he ever held a respectable political office.


139 posted on 04/27/2007 1:08:33 PM PDT by Firefigher NC
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To: Mobile Vulgus

If this happens, it will at first be quietly done in the cities, and then expanded into the rural areas.


140 posted on 04/27/2007 1:10:55 PM PDT by redgolum ("God is dead" -- Nietzsche. "Nietzsche is dead" -- God.)
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