Free Republic

Legislation (SB 12) that would mandate, as early as 2010, bullet serialization -- the process by which each individual round of ammunition is identified and marked with a laser-engraved serial number -- was introduced, December 11th, by Senator Ronald Ramsey, Sr. in the Georgia State Senate. The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), the trade association of the firearms and ammunition industry, has made clear that serializing ammunition on a mass production basis is not feasible from a practical standpoint and any legislation mandating such action could rightfully be considered a de facto ban on ammunition. NSSF is encouraging all sportsmen,...

CAIRO, Egypt (AP) -- Saudi Arabia said Saturday that it hoped to raise oil prices to $75 a barrel, but indicated that no measures would probably be taken until an OPEC meeting next month in Algeria. OPEC countries will have to cut oil production by 3 million barrels a day to hike price to $75, group says. OPEC countries will have to cut oil production by 3 million barrels a day to hike price to $75, group says. Saudi Oil Minister Ali Naimi said that OPEC will "do what needs to be done" to shore up falling oil prices when...

How leading retailers’ messages rate Last updated: 11/19/08 We welcome your use of these ratings in your shopping decisions. As an additional way to help you communicate with the retailers we evaluated, we are providing the convenience of a petition which you can sign by visiting focuspetitions.com. Retailers will be presented with petitions — thanking those that embrace "Christmas," and alerting those that have purged or marginalized "Christmas" that you object to the secularization of Christmas. We hope you will "stand for Christmas" with us and encourage the continued acknowledgement of this historic Christian observance in our culture.

November 9, 2008 Not everyone is waiting eagerly to hear the details of President-elect Obama's economic stimulus package. Upper-income individuals are seeking shelter from what are likely to be hefty tax increases. Many financial advisors are urging haste -- suggesting their clients make tax-saving moves before the year end, according to Michael Gray, CPA. “The details of tax changes will be negotiated by Congress next year,” says Gray. “According to a summary by the Tax Policy Center, Obama has proposed to restore the 39.6% maximum bracket in 2009 that we had under Clinton for single taxpayers with income exceeding $200,000...

EUGENE, Ore. -- National polls continue to show Barack Obama leading John McCain -- and those numbers are affecting gun sales. One south Eugene gun shop manager said business is booming for guns and ammunition. He feels the reason why is out of fear of Congress enacting tougher gun controls. "I think it's pretty well going to happen if Obama is elected president. There's no question," said Baron's Den and Shooting Range Manager Raye Gunter. Gunter said he's seen a rise in sales of military-style rifles, concealed carry guns and signups for shooting classes. "People are buying stuff they feel...

WASHINGTON — President Bush said Friday that "anxiety can feed anxiety," causing a market panic, but his administration is working aggressively to provide the tools to restore liquidity and sanity to capital markets. In remarks from the White House Rose Garden, the president also warned anyone against trying to make a fast buck on the financial crisis and reassured Americans that their money is safe. "We are concerned that some investors could take advantage of the crisis to illegally manipulate the stock market," Bush said. "Anyone caught engaging in illegal financial activities will be prosecuted."

ASHINGTON — The following is a partial transcript of the Oct. 5, 2008, edition of "FOX News Sunday With Chris Wallace": "FOX NEWS SUNDAY" HOST CHRIS WALLACE: With one month till Election Day, the national polls are interesting, but political insiders are focusing on the electoral map, especially on the battleground states. For more, we're joined by master strategist and Fox News contributor Karl Rove. And welcome back to "FOX News Sunday." ROVE: Good to be here. WALLACE: Let's start with the latest Rove electoral map out just this weekend. Let's put it up on the screen. Karl, you have...

Now that the conventions are behind us, the 2008 election is shaping up to be much closer than anyone would have believed months ago. Still, it will be an uphill battle for John McCain as Barack Obama has the advantage this year. If Obama wins, it should be a wake-up call to Republicans that the nation’s political landscape has dramatically changed, making it difficult for Republicans to win national elections. A key factor in the challenge facing Republicans is shifting demographics. States such as Texas, Florida, New Mexico, Arizona and Nevada, once considered solid red states, are now faltering for...

Quick test: Which presidential candidate offers the most radical new approach for health care coverage in the United States? If you listen to the spin-meisters denouncing universal health care as “socialized medicine,” you’d answer Democrat Barack Obama. But by far, the most radical plan belongs to John McCain. The Republican candidate would essentially destroy the foundation on which the current health insurance system is based and replace it with a dubious plan to let the marketplace work its magic. “Opening up the health insurance market to more vigorous nationwide competition, as we have done over the last decade with banking,...

U.S. District Judge Marvin Shoob granted the City of Atlanta’s motion for judgment on the pleadings and dismissed GCO’s lawsuit against the city over whether the city may arrest GFL holders for carrying guns in the unsecure areas of the Atlanta airport. In his order, Judge Shoob found that HB 89 does not apply to the Airport and thus state law continues to criminalize carrying a firearm in the Airport. GCO intends to appeal the order, which may be read here.

Back in May 2006 Nina Shea, director of Hudson Institute’s Center for Religious Freedom wrote in the Washington Post, “Saudi Arabia’s public schools have long been cited for demonizing the West as well as Christians, Jews and other ‘unbelievers.’ But after the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001—in which 15 of the 19 hijackers were Saudis—that was all supposed to change.” In fact major changes were announced publicly. Shea cites a Saudi embassy spokesman who said in 2005, “We have reviewed our educational curriculums. We have removed materials that are inciteful [sic] or intolerant towards people of other faiths.” This was...

Yesterday, it was reported that wannabe VP Sarah Palin’s Yahoo account was hacked by a perpetrator wishing to find incriminating information in her emails. It was not done using some strange computer security vulnerability. It was not done by guessing her password. It was done just in the same way as Paris Hilton’s T-Mobile account was hacked some time ago: by guessing the answer to the respective owner’s security questions. For Paris Hilton, it was the name of her dog. For Sarah Palin, it was her zip code, date of birth, ad where she met her husband. How hard is...

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES July 31, 2008 Mr. Childers (for himself, Mr. Altmire, Mr. Cazayoux, Mr. Dingell, Mr. Ross, Mr. Tanner, Mr. Stupak, Ms. Herseth Sandlin, Mr. Ellsworth, Mr. Melancon, Mr. Chandler, Mr. Lincoln Davis of Tennessee, Mr. Boyd of Florida, Mr. Matheson, Mr. Cardoza, Mr. Carney, Mr. Kagen, Mr. Holden, Mr. Shuler, Mr. Lampson, Mr. Hill, Mr. Cramer, Mr. Space, Mr. Barrow, Mr. McIntyre, Mr. Bishop of Georgia, Mr. Gene Green of Texas, Mr. Gordon of Tennessee, Mr. Peterson of Minnesota, Mr. Boren, Mr. Donnelly, Mr. Walz of Minnesota, Mrs. Boyda of Kansas, Mrs. Gillibrand, Mr. Souder, Mr....

Friday, August 29, 2008 This week, the Village of Morton Grove, Illinois agreed to a stipulated dismissal of a NRA lawsuit challenging the village's gun ban. A new town ordinance recognizes the right to private handgun ownership, bringing an end to NRA's lawsuit against the village. Morton Grove completely dismissed its ordinance banning handguns and agreed not to replace it with any direct regulation other than to adopt existing state laws. "Today's move is further vindication of the U.S. Supreme Court's Heller ruling upholding the Second Amendment as protecting an inherent, individual civil right for all law-abiding Americans," declared NRA-ILA...

"The first Reformation was about beliefs. This one needs to be about behavior.… We’ve had a Reformation; what we need now is a transformation." [1] Rick Warren "The transition... to a culture of peace is a process of individual, collective and institutional transformation."[2] UNESCO Culture of Peace Programme "Citizenship for the next century is learning to live together. The 21st Century city will be a city of social solidarity.... We have to redefine the words... [and write a new] social contract." [3] Federico Mayor, former head of UNESCO. "A sea change of transitions and transformations is birthing a whole new...

Vandals entered the six-bedroom lodge and sprayed the interior with fire extinguishers, slathering the floors and walls with dust. They poured cooking oils, soaps and lemon juice in the living room, halls and kitchen and even on a dining table large enough to seat 20 for dinner, using it as a slip-and-slide. They threw eggs on the walls and television set. They scribbled obscenities. They stole two hair dryers and two pillows and left the water running. They might have spent five years behind bars had they been adults convicted on burglary and vandalism charges. As preteens, they might have...

LOOK OVER THE DESCRIPTIONS OF THE FOLLOWING TWO HOUSES AND SEE IF YOU CAN TELL WHICH BELONGS TO AN ENVIRONMENTALIST. HOUSE # 1: A 20-room mansion (not including 8 bathrooms) heated by natural gas. Add on a pool (and a pool house) and a separate guest house all heated by gas. In ONE MONTH ALONE this mansion consumes more energy than the average American household in an ENTIRE YEAR. The average bill for electricity and natural gas runs over $2,400.00 per month. In natural gas alone (which last time we checked was a fossil fuel), this property consumes more than...

UP-DATE: Steve Godbold - Chad Thursday, July 24, 2008 Steve Godbold Released For release: July 25, 2008 The Evangelical Alliance Mission (TEAM) is very pleased to announce the release of Cash Stephen Godbold, a missionary held captive in northern Chad for more than nine months. Godbold was released by his captors in Chad on Thursday evening, July 24th. He was released near the town of Bardai in northern Chad, and is presently a guest of local officials in Bardai. Arrangements are in process to send an aircraft to Bardai to evacuate Godbold to N'Djamena. From there he will travel to...

(Editor's Note: Follow WTOP's Mark Segraves as he attempts to register for a gun license and buy a firearm. Scroll down to read the rest of his blog.) Despite the fact that they're now legal to own, getting a handgun in the District is going to be impossible -- at least for a while. But this reporter is going to try. At 7 a.m. Thursday, the Metropolitan Police Department will open its doors at Headquarters and begin taking applications for permits. If you already own an illegal handgun, you're in luck. Because of the 90 day amnesty program, you can...

Attorney Alan Gura, on behalf of a coalition of the Second Amendment Foundation and several Chicago Residents, filed suit this morning against the City of Chicago, challenging that city’s draconian gun ban laws. You can view a copy of the complaint here. This suit is the necessary and logical second step towards restoring the Second Amendment as a viable force in American law. As you read from our prior coverage, the Heller decision applies only to the Federal government. A necessary second step is “incorporation” of the Second Amendment against the 50 states. As originally written, none of the Bill...