Free Republic

Meetup is committed to bringing members together to form community and take action. Since the recent United States election, we’ve seen a dramatic increase in Meetup members pursuing and creating opportunities for civic engagement on our platform. We decided that we wanted to do more to support these efforts so we created a network of 1,000 #Resist Meetup groups with a few special characteristics. #Resist is a free extension of the Meetup platform that allows members to get involved in local civic action. Every member of a #Resist Meetup group can schedule and host Meetup events and has access to...

Given recent news, I thought it was time to put this back in the memepool: It is impossible to address the problem of rampant crime without talking about the moral responsibility of the intended victim. Crime is rampant because the law-abiding, each of us, condone it, excuse it, permit it, submit to it. We permit and encourage it because we do not fight back, immediately, then and there, where it happens. Crime is not rampant because we do not have enough prisons, because judges and prosecutors are too soft, because the police are hamstrung with absurd technicalities. The defect is...

Wednesday, April 1, 2015Gov. Sam Brownback to sign bill allowing unlicensed conceal-carryBy Tim Carpenter Gov. Sam Brownback pledged to sign legislation Thursday allowing Kansas adults to carry concealed firearms without first obtaining a license or undergoing weapon training. [...]

The U.S. government is poised to withdraw longstanding warnings about cholesterol in your diet The nation's top nutrition advisory panel has decided to drop its caution about eating cholesterol-laden food, a move that could undo almost 40 years of government warnings about its consumption. [...] The current U.S. guidelines call for restricting cholesterol intake to 300 milligrams daily. American adult men on average ingest about 340 milligrams of cholesterol a day, according to federal figures. That recommended figure of 300 milligrams, Eckel said, is "just one of those things that gets carried forward and carried forward even though the evidence...

In the responses to my “When Whites Just Don’t Get It” series, I’ve been struck by the lack of empathy some whites show for members of minority groups. So imagine if the world were reversed. Then “the talk” might go like this: “Don’t curse. It is wrong, but it’s the way the world works. And that’s why Mom and I are scared for you. With us whites in the minority, some cops are just going to see you as a threat no matter what. You’re going to get stopped by black cops, and I want you to promise you’ll never...

WE PETITION THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION TO: RETRACT the executive order against the re-importation of U.S. military firearms This petition is for the retraction of the Executive Action, announced 08/29/2013, which would prohibit the re-importation of former U.S. military firearms for sale to U.S. citizens. The primary firearms that this would impact are the U.S. M1 Garand and Carbine rifles, prized by collectors, competitive sports shooters, and "plinkers" who are interested in U.S. military history. These are NOT the type of firearms that have been associated with crimes. This Executive Action will solve no firearms-related problems, is political grandstanding at its...

Illinois lawmakers approve concealed carry gun bill SPRINGFIELD --- State lawmakers today approved compromise legislation to set up rules on who can carry concealed guns and where they can be carried. Illinois is the last state in the nation not to have some form of concealed carry on the books, but a federal appeals court overturned the state’s long standing ban in December and gave lawmakers until June 9 to come up with regulations to allow it. "Don't let your constituents go off the cliff, this is a historic day for law abiding gun owners in this state," said sponsoring...

Nicolas Sarkozy has organized a 2-day “e-G8 Summit,” bringing together some of the world’s most powerful companies, in an attempt to address the unchecked growth of the web. Critics are claiming the massive international event is Sarkozy’s attempt at tightening governmental control of the internet. [...] “Nobody could, nor should, forget that these governments are the only legitimate representatives of the will of the people in our democracies…To forget this is to take the risk of democratic chaos and hence anarchy.”

Midway through her recent TNR article “Building the Progressive Brand,” Sara Robinson makes one essential point: Progressives, she writes, “have always been at our best when we speak from a place of strong moral authority, rooted deeply in a daring vision of the kind of world we’d like to create.” Unfortunately, she completely ignores how such visions emerged in the past and, worse, assumes that a clever ad campaign can substitute for serious political thinking and organizing. [...] The best and perhaps the only way for progressives to regain their sense of moral authority is to build movements and nominate...

A poll up on the Doonesbury site: After many months of rancorous debate and partisan passion, a health care reform bill has passed. What taste is left in your mouth? A sweet modicum of pride. A pleasant surprise to have an historic moment that didn't involve an invasion. I'm shocked and awed. A wasabi-like head blast. A month ago this thing was dead. It's like Northern Iowa taking down Kansas. What the hell? Props to coach Obama. The bitter taste of tyranny. I can't believe how unpatriotic, socialist and evil my fellow Americans are. And yes, I mean YOU. Repeal...

MN:Lawmaker feels duped as Hwy. 60 fixes fade [...] In February, Hamilton was one of six Republican legislators whose votes were needed to override Gov. Tim Pawlenty's veto of a $6.6 billion transportation funding bill that ushered in Minnesota's first state gas tax hike in 20 years. At the time Hamilton made things clear: If DFLers would provide funding for Hwy. 60, they would get his vote. [...] But MnDOT now contends the language was never clear and is withholding any commitment to the Hwy. 60 project. What's more, the key DFL legislator who sponsored the transportation bill said Hamilton...

From Snowflakes in Hell: The text of HR6691, the Bill by the House Democrats to enforce the Heller decision on the District of Colombia is H.R.6691. No surprises, really. It’s actually a bit better than the Republican version, since it allows DC residents to obtain firearms in Maryland and Virginia. NFA stuff will still be illegal in DC, and it does not address prohibition on carrying firearms. I call that a good start, so hopefully we can get this through Congress before the elections.

Democratic hopefuls vary a bit on death penaltyBy David Mendell Chicago Tribune staff reporter February 20, 2004 This story contains corrected material, published Feb. 21, 2004. Leading Democrats seeking their party's nomination to the U.S. Senate generally agree that laws governing capital punishment, drugs and guns should be overhauled, although they differ about how that should be accomplished and the role of the federal government in that process. [...] All of the candidates endorsed stricter gun-control measures, but each said tougher enforcement of existing gun-control laws should be a priority over the introduction of new laws. Each candidate supported closing...

Many of you have seen my map: About a year ago, someone asked if he could put the map on the Concealed Carry page on Wikipedia. I said yes, and the image was added. Since then, there have been several attempts by Wikipedia admins to have it pulled. First, it was yanked because it hadn't been posted with the permission of the creator - despite my having not only granted permission, but having explicitly added to the image a statement that I had done so. The image was eventually restored, after I formally released the image under a Creative Commons...

Gun debate will return to Capitol By PAT DOYLE, Star Tribune February 24, 2008 Minnesotans would find it easier to claim self-defense if they shot someone but harder to buy a pistol in the first place under dueling gun proposals before the Legislature. While the bills have attracted little attention so far amid high-volume debates over transportation, taxes and health care, they demonstrate that long-running battles over gun control haven't ended. ... Other Minnesota legislators want more restrictions on guns. They've proposed requiring people who buy pistols or assault weapons from individuals or gun shows to pass background checks, just...

Published - Saturday, February 23, 2008 Residents capture burglary suspects By Daily News staff report Three Lake City, Minn., residents who noticed “suspicious individuals” at a vacant residence Feb. 17 in Chester Township, called the police and surrounded two of the unknown visitors in their car until authorities could arrive, according to a Wabasha County Sheriff’s Office report. As a deputy questioned the suspects, a third person came walking out of a wooded area near the vacant residence. At least two had been trespassing on the property, the sheriff’s report states. Burglary tools were found in the vehicle. The deputy...

Lawmakers hope to regulate private gun sales A new bill introduced at the Capitol is aimed at existing Minnesota gun laws. Lawmakers want to close a loophole that allows anyone to buy guns at private sales without a background check. The bill will be the first time that gun safety advocates have pushed for a new law that would make most gun sales similar to those that take place in licensed shops. Minneapolis Councilman Don Samuels calls the gun issue a daily hazard. "I hear automatic gunfire at night from my bedroom," said Samuels. Some other lawmakers hope to reduce...

Cop indicted in road-rage incident during which other driver shot him in leg After being indicted Thursday for allegedly making terroristic threats during a road-rage incident last summer in Coon Rapids, a Robbinsdale police officer gave his side of what happened in the confrontation that left him with a gunshot wound to the leg. [...] A 19-year-old Anoka woman said she saw the man later identified as Beard driving next to another vehicle and leaning out his window as he repeatedly swore and threatened to kill the other driver, adding, "I don't care about jail." Several witnesses said they saw...

Coon Rapids man charged with shooting officer in road rage The Anoka County courthouse revealed documents Wednesday that charge 35-year-old Martin Scott Treptow with the shooting of a Robbinsdale Police officer. Treptow, of Coon Rapids, claims Officer Landen Beard was not wearing a uniform at the time he forced Treptow off of the road on June 7. Beard supposedly was driving an unmarked car. When the two men confronted each other, Treptow claimed Beard pointed a gun at his wife. "We were about three feet away from each other and he pointed the gun at my wife. It was a...

1. Do you support House File 305, the smoking ban bill? 2. Should the smoking ban apply to bars as well as restaurants? 3. Do you feel private clubs should be exempted from a smoking ban? 4. Should local governments be allowed to pass a stricter ban than state law?