Free Republic

In 2014, John Gookin, Tom Smith, and Alison Williams published a paper in Human-Wildlife Interactions titled: A Device for Refilling Practice Bear Spray Canisters. The paper shows how to build and use the device. This correspondent has long maintained bear spray has a valid place as a means of protection against bears. Bear spray does not appear to be as effective in stopping bear attacks as handguns. This does not mean it is not useful. Bear spray can work effectively as a device to haze bears which are merely curious. Bear spray is generally a better deterrent than shouting or...

Ecuadorian presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio has been killed, the country’s president Guillermo Lasso has said, vowing the “crime will not go unpunished”. Local media had earlier reported Villavicencio, a former lawmaker who had been polling at 7.5%, had been shot at a campaign event in Quito.

A Georgia police department has come under fire for using a photo of a black man for target practice in a civilian firearms class — which the agency’s top cop claimed was an “innocent mistake.” The Villa Rica Police Department, which held a handgun safety class on Saturday, posted images on Facebook of a life-sized photo of a black man wearing a beanie and pointing a handgun, NBC News reported. The agency also shared video of white citizens shooting at the image of the black man, according to WSB-TV. The images and footage, which have since been deleted, sparked outrage...

ere's What You Need to Remember: On day three, the Thai pilots “shot down” 19 J-11s for a loss of three Gripens. Over the final three days of the war game, the Thais killed 22 Chinese jets and lost three of their own. A 2015 war game in Thailand underscored the enduring flaws in Chinese aerial-warfare tactics. Despite flying a modern fighter type, Chinese fighter pilots in Thailand were vulnerable to long-range attacks and slow to react to aggressive tactics. Exercise Falcon Strike 2015, which ran at Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base for two weeks in mid-November 2015, was...

The Trump administration simulated the ability of the United States to handle a flulike pandemic months before the coronavirus turned the scenario into a reality. The Health and Human Services Department led the exercise, known as the "Crimson Contagion," last year in conjunction with dozens of states and federal agencies, according to the New York Times. HHS also invited charitable groups, insurance companies, and major hospitals to take part in the effort. Former Air Force physician Robert Kadlec, who has studied biodefense issues for decades, led the exercise, which imagined a contagious disease that originated in China and spread globally...

The Problem:A few days ago, one of the better shooters in your club, who is right handed, came to your monthly training session outfitted with left-handed gear. After a little chiding and questions, more out of curiosity as to why the new get-up, his comment was “it makes you think.” You get it, sort of, but what’s that got to do with improving one’s shooting skills? He’s one of your top shooters and he shoots as well with one hand as the other, which leaves you to wonder if there isn’t a little more to it than just thinking....

The Practices of Prayer Msgr. Charles Pope • October 15, 2016 • Today’s readings speak to us of the power of persistent prayer. The first reading (Exodus 17:8-13) in particular depicts prayer quite powerfully. In it, we can discern six fundamental teachings on prayer. I. The Problem for Prayer – In those days, Amalek came and waged war against Israel. None of us like problems, but one good thing about them is that they help to keep us praying. Israel was at war and their enemies were strong; it was time to pray.In today’s Gospel concerns a widow who...

“And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit.” (Ephesians 5:18) This classic verse on the filling of the Holy Spirit can be rendered as follows: “And don’t begin to be drunk with wine, which involves profligacy, but be continually being filled with the Spirit.” That is, one cannot be filled with the Holy Spirit (which implies complete control by the Holy Spirit) if he has come to even the slightest degree under the control of wine (or anything else, for that matter). Being fully controlled and guided by the Spirit is not just...

With the new year comes new insane laws from California, making it officially America's Sanctuary State -- treating illegal aliens who broke the law to enter the U.S. as well as law-abiding citizens, protecting illegals from deportation, and putting public safety at grave risk. In October, California Gov. Jerry Brown (D), signed eight bills handing special rights to illegal aliens. The controversial legislation includes allowing illegal alien obtain driver's licenses, preventing employers from denying jobs based on "immigration status", and barring state and local law enforcement from detaining illegal aliens when directed by ICE, DHS or Border Patrol. The legislation claims that...

BADGER, Minn.—The last thing President Barack Obama needs this Thanksgiving is a frantic turkey fouling up Wednesday's White House pardon ceremony. It is John Burkel's job to make sure that doesn't happen. The problem is that turkeys aren't used to being paraded in front of a crowd of noisy schoolchildren, posing for flash photography or encountering the Secret Service. In past years, the stress has led the ceremonial bird to flap about and try to escape after being spooked by everything from a shiny belt buckle to First Family pets. Mr. Burkel, the fourth-generation farmer selected to supply this year's...

Hello all, I need some advice on purchasing a handgun. I live in the People’s Republic of MD and the new gun control laws are about to take effect (Oct 1st). I am in the market for a .45. I was looking at cheaper than dirt at several models and would appreciate any hints you can give regarding a purchase. Have you dealt with buying guns from cheaper than dirt? Do you have a better source/way to do this? What is the proper procedure for completing this purchase from an on-line retailer? I would also like recommendations for handguns in...

Russia’s early warning radars detected the launch of two ballistic rockets in the eastern Mediterranean Sea, Russia’s Defense Ministry stated. Israel later claimed responsibility for firing the target test rockets. The launch took place at 06:16 GMT Tuesday, according to Russia's Ministry of Defense. The trajectory of the missiles is reported to have been from the central part of the Mediterranean Sea towards the eastern landmass. Both rockets have allegedly fallen into the sea, RIA Novosti news agency reported. Russia’s President Putin has already been informed about the incident by Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu. The Syrian embassy in Moscow currently...

United States B-52 bombers carried out simulated nuclear bombing raids on North Korea as part of ongoing U.S.-South Korean military exercises, Pentagon officials said on Monday. Pentagon press secretary George Little told reporters that B-52 bombers from Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, conducted a training mission over South Korea March 8 during war games known as Exercise Foal Eagle. “It’s not any secret that we are in the midst of sending a very strong signal that we have a firm commitment to the alliance with our South Korean allies,” Little said. Deputy defense secretary Ashton Carter said during a visit...

The Obama administration on Wednesday backed off a draft policy to restrict target shooting on federal land near residential areas. In a memo, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said he would direct his agency to "take no further action to develop or implement" the draft. U.S. News & World Report posted a copy of the memo on its website. Rep. Denny Rehberg, R-Mont., last Friday sent Salazar a letter asking that the draft policy be canned, saying he worried it would be taken advantage of by anti-gun rights groups. "Any draft proposal regarding recreation on public lands must continue to guarantee...

Wall Street protesters need more practiceTuesday, October 11, 2011 (Updated 3:00 am) I was watching the news about the demonstration/rally/block party on Wall Street. My gosh, 700 people arrested after being “tricked” by police into going onto the Brooklyn Bridge. I felt a real rush of nostalgia from my 14-year-old socialist days. Agitprop stands for agitation and propaganda, a well-worn technique to suggest a protest group is bigger or more influential than its true size. First, you get a few people together, hoping a few more curious or like-minded people will join you. You then break a minor law and...

The woman who authorities say killed her teenage daughter and son because she was fed up with them talking back and being mouthy will not appear in court Saturday because she's being treated at a hospital for an unknown condition. Authorities say Julie Powers Schenecker was taken to Tampa General Hospital shortly after midnight Saturday to be treated for a medical condition that existed before she was taken to jail. Hillsborough Sheriff's deputies — who oversee jail inmates — said they could not reveal Schenecker's medical condition, citing health care privacy laws. An arrest affidavit said Schenecker shot her son...

During Knesset session ahead of Int'l Holocaust Remembrance Day, Netanyahu asks "Where is the fury, international uprising" of the world against Iran for calling for destruction of Jews? Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu on Wednesday slammed the international community, saying that "it has not put into practice the lessons learned from the horrors of the Holocaust." Speaking during a special session of the Knesset to mark International Holocaust Remembrance Day, Netanyahu said, "One thing is clear. The fact that global anti-Semitism is increasing is a well-known phenomenon. New anti-Semitism is washing over the world and it is important to fight it."...

TRENTON — For years, the state’s elected officials and others with political connections had a direct pipeline to the hottest concerts and sporting events in New Jersey. Springsteen. U2. BonJovi. It didn’t matter. Commissioners, legislators, judges — even the governor’s office — were able to score scarce or prime seats at public venues without ever going through a ticket scalper. They simply called the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority or the New Jersey Turnpike Authority and asked for house seats. Today, Gov. Chris Christie shut the exclusive ticket window.

GREENVILLE, S.C. -- A Greenville church administrator is accused of having sex with a 14-year-old girl while the teen was a guest in his home last year. Dantae Stukes, 29, is charged with criminal sexual conduct with a minor. The arrest warrant states that between March 1 and May 30, 2009, Stukes convinced the victim to "allow him to engage in sexual intercourse with her in an effort for him to show her what to expect from her boyfriend in the future." Sgt. Jason Rampey with the Greenville Police Department said the teenager was staying with the Stukes family while...

Imagine the following scenario: At church this Sunday, while reviewing the list of announcements and upcoming events for your church, your pastor added, “Oh, and don’t forget: on Sundays we have our regular target practice. Make sure to bring your rifles. Make sure to bring your pieces to church.” Absurd, right? Not so. It used to be the American way. For example, a 1631 law in Virginia required citizens to own firearms, to engage in practice with them, and to do so publicly on holy days. It demanded that the people “bring their pieces to the church.” Somewhere along the...