Free Republic

Just think of that: We can save nearly 2 million lives every year with these personal and collective sacrifices. In addition, we can prevent an estimated 100 million sicknesses and injuries! Those of us who have raised concerns about the tradeoffs of shutting down the nation indefinitely based on speculative models lacking essential data have been told we’re heartless, pro-death, un-Christian sickos who should be ejected from society and banned from all platforms.How dare we worry about things like money, the next generation’s education, the carnage of a destroyed economy, the deliberate wreckage of all non-pandemic medical services, the desolation...

As this year’s Women’s History Month winds down, and given that it is the 100th Anniversary of the ratification of the 1th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution—the amendment that gave women the right to vote—it’s only appropriate that this year’s theme for the month is “Valiant Women of the Vote.” Let’s take a moment to reflect upon the choice women will have when voting this coming November. As a physician who lives in Arizona, I am proud of our state’s history regarding women office holders. We have had more women serve as Governor than any other state. We are one...

On 2 April, 2020, a three-judge panel from the Ninth Circuit heard oral arguments in the Duncan v. Becerra case. The District Court had decided the outright ban of magazines with a capacity of more than 10 rounds violated the Second Amendment. The opinion, by Judge Roger T. Benitez, was brilliant and extremely well written. The video lasts over an hour, with strong questioning by the judges. Judge Consuelo Callahan presides and does most of the questioning. Judge Kenneth K. Lee asks some pointed questions, and Judge Barbara M. Lynn asks a few questions.The appealing attorney for the State of...

A Virginia store clerk heard a crash that sounded like a car had crashed into the place at 4:30 a.m. on Sunday. He grabbed a gun and shot at three masked men he found stealing merchandise and cash from the shop. When it was over, the clerk was the one in handcuffs. He now sits in jail on no bail, charged with crimes for which he could be locked up for 20 years. Those charges include: "Malicious Wounding, Reckless Handling of a Firearm and Violation of a Protective Order." Police say they'll get around to charging the robbers later. What's...

A parody in the voice of Sen. Chuck Schumer: Gun owners, do you struggle with an addictive urge to buy firearms on the fly while goose-stepping through gun shows and pawn shops? If so, my fellow Democrats will happily relieve you of all your guilt … and your guns. Forget wasting time plugging silhouettes of bad guys with bullets – blast your addiction publicly on social media by plugging these two pending Track 'n Grab gun bills: The National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) Data Integrity Act would amend my original Brady Bill. Sponsored by my partner in crime,...

Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva, who was sued by gun-rights groups after trying to shut down firearms dealers in the wake of coronavirus concerns, is abandoning the effort. The sheriff said Monday he's heeding a federal Department of Homeland Security advisory issued on Saturday that listed gun and ammunition dealers as “essential critical infrastructure workers." Villanueva called the non-binding memo “persuasive" and announced that his department won't order or recommend closing businesses that sell or repair firearms or sell ammunition in the nation's most populous county.

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to remove Sheriff Alex Villanueva as head of the county's emergency operations. On Monday, Villanueva came out and blasted the vote. "If you're asking the public to stay home, cooperate with authorities, the same applies to the Board of Supervisors," the sheriff said. "They need to remain focused on this united front against the spread of the coronavirus so that together we can save lives." The move is based on a report on the communications efforts after the 2018 Woolsey Fire and comes as more cases of...

A group of small business truckers has sent an email to the Department of Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao. The email asks that, as part of the national emergency involving the Chinese virus, the federal government declare the Second Amendment overrides state law and federal regulation forbidding truckers from exercising their Second Amendment rights. From transportationnation.com: The 15,000-member SBTC is calling on federal authorities to preempt state and local laws regarding the right to carry a firearm. Therefore, in accordance with the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution, we hereby request the U.S. Department of Transportation please issue a preemption...

President Trump’s Department of Homeland Security released updated guidelines naming gun manufacturers and retailers as essential on Saturday, which means they are to stay open and operational nationwide during a Chinese coronavirus shutdown. The DHS guidelines list as essential: Workers supporting the manufacturing of safety equipment and uniforms for law enforcement, public safety personnel, and first responders. Workers supporting the operation of firearm or ammunition product manufacturers, retailers, importers, distributors, and shooting ranges. The Second Amendment Foundation’s Alan Gottlieb commented on the DHS declaration, saying, “Every freedom loving American owes President Trump and his administration a very big thank you...

The sheriff's department previously suspended enforcement of its decision after the county counsel's office declared gun stores essential businesses. The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department is closing gun stores Thursday in unincorporated areas of the county and the 42 cities where it provides law enforcement, after suspending efforts earlier this week following the county counsel's office declaring gun stores essential businesses during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel is asking residents to tattle on their neighbors if they believe they are violating the governor’s stay-at-home order. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) issued the order March 24, which bans travel and work, except for “essential” reasons, in an attempt to stifle the spread of coronavirus. It lasts through April 13. Now, Nessel is urging Michiganders to contact local law enforcement if they believe their neighbors are breaking the order. “These are unprecedented times and my office is working with Gov. Whitmer’s office, local law enforcement agencies and other parties to ensure these executive orders are...

NS) — The White House held calls with religious leaders last week to encourage their support of its guidelines for addressing the coronavirus, gathering more than a thousand people on three phone calls. President Donald Trump took part in at least one of the calls. “On Friday, President Trump joined Vice President (Mike) Pence for a call with hundreds of faith leaders to discuss the latest health guidelines to help slow the spread of the virus,” a White House official told Religion News Service. “Last week, the White House hosted three phone calls with more than 1,200 inter-faith leaders from...

Neither hurricanes nor 9/11 caused as big a surge in gun sales as Coronavirus - Gun shop owners have never seen such a surge in sales — not after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, not in reaction to mass shootings, not even when Category 5 hurricanes threatened to flatten South Florida. Fear and uncertainty about the impact of the coronavirus pandemic are motivating people to buy guns and ammunition as they seek protection from possible doomsday disintegration into lawlessness, with home invasions, looting, runs on banks, and fights over food, medicine, hospital beds and shelter across the land. "Our sales are...

After hours of pushback from residents, gun stores, Second Amendment organizations, and even the county attorney, Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva reversed course early Wednesday morning and now says his office is suspending attempts to force firearm retailers to lock their doors. Villaneuva announced the move on social media, saying it will be up to Gov. Gavin Newsom to determine what is, and isn’t, an essential business.

Maine Governor Janet Mills is announcing Forced shutdown of "Non-Essential" businesses

… One clear message that [Sheriff] Villanueva is sending, is on gun stores. “We will be closing them, they are not an essential function,” Villanueva said. “I’m a supporter of the 2nd amendment, I’m a gun owner myself, but now you have the mixture of people that are not formerly gun owners and you have a lot more people at home and anytime you introduce a firearm in a home, from what I understand from CDC studies, it increases fourfold the chance that someone is gonna get shot.”

the city council of Bellingham, Washington, will vote Monday on various “emergency” proposals that include a curfew; banning the possession, transfer, and carrying of firearms as well as banning alcohol sales; closing city streets, businesses, and community buildings to the public; and prohibiting the sale of fuel in any container other than a fuel tank properly affixed to a motor vehicle. . . . Most disturbing of all, the meeting notice declares, “There will be no public comment taken at City Council meetings until further notice.”

A Pennsylvania state lawmaker has introduced legislation that would require individuals who wish to purchase gun ammunition to first obtain a permit. GOP State Rep. Thomas Murt introduced HB 2344 and filed it with the memo “Addressing Gun Violence and Enhancing Public Health and Safety,” . . . The bill says that the cost of the permit will not exceed $50 and also adds a tax on gun and ammunition sales. Residents would also be barred from bringing in ammunition bought from other states without coordinating with a licensed dealer.

A non-peer reviewed study, funded by grants from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and published this week, found that China could have prevented 95 percent of coronavirus infections if its measures to contain the outbreak had begun sooner. The research from the University of Southampton suggests that Chinese officials should have listened to the coronavirus whistleblower, Dr. Li Wenliang, when he tried to sound the alarm on December 30.

Society is on lock-down and on the brink of being under martial law, and citizens are beginning to panic over scarcity as grocery store shelves remain empty. Meanwhile, the sheriff in town is releasing criminals and reducing arrests, all while telling citizens not to do anything to protect themselves. If this sounds like the plot of a “Joker” reboot, you’ll be shocked to learn that it’s literally the strategy of Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva.