Arizona State Rifle and Pistol Association (ASRPA) held their annual meeting and dinner Saturday, May 7th, in Phoenix and featured Mr. Otis McDonald, of McDonald v. Chicago Supreme Court case fame, as the keynote speaker. ASRPA is the Arizona affiliate of the NRA, (essentially the Arizona arm of NRA) overseeing competitive shooting, training of juniors, and other firearms related issues in Arizona since 1909. Motivational Speaker Beth Terry was an exemplary emcee for the evening, along with ASRPA President, Noble Hathaway. Noble’s lovely daughters, Ashley, Andrea, and Payne graciously assisted with the event and the fundraising raffles that were held throughout the evening.
Sandy Froman presents NRA 100 Years of Excellence Award
During the dinner, past NRA President Sandy Froman formally presented ASRPA with the 100 Years of Excellence award from the NRA. Mr. Hathaway was joined on stage by several past presidents of ASRPA to receive the award from Ms. Froman.
One of a kind Colt Single Action Army Pistol.
ASPRA President Noble Hathaway thanked the state legislators in attendance at the dinner for their part in making the Colt Single Action Army pattern pistol the official State Firearm of Arizona. He also apologized for the minor controversy they endured, and explained that the intent of the state firearm was only to help celebrate Arizona’s statehood Centennial in 2012.
Colt SAA Presentation to the lucky raffle winner by Rep. Judy Burges, Gary Christiansen, Rep. Carl Seel, Rep. Steve Court, Rep. Jerry Weiers, and Todd Rathner.
The highlight of the evening was Mr. Otis McDonald’s very heartfelt and humble explanation of his journey to the Supreme Court. His story is one of a man who tried to make a positive difference in his neighborhood. He worked to get kids off the street and away from crime, but as his neighborhood declined and some of neighborhood kids turned to crime, Chicago banned handgun ownership. The Chicago ban left law-abiding citizens defenseless and vulnerable to criminals who defied the gun bans and terrorized the innocent. Mr. McDonald explained how he wasn’t trying to change the world, he was just standing up for what he felt was right.
I once heard Ken Blackwell say something to the effect that the Declaration of Independence states, ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident’ as the Founders way of saying, ‘Any knucklehead should be able to understand this.’
Unfortunately, the knuckleheads in Chicago did not understand these truths. In passing the handgun ban in 1982, Chicago enabled the jewelry theft ring run by Chicago Police chief of detectives William Hanhardt, and the mob, ensuring the safety of the thieves. Hanhardt’s jewelry ring stole millions in the 1980s and 1990s, unopposed by their disarmed victims. The gun ban should have been named the Occupational Safety for Criminals Gun Ban. Mr. McDonald’s case was supported by an amicus curiae brief signed by 58 senators and 251 representatives, with more members of Congress signing than any amicus curiae brief in history.
Otis McDonald at the 102nd Annual ASRPA Dinner
He appeared surprised that people in a state with a Brady Campaign score of Zero would be so grateful for his efforts, but we understand how much he has done for securing our right to bear arms. The Supreme Court’s ruling will have a positive affect on gun laws and legislation for decades. Mr. McDonald appears to still be processing the full significance of his victory at the Supreme Court, where the court ruled that the Second Amendment protects the right of the individual to keep and bear arms.
Mr. McDonald acknowledged that this was just the beginning in the battle to restore even the most basic gun rights in the Chicago area, but he emphasized the role of the individual in determining the future. Throughout his talk, he spoke highly of his lawyer Alan Gura and of Alan Gottlieb, both of the Second Amendment Foundation and the enduring support of the Illinois State Rifle Association.
Otis McDonald Master Sponsors
It is amazing that ASRPA could persuade Mr. McDonald to speak to our group, and it was an honor for everyone in attendance to hear his story. It is rare to hear a victorious story of a hard fought battle to win such an important case. A case that signifies the first major national gun rights case the Supreme Court has heard since 1939’s United States v. Miller. Mr. McDonald’s message was clear – ordinary people can accomplish the extraordinary, just by following through on their beliefs and trying to make their part of the world a better place.
Otis McDonald Master Donor Medal – 102nd Annual Meeting of ASRPA 2011
I would also like to express my appreciation to the many members of AZCDL and the Arizona Game and Fish Department for their tireless support of the shooting sports in Arizona.
We recently attended an advanced screening of “The Undefeated”, the new Sarah Palin film that is due out in theaters on July 15th. The filmmakers call the movie “a two-hour-long, sweeping epic…” and ” a galvanizing prelude to Palin’s prospective presidential campaign”. I’ll call it a pretty darn good movie that despite leaving a few holes for me, gives you an excellent sense of the real Sarah Palin.
While it’s known that the movie was made to excite current Sarah Palin fans and redefine her as presidential material, I believe this film will prove to be even more valuable to the pull-my-string-I-hate-Palin demographic – those that have a negative opinion about Palin, but if you ask them why they don’t like her, you can see the smoke coming from their ears as they work to keep their head from exploding. If you have friends and/or family members that have bought into the myths created by the mainstream media and other moonbat liberals with Palin Derangement Syndrome, but are otherwise fairly reasonable people, please take them to see this movie. The film does a good job of giving you no choice but to look at Mrs. Palin as a human being, and I can think of several people that could use this type of re-education.
The Arizona premier of “The Undefeated” will be shown at the AMC Ahwatukee 24 theater on July 15th. You can buy your “The Undefeated” tickets in advance right here. There’s even an 11:30 matinee showing for only $5 bucks, leaving you even less of a reason not to go see the movie.
Independence Day is right around the corner and this year we’ve got a little something extra to celebrate. Thanks to some pro-liberty Arizona Legislators and our Governor, there will be a significant increase in shiny things during our 4th of July festivities.
Late last year, Arizona bill HB 2246 went into effect, and a variety of “non-aerial” consumer fireworks became legal. Not perfect, but a good start to restoring the liberties and freedoms that Government Gone Wild so casually and continually strips from its citizens. The law includes a provision that allows incorporated cities and towns to regulate fireworks in their jurisdiction, and as soon as the law passed, many of the liberal leaning, nanny cities immediately banned their use. Fortunately, we live in one of the few cities where common sense still pokes its head out from time to time, and we are permitted to have fun with approved fireworks on our property from June 28th to July 4th, and again from December 30th to January 1st. Again, not perfect, but something to build upon.
Another positive effect of the legalization of fireworks in Arizona? Capitalism at its finest. Small and large tents are popping up all over town selling these “approved” fireworks. The jobs created by our new freedoms are sorely needed, as Arizona’s official unemployment rate is currently 9.3 percent.
Economic liberty breeds capitalism. Capitalism creates jobs. Jobs create a healthy economy.
Gunblogger Bob Owens, a writer for Bob’s Gun Counter and Confederate Yankee blogs, has put his money-where-his-mouth-is for what is right. Like many of us, Bob has been following the Congressional hearings into the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (BATFE, also known as ATF) critically flawed and “unconventional investigation” into weapons smuggling into Mexico. The “investigation” is known as Operation Fast & Furious, Project Gunrunner, and a few other names that obscure how broad the investigation’s failures actually are. Congressman Darrell Issa has referred to Operation Fast & Furious as “felony stupid”. Bob believes, like many others, that the operation wasn’t just stupid.
How unconventional was the investigation?
ATF, with the cooperation of the Department of Justice and other Federal agencies, decided that the best way to stop the flow of smuggled weapons from the United States into Mexico was to ship more weapons. A few thousand more weapons!
Bob has extensively covered scandals like the death of Marine veteran Jose Guereña at the hands of the Pima County SWAT team, as well as extensively covering Operation Fast & Furious, Project Gunrunner. This time, he has filed a written request with the Federal Government’s Office of Special Counsel, requesting the appointment of an independent Special Prosecutor to investigate the failed operation that lead to the deaths of at least three U.S. law enforcement officers, as many as 150 Mexican law enforcement officers, and possibly thousands of Mexican citizens.
Why would you call that laying it on the line?
Well, Bob is presumably a gun owner, who is certainly in the United States, petitioning his government to seek redress in a case of government wrong-doing. A wrong-doing that at a minimum is:
Negligent “felony stupid” that deserves jail time for responsible parties.
A blunder caused by an abuse of political power used to pursue an anti-gun agenda “by any means necessary”
Or at worst, corruption of U.S. government officials that we could only imagine happening in Mexico.
Whatever the level of corruption, it is so important that Attorney General Eric Holder and other high ranking officials have risked Contempt charges by refusing to turn over documents and otherwise cooperate in the Congressional investigation.
Our hats are off to you!
We here at GreatSatanInc.com salute Bob in taking a stand against this horrific injustice, perpetrated by government officials who allegedly serve the citizens. When the stakes are this high, it takes courage to stand up for what is right. May God bless you and keep you safe, Bob. You are doing the right thing!
The film adaptation of Ayn Rand’s novel, Atlas Shrugged: Part 1, was a jam packed theater experience. Our Cliff Notes review of the movie is: let go of your expectations, open your mind, and go see it! Now! What are you waiting for? Are you waiting for the theater to open? Go now! Okay, okay, please go see this movie at your earliest convenience.
Back to the short-attention-span review, you could read a poncy, pretentious movie critique, or you can take our word. Atlas Shrugged is a good, dramatic movie, with a message based on your choosing. If you’ve read all 1,350 plus pages of the book, you will no doubt notice some deviation from the original story. There’s a bit of a love interest that should keep a slightly vapid date absorbed. There are numerous political themes playing out that should keep your armchair political quarterback friends riveted. Subtle, but important, details are revealed constantly to keep your thinking friends engaged. Finally, there is some great imagery to keep your visually amused friends hanging on for the next camera shot. Make no mistake, this is a sentient person’s movie, unlike Spider-Man 3.
Here’s a clue, take a look at this video of Representative Jesse Jackson, Jr. trashing the Apple iPad . Unfortunately, you can only understand the gravity of the vilification of Steve Jobs and Apple if you see Atlas Shrugged.
Whether you think Big Business is evil and we should be protected from greed, or you think that phony conservatives in D.C. will protect you from socialism, you need to see this movie to grasp the consequences of the fashionable merging of Crony Capitalism with the warm hugs of business regulation, done for the Greater Good™.
Very few movies can motivate an entire theater to applaud, but Atlas Shrugged: Part 1 managed to do just that.
Finally, the phony threat of a government shutdown has been avoided.
Congratulations, you lose!
The news media and politicians droned monotonously about how severe the impact of a government shutdown would be. Children would die, women would lose their rights, the elderly would go hungry, and our soldiers would go unpaid while they risked their lives. Even after the deal, the Associated Press (AP) said that we were, “perilously close to a government shutdown”.
Not to worry, your government professionals are still on the job, well, not on weekends, holidays, after 5:00 PM or during vacations…
You may have heard the President’s speech tonight about an historic deal to avoid a government shutdown! He even went so far as to proclaim the budget deal as “the biggest annual spending cut in history.” Sounds great doesn’t it? Or, does it sound like Bravo Sierra?
Who wins?
House Republicans – They made it sound like the country would spend less this year due to their tireless efforts
Senate Democrats – Senator Reid wants you to know he stood up to those mean Republicans, and the Cherry Blossom Festival will go on.
President Obama – He wants you to think his bold leadership led to this historic reduction in proposed spending.
China – China will probably continue to finance our debt, growing rich from the interest payments.
Who Loses?
The American people – While you were sleeping, eating, working, or looking for work, a big pony show went on in D.C. to fool you into thinking they were “doing something” about spending. You might think they reduced spending (the news told you so), but they will still have a budget bigger than they’ve ever had before!
Democrats were tricked into believing their sacred institutions were threatened, when they’ll get more money than ever before. Republican politicians make it sound like they took a stand, when they made a deal to spend more than ever before. President Obama wants you to think he kept his promise from his State of the Union address to reduce spending. Your tax bill will continue to grow, as will the record deficit, and the gargantuan National Debt.
Yes, you have been swindled! A “historic budget cut” is a $228 billion dollar increase over last year’s budget.
Ah-ha-ha. Ever get the feeling you’ve been cheated? Good night!*
* Jonny Rotten, lead singer of the Sex Pistols, after playing one song at a San Francisco concert, then walking off stage, ending the show prematurely.
On Friday, Congressman Raul “Boycott Arizona” Grijalva sent a letter to the director of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services regarding Arizona’s efforts to balance the budget by proposing cuts to AHCCS, the state’s Medicaid program. In his letter, Grijalva states
This will devastate our economy in several ways, and the public deserves a chance to make its voice heard before any action is taken by the state of Arizona.
This is rich coming from the man that led the charge against Arizona and used his political clout to ask the country to refrain from spending their dollars in Arizona. There is still plenty of time for the public to comment on these proposals as they move through the legislature, but Mr. Grijalva doesn’t let facts get in the way of a possible political score.
Today, Speaker Adams responded to Mr. Grijalva’s letter with a letter of his own. And it’s good. In addition to Speaker Adams, 35 members of the House Republican Caucus also signed the letter.
Below is the text of the letter from Speaker Adams (I know, it looks long. Don’t be scared, it’s worth the read):
Congressman Grijalva:
We have read your letter to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services regarding the proposed reductions in Arizona to our Medicaid program as well as your comments in the Arizona Daily Star. At the least, your statements demonstrate limited comprehension of the magnitude of the economic crisis facing your home state. Either you do not understand the issues surrounding Arizona’s Medicaid program – or you just chose to ignore the facts. Whatever the case, your efforts to delay and sideline our important progress of balancing the state’s budget will continue to leave many Arizonans with the false impression that we can provide services for which, in reality, there is no revenue source. To date, you have failed to provide any solution to that mathematical problem.
You apparently are not aware that Arizona faces a $543 million shortfall in the current year and a $1.15 billion shortfall in fiscal year 2012. Already, we have cut $2.2 billion from Arizona’s budget since 2008 due to plummeting revenues. Over the same period of time, you and your colleagues have increased spending by more than 30 percent on the federal level. Unlike Congress, we do not have the ability to spend money we do not have – nor do we believe that is a responsible way of conducting business.
Meanwhile, over the past decade, our Medicaid program has expanded at a record and alarming rate. In 2002, membership was just under 800,000 people. Today, it has spiked to nearly 1.4 million. That’s 1.4 million people on government subsidized health care in Arizona. Our general fund obligation over that time has increased from $675 million to $1.5 billion per year. That means that today, Arizona provides more generous Medicaid coverage than 44 other states in the country. More than 20 percent of Arizonans are covered by government subsidized care – a growing and unsustainable weight of responsibility given our current budget crisis.
Faced with this crisis, Governor Brewer had the courage and leadership to put forward a bold proposal in January that seeks to reduce our Medicaid rolls by approximately 250,000 people. Given the massive expansions in the system over the last decade, even with these significant cuts, more than 1 in every 6 Arizonans will still be covered by Medicaid. This remains a responsible and generous level of care.
In your letter to Medicaid and State Operations Director Cindy Mann, you allege that Arizona has “considered using cuts to Medicaid eligibility to pay for tax cuts.” That is flat out false. We are considering reductions to our Medicaid program in order to balance our budget – an exercise you have demonstrated no experience with given the aforementioned information.
You also state in your letter to Ms. Mann that the “recession has taken a heavy toll on our society.” That is very much true, especially here in Arizona. That’s why we as legislators have taken steps in Arizona that Congress has been unwilling to take, including rightsizing state spending to align with revenues. We also passed an historic and significant Jobs Bill, which you appear to criticize in your letter even though you do not have your facts right. As far as we can tell, your only contributions to impacting Arizona’s economy have been calling for a dangerous national boycott of our state and voting for Obamacare, which will further obligate our state to spend money we don’t have on Medicaid requirements. We believe our pro-growth measures are more productive than your inflammatory and destructive approach.
Despite your grandstanding attempt to jump into this process at the 11th hour, this issue has received extensive vetting and debate and will continue to receive hearings and opportunities for public input and discussion in the appropriate venue. It’s unfortunate that you did not participate in this discussion earlier. It’s also unfortunate that you have decided to criticize our governor’s proposed solution to our budget crisis, but failed to offer any alternative solutions. Arizonans deserve more from their elected officials.
Sincerely,
Kirk D. Adams
Speaker of the House
District 19
Like many other states, Arizona is broke. The cuts to our state health care system are an unfortunate necessity, and contrary to what the left would have you believe, these cuts will not kick granny out of her wheelchair and on to the street. For the real story on the ACCHS budget cuts, check out Papa Todd’s interesting facts about Arizona’s AHCCS budget cuts.
