{"id":91,"date":"2016-02-23T16:49:56","date_gmt":"2016-02-23T16:49:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/defendublog.com\/?p=91"},"modified":"2019-03-31T03:02:25","modified_gmt":"2019-03-31T03:02:25","slug":"can-we-tax-or-legislate-away-intent","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/defendublog.com\/?p=91","title":{"rendered":"Can We Tax or Legislate Away Intent?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Can We Tax or Legislate Away Intent?<\/strong><\/p>\n

I found this quote on Tony Blauer\u2019s FaceBook wall this morning, that ties in directly with some thoughts that I\u2019d had yesterday after addressing another quote that I also found on FaceBook and that I was compelled to respond to.:<\/p>\n

“I don’t believe in Violence
\n<\/em>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0I don’t Worship Violence
\n<\/em>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0I just Practice it
\nBecause I know others Live through Destruction
\n<\/em>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 And I want to be Prepared When Our Paths Cross.
\n<\/em>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 People will vilify us, we know who we are though,
\nand why we do what we do!”
\n<\/em>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Unknown<\/p>\n

With all of the nonsense that surrounds each active-shooter event, I feel I have to keep putting counter responses out there to defend my position and my thoughts on the subject \u2013 to try and push education on people that aren\u2019t \u2018getting it.\u2019 I’m often correcting lies, countering anti-gun rhetoric, defending my views on violence, and explaining the realities from a more informed position.<\/p>\n

Our world has changed. Very specifically here in America it has started to go off the rails. There are many signs to that end, and it is all driven by agendas, hidden or otherwise. In my opinion, the media has been the primary perpetrator in that it continues to push its political agendas about guns, gun laws and gun ownership. But, it’s now also pushing its anti-police agenda, hard and often. The events, although related through a common element – guns, have raised the level of fear, and in doing so, have also allowed and even encouraged stupidity and outright deceit.<\/p>\n

The media is shaping a whole generation to push their agenda that will set us up for failure, and relieve us of our rights, the right to own and bear arms. Not everyone is buying into this, but the fight is on. The propaganda war is getting heated, and they seem to have more money and thus influence on their side.<\/p>\n

This week the NRA\u2019s Wayne LaPierre, was vilified as a terrorist on the front page of a major newspaper \u2013 alongside the images of several of the recent terrorists that were involved with mass-murders committed on U.S. soil. How has the media gone from responsible, professional reporting to pushing lies and deceit over the last 50 years?<\/p>\n

This type of \u2018reporting\u2019 influences it\u2019s readership, and is really nothing more than propaganda to push an agenda \u2013 outlaw guns and gun ownership. By using tragic events (read: highly emotionally charged) the media have over the last few years started a downward trend that seeks to strip Americans of their rights to bear firearms. Additionally they have gone after our law enforcement personnel \u2013 our Police agencies.<\/p>\n

After a bank-robbery in Los Angeles, where the perpetrators wore full-body armor, and had prepared themselves with a lot of ammunition, automatic and semi-automatic weapons including long-guns, law enforcement assessed and evaluated the outcome and determined that they were outgunned, plain and simple. Two men were able to take on the Los Angeles Police Department and surrounding agencies and walk out of the bank and proceed to attempt to escape \u2013 even after thousands of rounds were expended to prevent them from doing so. Yes, they were outgunned, even though they had far superior numbers.<\/p>\n

Since that time police agencies have geared up, trained up and prepared for events like that. Now with terrorism on our minds, the people have determined that maybe the police shouldn\u2019t have access to militarized vehicles that the government kindly provided to them. Maybe \u2018we\u2019 should limit how much ammunition can be purchased, or the capacities of ammo magazines, and take back those vehicles that would protect our police \u2013 \u2018we\u2019 don\u2019t want our police militarized!<\/p>\n

I get some of that, but a lot of it makes my head spin. Understand that I am a lawful registered gun owner, but I don’t consider myself a gun nut at all. In fact, I seriously considered selling my firearm this year \u2013 after lawfully owning firearms for over 25 years! Recent events have convinced me otherwise. I am not overly pro-active, and don’t actively carry even though it\u2019s within my right to do so when I\u2019m off-duty. It makes me uncomfortable doing so \u2013 I have been swayed by public perception and opinion!<\/p>\n

I allowed myself to be tempered by the opinions of others years ago when I was actively carrying. When some \u2018friends\u2019 found out, they\u2019d go out of their way to draw attention to my weapon, or to the fact that I was armed. Not cool. Not cool at all. Instead of pushing back, I retired my sidearm to a closet. \u201cAre you carrying?\u201d \u201cGot your gun on you tonight? in public, and in front of others to boot!<\/p>\n

Well, times have changed, and the recent event in San Bernardino, California has gotten me to thinking once again. And I\u2019m not alone. This week, the Sheriff of Ulster County, NY posted a \u2018call to arms\u2019 \u2013 he actually came out and asked gun owners to consider carrying their weapons in public. His rationale? If even one lawfully armed person is able to respond to an active-shooter before police can arrive, please do so.<\/p>\n

[http:\/\/www.recordonline.com\/article\/20151203\/NEWS\/151209783]<\/p>\n

Of course that raises a lot of red flags with the public! Suffice it to say that the floor is open, and the discussion is in full-swing! Others have followed suit.<\/p>\n

I can see his point, and I can see the counter-points as well \u2013 it\u2019s NOT easily solved.<\/p>\n

I am not here to promote guns. I am here to promote smarter thinking though. Think about this for just a few minutes: would you allow a loved one to put themselves in harms way with no hope of survival? Well, you DO that every day. Someone you know, either directly or through your web of relationships will be THAT person: today, tomorrow if not next week, and very likely sometime this year. And you allow it to happen. Can you live with that? You have the ability to have your voice heard, the necessity to educate yourself further than what the media is providing you, and to change the outcome for many.<\/p>\n

As the parent of a law enforcement officer, it\u2019s hard to watch and not react. As one who is also responsible for the public-at-large, it\u2019s mind-numbing how little security we can actually provide other than great customer service! We have almost no training, no real plan, and no pro-active stance. We are strictly in a reactive mode. That spells disaster If you ask me.<\/p>\n

Why you may ask? There are many viewpoints. Consider this: guns make people uncomfortable, especially if it\u2019s not in the holster of someone in uniform, but even then it makes you uncomfortable. Now consider this: how do you expect any of us to stop an armed assailant or multiple armed assailants without using equal or greater force?<\/p>\n

Being responsible for the lives of thousands of people daily is becoming harder to do, and continuing to do the job is even harder to justify. My intent is to do whatever I am able to fulfill my commitment, but without the training, tools, and proper management structure and subsequent game-plans, you\u2019re asking the impossible.<\/p>\n

Let me share an incident in which I was placed just a few years ago. On our campus we had a possible active-shooter event. Someone had reported seeing a man outside one of our buildings, armed with what looked like a shotgun. Police were notified and responded. At least one officer was out on the grounds actively searching for the suspect \u2013 with his M5. The M5 is a tactical long-gun that our local PD was allocated for just-such events.<\/p>\n

The campus was alerted via internal communications, we went into a very loose lockdown stance, and put a few of our officers out in harms way to actively search for this shooter. These men were not armed, nor trained to respond in this scenario, yet they did. I was asked to man a post in the area most likely for the shooter to target. I was ordered to sit in a lobby, near the front-door (mag locked), an all glass enclosure and instructed to watch four monitors that monitored the perimeter doors. Huh? Yeah, that was the stupidest thing I\u2019d ever heard. \u2018You want me to sit in front of a glass wall, and let you know when he\u2019s AT the door?\u2019 \u2018How long do you think I will last?\u2019 This was not a good idea by a very long stretch!<\/p>\n

Of course, I did as I was told \u2013 that was the only thing I could do, morally.<\/p>\n

So having been through that type of situation once, I can imagine more possible outcomes, and have had time to think about the whole event. I haven\u2019t been able to better prepare, but maybe only mentally.<\/p>\n

We can all imagine being a hero, but it\u2019s not that at all. To me it\u2019s about shutting down the violence, because that\u2019s my vocation. It\u2019s my duty. It\u2019s the morally right thing to do. And I\u2019m not alone. We do what we do for you, for your families, your friends, your neighbors.<\/p>\n

If we\u2019re willing to save your life, shouldn’t you at least allow us the tools necessary to do that? The training? And with a lot more understanding from you?<\/p>\n

Yesterday, [12\/03\/2015], someone posted this quote on social media:<\/p>\n

\u201cWe stopped cigarette advertising to prevent smoking, raised the cost of a pack
\n<\/em>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0and taxed them to the sky perhaps the same can be done for guns\u2026 \u201c<\/em><\/p>\n

My two cents: Taxing or changing pricing will do nothing \u2013 if they\u2019re desperate and resourceful enough, they will find a way, like smokers did and do, to use your analogy. Laws change nothing as well, in my opinion \u2013 only those willing to abide by them will adhere to them. My recollection of post-9\/11 events: box cutters weren\u2019t legislated out of existence. My proof is that I confiscate many each week from those individuals that try to bring them into our facility. It\u2019s the INTENT and not the possession that is more of interest to me. Disarming US makes THEM more likely to use any means possible to do evil. I stand unarmed everyday to at least promote a vision of preparedness so that the public will feel a little more safe and at ease in a place that they SHOULD feel safe. Everyday I wonder \u2013 will it happen today? What will I do \u2013 with no training, no real support, no plan, and of course no ability to fight back that makes others feel comfortable. Guns makes people uncomfortable, but I see more knives everyday as a \u2018norm\u2019 \u2013 it\u2019s part of our culture, and only recently has this become a social issue that raises alarm. The issue is too big for a few short ideas in a too-short forum such as this. Suffice it to say that I have to disagree based on my experience and knowledge. If we disarm ourselves, we surrender \u2013 which is what their goal has been since day one. Legislation will NOT change that. Propaganda \u2013 advertising or pre-legislation media blitzes are one and the same \u2013 selling an ideology for \u2018our\u2019 side. We\u2019ve lost our morals, raised a generation of self-indulged children, and given EVERYONE the right to claim \u2018I\u2019m SPECIAL!\u201d \u2013 without earning that and forget ever questioning that \u2013 that would be politically incorrect! I see bad behavior every \u2013 single – day. Entitlement \u2018to do whatever I want, because\u2026.\u2019 we need to change THAT. No laws will change someone unwilling to adhere to them, to respect them. It\u2019s only their desire to do harm that gives them power over us while the rest of us line up like sheep\u2026 and strip away our rights and abilities to fight back, to defend, to live freely.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s how I responded to this particular post.<\/p>\n

“I don’t believe in Violence<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0I don’t Worship Violence
\n<\/em>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0I just Practice it
\n<\/em>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Because I know others Live through Destruction
\n<\/em>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0And I want to be Prepared When Our Paths Cross.
\n<\/em>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0People will vilify us, we know who we are though, and why we do what we do!”<\/em><\/p>\n

I do believe in violence – in the sense that it’s a real, and apparently a sustainable thing. I believe in it because I have taught myself to practice it, and to advance my understanding of it, to examine it as if it were a tangible object. Why you may ask? To me it is. It is like any other thing that we wish to study and understand. It’s always present. It’s always around us, and it always happens – every minute of the day. We don\u2019t see or hear about all of it, nor even a great percentage of it, but it’s there, and it did happen.<\/p>\n

When it does happen, and if it happens when and where I can affect an outcome, that is my job. That is my profession. Yes, it is a profession. And I do consider myself a professional whose specialty is violence. I am not alone.<\/p>\n

I don’t worship violence. I don’t like it, and it makes me very uncomfortable thinking about it, let alone participating in it – willingly no less!<\/p>\n

I do practice it.<\/p>\n

I do consider myself a professional. It’s about acknowledging violence, and then addressing it. To address it means to study it, to then deploy it as a tool to overcome it, and then to learn from each and every use of force.<\/p>\n

I reassess after each use of force, constantly questioning many aspects of what had occurred. Why? Did I respond professionally? Did I let emotion dictate the response? Was the response justifiable? Will I be able to defend my response? Do you see where I\u2019m going with this?<\/p>\n

In a nutshell, I am always more afraid of judgment and punishment for doing my job, than doing my job. I’m always more afraid of what others think than what I think. This world has changed us to the point that ‘politically-correctness’ has turned into the auto-correct for the millenniums. We attempt to fix things using man-made algorithms – i.e., if a gun was involved, it’s the GUN that is at fault, not the shooter. Does this make sense?<\/p>\n

So, in my quest to be better at what I do, to understand more fully, and to explore alternatives, I have consumed untold dollars and hours trying to get my head around something as simple (complex?) as violence.<\/p>\n

So what to do?<\/p>\n

I’ve found myself a pool of like-minded people that GET what I’m trying to do, PRACTICE some of what I do, and EDUCATE others that do what we do \u2013 only better. And to do that, I had to embrace violence.<\/p>\n

What have I found along the way? A whole lot of misunderstanding, untruths, vitriol and sadly separation from family and friends. No one wants to hear about what you do. Everyone seems to live in a fantasy world about the violence that occurs all around them daily as it if doesn\u2019t exist if they pretend not to look, hear, see, smell it.<\/p>\n

As an example, every day – without exception – someone will walk by my post and say ‘You’ve got a cushy job! Must be nice!’ You can\u2019t make them understand what you actually do when \u2018you\u2019re sitting around\u2019, that would only make them more uncomfortable. If you tell them that you\u2019re actually the \u2018spotter\u2019 today, the guy who\u2019s job it is to look for weapons, they\u2019d pale. Weapons? Here? Really? \u2018Yeah, I take knives away every shift, and only the one\u2019s I can see.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0“…Because I know others Live through Destruction
\n<\/em>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 And I want to be Prepared When Our Paths Cross.
\n<\/em>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 People will vilify us, we know who we are though, and why we do what we do!”<\/em><\/p>\n

I want to be prepared. I want to be there when I’m needed. I don’t want recognition, but I do expect understanding on a higher level than what we are currently subjected to by too many. We are vilified – because we do \u2018stand on those walls so that you can sleep at night.\u2019 We do know who we are, and why we do what we do. It’s for you – the complacent, and perhaps unthankful masses that judge us everyday because you don\u2019t understand us, you haven’t done our job, and you don’t understand violence like we do.<\/p>\n

We do what we do for you.<\/p>\n

Violence occurs for many reasons. It’s been said that it is a form of communication – think about that. When you toss in emotion, it’s like napalm on and seeks to snuff out the logical arguments. It makes a communication a spectacular event! Now add beliefs. Belief is another incendiary component to communication. Combined with emotion you get a longer burn – before, during and after the fact. Maybe a hotter flame, but definitely a longer burn. Because, even after the event has passed, your brain is cranking out thoughts based on your beliefs.<\/p>\n

What we are witnessing today, are poets. Disbursing emotion and belief as truths. Nothing could be further from it. You can’t tax or legislate away emotion or belief either.<\/p>\n

To stop violence and violent acts, we need to be better at it than they.<\/p>\n

See the media-circus for what it is – entertainment. Entertainment relies on two principle ingredients: emotion and belief. Enhance the first one and suspend the other one. We see it every newscast that comes out surrounding an event. You see and hear very little truth based on so few actual facts initially, and the race is on to get the story \u2013 at any cost, and screw the actual facts.<\/p>\n

As I’m writing this CNN is showing reporters roaming freely around what should be a crime-scene. That’s how bad it’s gotten – the authorities are so afraid of being accused of a cover-up that they’re willing to compromise a crime scene of a mass-murder investigation ONE DAY after the event!<\/p>\n

\u00a9 Copyright 2015 tim boehlert<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Can We Tax or Legislate Away Intent? I found this quote on Tony Blauer\u2019s FaceBook wall this morning, that ties in directly with some thoughts that I\u2019d had yesterday after addressing another quote that I also found on FaceBook and that I was compelled to respond to.: “I don’t believe in Violence \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 … Continue reading Can We Tax or Legislate Away Intent?<\/span> →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-91","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-conflict-research-group-international"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/defendublog.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/91","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/defendublog.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/defendublog.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/defendublog.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/defendublog.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=91"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"http:\/\/defendublog.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/91\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":675,"href":"http:\/\/defendublog.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/91\/revisions\/675"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/defendublog.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=91"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/defendublog.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=91"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/defendublog.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=91"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}