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Packing Heat in the USA

The right to own and carry a firearm is one of the most contentious in this nation, a battleground visited as often as that of free speech, abortion and the separation of church and state.

“˜Keeping’ Arms

Your right to keep (own) a firearm is enshrined in the Second Amendment of U.S. Constitution, which states that, “[fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][A] well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.”

This brief passage was most recently challenged in the U.S. Supreme Court in 2010, in McDonald v. Chicago, where gun owners argued the city’s ban on handgun ownership violated the Second Amendment. Gun owners prevailed, with the Court citing its favorable ruling two years prior in Heller v. District of Columbia ““ that owning a handgun is a fundamental right protected by Due Process that cannot be infringed upon by the States.

Now, what about the right to carry them around?

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Net ID

Imagine what it would be like in a safe and secure Internet world without passwords. Think about all the passwords out there:

  • Bank
  • Credit card(s)
  • Email account(s)
  • Social networking site(s)
  • Shopping sites (Amazon, Overstock, Best Buy, etc.)
  • Gaming sites

And the list goes on and on. How many times do you repeat your passwords, or have a common variation? Of course, you know that’s not a good idea, because once somebody gets a hold of one they can figure out the rest, but there are so many. It’s just easier.

Plus, if you’ve ever forgotten a password, especially for a federal government site like a student loan hub, it can be a difficult problem to fix. Why risk the trouble?

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Civil Unrest and Operation Garden Plot

Civil unrest has played a significant role in regime change and nation-building since the inception of civilization itself.

Egypt, historically regarded as the very cradle of civilization, is now being rocked by civil unrest driven by protests against the troubled 30-year reign of the country’s president, Hosni Mubarak. Several people have been killed and thousands arrested, and foreign visitors are being advised to leave the country.

While countrywide unrest in the United States is mostly unheard of, it too has experienced pockets of civil disobedience. Both the Watts riots in 1965 and the L.A. riots in 1992 were sparked by incidents involving clashes between African American motorists and Caucasian patrol officers. The assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. in 1968 and the Kent State shootings in 1970 also touched off riots.

These incidents and other, less notable disturbances, varied in their levels of severity. The Kent State riots, although unfortunately ending in bloodshed, did not erupt into widespread violence. The L.A. riots, however, lasted three days and resulted in the deaths of 53 people and more than a billion dollars in property damage.

Many factors played a role in creating these perfect social storms. The country’s earlier experiences with civil unrest occurred amid the backdrop of the civil rights movement and the Vietnam War. The L.A. riots were largely driven by the inarguable video evidence of police brutality that was viewed by a community dissatisfied with perceived class differences and racial stratification.

Even so, all of these incidents have a very interesting and conspicuous link ““ the engagement of the National Guard. In fact, National Guard units in 18 states (36 cities) were mobilized following Martin Luther King, Jr’s. assassination.

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Individual Liberty

Like many of you, I'm finding it more and more difficult to avoid political conversation.  Or maybe a more accurate statement would be; I'm engaging more directly in political conversation. You see, up until very recently, I would've said that…

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