QuietDan

One of the most thorough reports I have yet read. Very good story, worth your time.

Regarding: ********************************** Bert, These are called "secret ballots" for a reason. Suffice it to say that I voted my conscience as best as Providence and my education combined with my experience gave me the light to see. Beyond that statement, the subject is closed for further discussion. Regards, John D. Ragan State Representative ************************************** That's the same as saying "I voted against it." Sounds a little arrogant to me. It seems to me it's the constituent that decides when the conversation is over. Is he up for election this year?

The end of one campaign and the beginning of another. Live to fight another day. What needs to happen to make this successful?

The story itself is out, as important it is that the Sanford Police Chief gets to keep his job, the AssPress "buries the lede" in the second paragraph. Very cowardly and dishonest. *************************************************** Now out of jail, George Zimmerman fades from sight By KYLE HIGHTOWER, Associated Press – 5 minutes ago SANFORD, Fla. (AP) — George Zimmerman, who slipped out of jail on $150,000 bail in the early morning darkness, went back into hiding Monday and likely fled to another state to avoid threats as he awaits his second-degree murder trial for the killing of Trayvon Martin. His release from jail came less than a day before the Sanford City Commission rejected by a 3-2 vote the resignation of Police Chief Bill Lee, who was roundly criticized for not initially charging Zimmerman. Even though authorities can pinpoint Zimmerman's location with a GPS ankle bracelet, that he must wear round the clock, the public may not see him again for some time. Zimmerman has waived his appearance at his upcoming arraignment next month, so he can stay underground if he wants. Zimmerman already has experience laying low: For more than a month before his arrest, he eluded the media and his whereabouts were not known. His attorney has suggested he had several options for where Zimmerman can stay this time, and a judge indicated he was willing to let Zimmerman leave the state. Until the next time he must come before a judge, Zimmerman will have to skip such routine pleasures as eating in a restaurant or taking a long stroll outside, said Jose Baez, a former attorney for Casey Anthony. Anthony, acquitted last summer of killing her 2-year-old daughter, went into hiding after her release from jail. "He may be free, but he's not free," Baez said. First, Zimmerman must limit who knows his whereabouts to avoid the risk someone will give the secret away, Baez said. "Unfortunately, the people you think you trust, sometimes you find you just really can't," Baez said. The police chief is on paid leave. He had stepped aside temporarily in March to let emotions cool. Not too long ago, the commissioners gave him a "no confidence vote" that city Manager Norton Bonaparte said still stands. The shooting also led to the local prosecutor recusing himself from the case, and the governor appointing Angela Corey, who eventually charged Zimmerman. The majority of commissioners on Monday blamed the polarization over the Martin case and its handling by the police department on outside groups. They said they wanted to wait for an outside investigation to conclude into the police department's handling of the case before accepting the resignation agreement drawn up by the city manager and Lee. As for Zimmerman, in order to throw off curious onlookers and the media, he could change his look. Anthony went from a long-haired brunette to a bobbed blonde while serving a year of probation on an unrelated charge at an undisclosed location in Florida. Next, Zimmerman needs to go someplace where he knows few people and they don't know him, said Evan Ratliff, who wrote the book (or at least the magazine article) on how to vanish in the 21st century. In 2009, Wired magazine challenged its readers to try to find Ratcliff, who deliberately vanished with the help of disguises, prepaid phones, fake business cards and software that protected his Internet identity, at least for a while. Ratliff eventually was caught because readers were able to trace him through the IP address of a computer he had used. "He needs to be where he is not around people who are known to be close to him," Ratliff said. "Not a friend's house. Not a relative's house." Zimmerman needs to refrain from making any public statements, whether via social media sites like Facebook or Twitter or his own website, www.therealgeorgezimmerman.com, both Baez and Ratliff said. Zimmerman is using his website to help raise money for his legal defense. Early indications are that will be tough for Zimmerman to resist. After a judge agreed to release him on bond, a statement placed on his website said, "GZ hopes to be able to update the site in the next day or two, God willing. He sends his thanks for your thoughts and support." If he just can't resist getting messages out to his supporters, Zimmerman may be better off using Facebook and Twitter instead of his website because it probably has much weaker security than the social media sites, Ratliff said. Someone could find out where he is by hacking his website or an email account, he said. "Anytime you are on the Internet, you are potentially traceable," Ratliff said. "The best way to not be found by anyone is to not use any technology at all." Whatever means Zimmerman uses to hide, it could get expensive. Zimmerman has limited resources. He was working at a mortgage risk management firm but stopped working there after the confrontation with Martin because of the public attention. His wife, Shellie, is in nursing school and doesn't work. His attorney, Mark O'Mara, did not return phone calls Monday but has ruled out Zimmerman getting a job while he is out on bail. And O'Mara wrote in court papers that Zimmerman "has no significant financial assets or savings." Zimmerman at least has some experience hiding. He went underground after the Feb. 26 confrontation with Martin at the Sanford, Fla., gated community of townhomes where Zimmerman lived. Martin was unarmed and was walking back to the home of his father's fiancee when the neighborhood watch volunteer saw him, called police and began following him. A fight broke out — investigators say it is unknown who started it. Zimmerman says Martin, who was visiting from Miami, attacked him. Zimmerman says he shot Martin in self-defense, citing Florida's "stand your ground" law, which gives broad legal protection to anyone who says they used deadly force because they feared death or great bodily harm. Zimmerman was not charged for more than six weeks, sparking nationwide protests. Martin was black; Zimmerman's father is white and his mother is from Peru. A special prosecutor appointed by Gov. Rick Scott to investigate filed a second-degree murder charge earlier this month. Martin's parents have a "heavy heart" now that Zimmerman has been released from jail, said Benjamin Crump, an attorney for the 17-year-old's parents, Tracy Martin and Sybrina Fulton. "They hope his freedom is temporary because the pain he has caused this family is permanent," Crump said Monday. As a condition of his release, Zimmerman cannot have any guns and must observe a 7 p.m.-to-6 a.m. curfew. He surrendered his passport and will have to contact his monitors every three days. Given his success at eluding searchers before his arrest, Baez said he is confident Zimmerman will keep out of public view. "Based on his prior actions, he seems to be a very careful guy," Baez said. "Based on his prior ability to lay low, he will be fine. He is going to do exactly what is required of him." Schneider reported from Orlando, Fla. http://www.google.co...dfafa2f9c5aabd3

Probably.

Just received a Breaking News Alert that says: City commission rejects police chief's resignation in Fla. town where Trayvon Martin killed expect additional news shortly.

God Bless you and glad that everyone's all right. Just a taste of PTSD, huh? Might want to check if your town's department has a Police Chaplain. They are there for you too. They see stuff like this all the time.

Research the noise ordinance for your jurisdiction, city or county. Keep a copy of the noise ordinance on hand. If the noise violates the ordinance, call the police. Again and again. If your neighbor doesn't like it, they'll move. Or kill your dog. If you don't have a dog, then you should be all set. You could hang Aurelex sound foam on your common wall. It'll kill the high notes. The bass will still come through the floor, though. You haven't mentioned if your next door neighbor is single, and if you have a single brother or friend. . If she is and you do, and she's cute, lots of potential there. Have you considered buying a recently foreclosed, detached, single family home? They can be had for 75 cents on the dollar if you do your research. If you find one with acreage outside city limits, you could set up your own rifle range on your property and take noise disagreements with the neighbors to a whole new level. Just trying to be helpful! Let us know how it all works out!! p.s. There's a 2007 news story out of Clarksville, TN regarding an amendment to the noise ordinance rules: http://www.clarksvil...abatement-laws/ which includes: "The amendment also places strict limits on interior noise by prohibiting playing audio sounds that can be heard beyond one foot of an interior wall. In other words, if it can be heard more than a foot into your neighbor’s apartment, it’s too loud and against the law." Might want to check if there's anything more current.

I thought Trek was out of business?? Did I hear wrong? I own an old Trek that I like a lot.

Mr Ramsey, How much money has big business given to your campaign to buy your vote? If we give you five percent more, will you let us buy back your vote? Please advise.

Ramsey has been posturing in the Senate and making statements left and right about how the gun bill is dead. Well, if he actually had the votes rounded up, he wouldn't have to posture. Because he has to say anything, he might not really have the power he's pretending he has. If I were Ramsey, I might walk a fine line. I don't think a lot of Senators are going to appreciate being told their points of view and votes don't count because Ramsey will trump them by keeping the issue off the calendar. He could be doing all that behind the scenes and saying NOTHING if he actually had this all locked up. It might all be going to a vote because the Senators want it so. If it gets enough votes, the Governor would be shy about vetoing it. I might be living in an imaginary world, but . . . .

Limb. Har, har, har!

Under the circumstances, yes. Unfortunate circumstances, outrageous circumstances, but the circumstances at hand. Cheap at twice the price. With the national attention, some of this, if not all of this, will come from donations from well-wishers. One anonymous donor could write a check and consider it chump change.

For a while, selecting "View New Content" would pull up with the "New Since My Last Visit" view. It seems that it has now defaulted to the "Content I Have Not Read" view, and I must select "New Since My Last Visit." Something changed there . . . oh well.

Well, that's one way to do it. No appeals.

Can we make a list of the corporations that are actively lobbying against these bills? Lobbyists have to register, don't they?

Here's the story from the newspaper in the Sanford Florida area: ***************************************************************************************** George Zimmerman granted $150K bond, apologizes to Trayvon Martin's family 12:36 p.m. EST, April 20, 2012| By Rene Stutzman and Jeff Weiner, Orlando Sentinel After more than a week in jail, George Zimmerman found out today that he will be allowed bond on the second-degree murder charge he faces in the death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin. Judge Kenneth Lester set Zimmerman's bond at $150,000. He will be placed on GPS monitoring, and will not be released from custody today. Zimmerman arrived in court about 9 a.m., wearing a suit and handcuffs, with a chain across his waist. Also in the courtroom were Special Prosecutor Angela Corey, Trayvon Martin's parents, Sybrina Fulton and Tracy Martin, and family attorney Benjamin Crump. Minutes before the judge ruled on his bond, Zimmerman took the stand and apologized to Trayvon Martin's family. He was the last person to testify in court this morning. "I did not know if he was armed or not," Zimmerman said of Trayvon Martin on the night of the shooting. He said he's sorry for the Martin family's loss. Asked why he waited so long to apologize, Zimmerman said he was told not to reach out to the family. After brief testimony from Zimmerman, his attorney argued that his bail should be set at $15,000. O'Mara cited Zimmerman's financial difficulties in arguing for the bond. He also pointed out that Zimmerman has been cooperative with law enforcement. "He came in voluntarily and surrendered himself to law enforcement," O'Mara said. "He is well established in the community." Prosecutor Bernie De La Rionda argued that the court should consider that Trayvon Martin "was minding his own business" when he encountered Zimmerman. He was not committing a crime, De La Rionda said. He asked for either no bond or a bond of $1 million. State Attorney's investigator Dale Gilbreath testified earlier. O'Mara questioned him about the probable cause affidavit he signed for the second-degree murder charge. Gilbreath said he did not expect to testify at the hearing. O'Mara grilled Gilbreath on his use of the word "profiling" in describing Zimmerman's behavior that night, asking why he used the term. Gilbreath said the term indicates that Zimmerman saw the teen, then formed an opinion of him not based on any facts. O'Mara asked Gilbreath about unattributed statements in several sections of the affidavit. "'Zimmerman confronted Martin.' Those words, where'd you get them from," O'Mara asked. "According to one of the witnesses that we talked with, there were arguing words going on before this incident occured," Gilbreath said. He said "confronted," the word O'Mara took issue with, was one of probably 30 he could have used. Prosecutor Bernie De La Rionda then questioned Gilbreath. He asked is there was any evidence that Trayvon Martin shouldn't have been in the neighborhood where the shooting occurred, or was breaking any law. Gilbreath said no. Gilbreath testified that there is video of Trayvon Martin buying Skittles and iced tea before the shooting. He also said that Trayvon was unarmed. During further questioning by O'Mara, Gilbreath admitted that the state has no evidence who started the fight. There is also no evidence that Zimmerman didn't walk back to his car after chasing Martin on foot, as the defendant has claimed. However, he said that Zimmerman's statements, as well as his description of the injuries he suffered, are contradicted by other evidence in the case. De La Rionda bristled when questioned by reporters after the hearing about Gilbreath's testimony. "I think you don't have all the evidence," he said. "Please be patient and wait for the trial." As the hearing began, O'Mara surrendered Zimmerman's passport. Then, members of Zimmerman's family began testifying by phone, as had been arranged Thursday. Zimmerman's mother, Gladys Zimmerman, said she's concerned for her son's safety, as the family has recieved threats. Gladys Zimmerman testified that her son was active in protesting in 2010, when a Sanford police lieutenant's son was caught on camera punching a homeless man outside a bar. George handed out flyers advocating for an arrest, "so that poor man could have justice," she said. She said her son is very protective of people, regardless of race. He also worked as a mentor for children in need, she said. Zimmerman's father, Robert Zimmerman, said he would alert the court if his son failed to adhere to the conditions of his bond. He said he doesn't have much money to help his son with bail, but would take a second mortgage on his home to help secure his son's release. "I'm a disabled veteran, and don't have a great deal of income," the elder Zimmerman said. Of his son, he said, "I've never known him to be violent at all unless otherwise provoked, then he'd turn the other cheek." Prosecutor Bernie De La Rionda then asked Robert Zimmerman about his son's finances. He also asked Robert Zimmerman about his son's prior 2005 arrest, in which he was accused of striking a law enforcement officer near the University of Central Florida. He said his son has "always been interested in criminal justice," and is an honest man. http://articles.orla...t-zimmerman-son

The judge is making a statement. Under the circumstances, $150,000, of which Zimmerman will have to pay 10 percent to a bondsman, is cheap, cheap, cheap.

Thank you WorriedMan. I'm not buying it, I'm just posting it. I wonder sometimes why we work through our legislators if they are "bought" people. Seems that it would be a waste of time. Perhaps we should continue this discussion directly with the big businesses that see it necessary to "buy" legislators. Better to deal with the Master than the Servant? With big business, they are more beholden to their customers than legislators are beholden to their constituents. . . .

With Ramsey and company reportedly getting ready to block the legislation on the behest of big business, I contacted big business to see where they are coming from. Here is the response from FedEx: “FedEx is committed to providing a safe and secure work environment for all employees and has a long-standing policy of prohibiting weapons of any kind on company property. FedEx opposes this legislation. We believe that a property owner’s right to provide a safe work environment trumps an individual’s right to possess a firearm on the owners’ property.†Maury Donahue Manager, Regulatory and Public Affairs Communications

I'm thinking the part I disliked was the "tipping up" and "tipping down" situation. I thought it was the magazine out lockout that gave me the most trouble. I'm pretty happy with the 1911 level of complication for cleaning.

Do they have the same problems with the Mark I's and the Mark II's??

I had one of these for a while and enjoyed shooting it. However, the cleaning drill was just too much of a PITA for me and I sold it at a loss and got something else. Tilt it up, tilt it down, insert the magazine, remove the magazine . . . . All those stupid little lawyer bits cluttering up an elegant design.

My favorite kind of thread: Humor and knowledge, all mixed together.

House blocks EPA from banning lead in ammunition by Audrey Hudson (more by this author) Posted 04/17/2012 ET Updated 04/17/2012 ET The House on Tuesday passed legislation giving hunters and fishing enthusiasts access to certain public lands to pursue their sport and also blocked the Environmental Protection Agency from banning lead for use in ammunition and fishing tackle. The Sportsmen’s Heritage Act passed on a mostly party line vote of 274 yeas and 146 nays. Republicans argued that the ability of sportsmen and women to fish and shoot on public lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and Forest Service is being threatened by the Obama administration and environmentalists through bureaucratic regulations. Republicans also said that banning lead bullets and tackle would cause economic harm to the recreation industry and kill jobs. “It would be a massive power grab by the EPA without a clear lack of legal authority, but has that ever stopped the EPA under this administration? Sadly, it hasn’t,†said Rep. Doc Hastings (R–Wash.) chairman of the House Resources Committee. The bill recognizes hunting and fishing as historic and traditional recreational activities on public land and requires the federal bureaucracy to support those rights, said Rep. Rob Bishop (R–Utah), chairman of the Resources subcommittee on national parks, forests and public lands. “It’s simple language: if agencies in the bureaucracy of Washington want some areas of land closed to the public for recreation, they have to have a darned good reason to do it,†Bishop said. Hastings and Bishop cited an article in U.S. News and World Report stating the proposal to ban hunting on BLM land was in response to urbanites that “freak out†when they hear gunfire, and that the decision was an effort to reduce “social conflict.†“I suggest that is not a logical reason why these rights should be prohibited,†Bishop said. Federal managers are treating the public lands as their “personal fiefdoms†rather than managing the vast properties for public use, Hastings said. The public outcry following the BLM threat forced Interior Secretary Ken Salazar to abandon the plan. “However, nothing prevents a future bureaucratic maneuver to limit access,†Hastings said. Democrats opposed the bill and called it a tool of the gun lobby. Rep. Raul Grijalva (D–Ariz.) argued that the greatest threats to hunting and fishing do not come from federal land managers, but from development, pollution and destruction of wildlife habitat. “The problem this bill claims to solve actually does not exist,†Grijalva said. “This bill is intended to wrap (land managers) in red tape and intimidate them… and to score political points with outside groups.†Federal law already bans the EPA from regulating lead ammunition, however, more than 100 environmental groups petitioned the agency last month to ban it claiming the lead can poison those who eat wild game shot with the ammunition, or other animals that accidentally ingest the metal in dead carcasses. “There is no scientific evidence for their position,†Hastings said. “So this (bill) makes it crystal clear Congress has primacy on this issue and it should be respected.†http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=50914