"By Any Means Necessary" -Malcolm X

Today would be the 90th birthday of the great American progressive Malcolm X.

A few weeks before his death Malcolm appeared on Canadian television to discuss his proposed solution for human beings who are offered no protection by their government.

  

*Clip from the CBC (1965)

THE Swiss Model

Switzerland is a country of 8,000,000 people.  The Swiss people are surrounded by Germany, France, Italy and Austria.  Think about the history of these governments.  Think about how many major violent conflicts they have been involved in.

But when was the last time Switzerland was involved in an armed conflict?

1847.

Why didn't the National Socialist led German government invade them during World War II?  Probably because Hitler was afraid that widespread gun ownership by the Swiss people would cause the defeat of his army.  It is estimated that there 4 million firearms in the homes of the Swiss people.  Any authoritarian regime is frightened by this notion of a well regulated militia.  

OK, so these guns provide the Swiss people with a strong self-defense system but do they cause high murder rates?

Who is Most Responsible for the Injustices?

Fifty years ago today Malcolm X was murdered.

He speaks here about a governmental system which allows people to organize for self-defense...

No Knock Raids Decrease Officer Safety

Charles Dinwiddie,
killed during no knock, SWAT raid 

A police officer's job is dangerous enough as it is.  Arbitrarily decreasing "officer safety" is foolish.

Safe situation: two people sleeping soundly in their home

Dangerous situation: two people being awakened from a deep sleep by multiple armed men who broke into their home under the cover of darkness

A safe environment was altered to a dangerous one because of an arbitrary edict issued by a politician.  In this scenario the slumbering residents are bound to react to the home intruder situation they face.  Unfortunately this means that some people are going to reach for their firearms and discharge them if they feel an imminent threat to their family's safety.


See this tragic example which unfolded in Killeen, Texas:

Police Detective Charles “Chuck” Dinwiddie, 47, and Officer Odis Denton, 37, were shot as they and other officers served the narcotics search warrant just after 5:30 a.m. Friday at 1104 Circle M Dr. Apt. 3 in Killeen.

600 Murder Suspects On The Run in Pennsylvania

These Men Are Hunting 600 Violent Criminals 

(photo: BUTCH COMEGYS/AP)

In Pennsylvania the search is on for more than six-hundred murder suspects who are on the run.

Tonight hundreds of families are hoping that Pennsylvania State Troopers find those responsible for the death of their loved one.

Fortunately with all the resources being spent on this manhunt we expect at least a handful of murder suspects to be apprehended by police this week.  Stay tuned...  


*in Philadelphia alone there are over 600 active murder investigations.  

Guns Behave Themselves in Iowa and North Dakota

Firearms ownership in the state of Iowa is the 16th highest rate in these United States.  Fortunately the guns don't act out in The Hawkeye State.  Iowa has the 9th lowest death rate by firearms of the fifty states.

Minnesota is another state where the guns don't usually try to hurt people.  The Gopher State ranks 21st in gun ownership yet it's 43rd in deaths caused by guns.

Unfortunately the firearms in Nevada and Arizona go awry more often.  These states have low rates of gun ownership yet their murder by gun rates are very high (5th and 6th respectively).

Finally, responsible gun owners abound in North Dakota.  The Peace Garden State is aptly named as they boast the 10th highest rate of guns and the 10th lowest gun death rate.

Tasers in School? Welcome to Texas

A police officer in Round Rock, Texas deployed a taser to stop a fight between two students in a school lunch room.  School officials and police have claimed ownership of the surveillance video recording the incident.

The officer in this case is displaying for the students how to use a taser in self-defense.  Parents take note.  In case of attack by a school bully your children are encouraged to fend them off with the use of a taser.       

Story from KVUE  

Parents: Talk to Your Kids About Self-Defense

News of another violent attack by a high school student is coming out of Pittsburgh today.  We are told that there was just one perpetrator and twenty victims of stabbing.  That seems like an incredibly high ratio and one that should alert parents to the importance of talking with their kids about self-defense.

Here are a few questions were are not likely to hear asked by "reporters":

• What self-defense/protective measures are teachers supposed to use in case of violent attack?
• How many of the students in school were carrying knives for self-defense?  
• Did any of the victims have access to a stun-gun or pepper spray?
• Was there any other sort of weapon (i.e. a baseball bat) available to the students for self-defense purposes?  

Parents please talk to your kids about self-defense.  Their action could not only save their life but also the lives of other children.