Archive for the ‘Blog’ Category
“As a six-year prisoner of war, I learned freedom is our most important commodity. We keep it through personal responsibility. Freedom is the flip side of responsibility.” Leo K. Thorsness, Air Force, Vietnam
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“You have never lived until you have almost died…for those who fight for it, life has a flavor the protected will never know.” Hershel W. Williams, USMC, WWII
“Our freedom, envied the world over, was attained at great personal sacrifice by our nation’s founders; we cannot allow it to wither away through apathy, or tolerance for actions that could jeopardize it.” Thomas J. Hudner, Navy, Korea
“Moral courage….doing what has to be done because it is the right thing to do regardless of the consequences to yourself or what others will think….that is the mark of a true hero.” Thomas G. Kelley, Navy, Vietnam
“There are two kinds of people in the world; those who get things done and those who take credit for getting things done. Belong to the first group if you can; there is much less competition”. Francis S. Currey, Army, WWII
{“Remember everything America has, its prosperity and riches, its freedoms and liberties, its magnificent beauty and natural resources are all a gift from God and the United States Military Services”}. Nick D. Bacon, Army, Vietnam-
Quote: {No clause in the Constitution could, by any rule of construction, be conceived to give to Congress a power to disarm the People}. William Rawle
Pay them more money. Why?
Author: Mark Shean
It has been suggested by more than one talking head that politicians in general should be paid more than they currently make. The most often used example is the position of President of the United States. Here they state that CEO’s of large companies make huge amounts of money in comparison to the most powerful office in the world. While that may be true, what I never hear in that argument is that people who run for high office, your senators and congressmen, are already very wealthy. They also have big backing from special interest groups and all the money that entails. Not to mention the perks that come with their office, access to free air travel, body guards etc.
These talking heads think that if we throw more money at politicians that they will be more efficient, make better decisions. I do not believe that for a second. People who run for public office do not do so for the pay check, they spend more money for the seat of power they are running for than they would ever hope to recoup. For these people they crave the power to control millions of other peoples lives, money alone does not give them that power. To shovel more tax payers money at these politicians will not suddenly mean that they will now make better decisions, absolutely not, they tell you what you want to hear to be elected, then they come into office with preconceived little agendas that have absolutely nothing to do with the wants or needs of their constituents. This is quite obvious when these so-called ‘representatives’ vote on bills that are extremely important and extremely large, (stimulus bill, health care bill, Cap and Trade bill) they cannot even be bothered to read them first! But make sure they exempt themselves from these bills. How is that for a ‘screw’ you America’ example?
These incumbents no longer represent you or I, they only represent themselves! They vote on bills that will only enrich themselves further! One term in Congress and they can retire with a huge pension for life, nice…. They have large shares in companies that will benefit directly from bills they push down our throats, this is a huge and dishonest conflict of interest!
I believe firmly that term limits are now one of the only ways remaining to take back the country from long embedded politicians who show they are more than willing to sell their souls, the Constitution, and America down the river for their personal agendas, schemes, and bankrolls. What do you think? I think a new party is in order. Lets start one, how about the Tea Party or Constitutional Party? Let’s throw fear into both the democrat and republican party’s, lets upset their little house of ill repute!
Mark Shean www.mafirearmsafety.com written 6-27-2009
Have any of you ever thought about taking an advance on your Master Card or Visa? Think twice! I was going to take an advance on my card one day for an item I could use in my side business. I never do anything like this, but the item was kind of pricey and I did not really want to deplete my cash on hand that much, in one swoop. I normally live by the rule that if I cant buy something with cash, I just don’t buy it until I can buy it with cash. So anyway, seemingly against all logic, (I did have the cash) I was willing to take an advance on my card.
Luckily it dawned on me to call the card company first, not because I wanted to know if I had the available credit line, I knew that would not be a problem, it was because I thought the card company might freeze my account if a large advance was suddenly attempted. That could be recognized as suspicious activity. So I called the handy dandy customer service number on the back of my only credit card and I immediately hear the obligatory message, ‘due to high caller volume’ the anticipated wait time is 5 minutes, (it is never 5 minutes). Next of course, you are prompted to push ‘1’ if you want English, (never mind that the illegal alien you end up talking with can barely speak English). Then, your asked to punch in your entire credit card number.
Now, you are like a hostage, listening to crappy elevator music, this music could replace water boarding at Gitmo! I am convinced this music is designed to drive people OFF the phone, so that companies will not have to deal with you! I’m nearly a broken babbling drooling fool by the time someone comes to the phone! On top of that cruel and unusual punishment, every minute, an automated voice cuts in telling me that I am a valued customer, and that my call is very important to them, (sure I am). You could call this 24 hour number at 1-AM and you would sit through the same B.S., (sure there is high caller volume) sure!
Finally, after 49 minutes, I swear to God, 49 minutes, some Cuban national answers the phone and in very broken Spanish asks you a series of questions, (for security reasons), what’s your name, what’s your SS#, what’s your mothers maiden name, what’s your dogs name, are you married, what’s your wife’s name, what’s your dogs birthday, what is your 16 digit card number,(that you had previously punched in), where was the great aunt of your mothers first cousin born, what was her doctors nick name? After you get through all of this BS she asks how she can be of help, I almost forget why I called, but it slowly comes back to me….
I was only calling to let you know that I was going to take a large advance on my line of credit today and did not want my account frozen, OK? I’m sorry sir I will have to transfer you to our security department, please hold. Noooooooooooooooooo! To late, I have been put on hold for another torture session with elevator music, fifteen more minutes go by, I am reminded every minute that I ama valued customer, it makes me feel important, I am about to break when someone who can actually speak English picks up, for me the fact that the music has gone away is a gift from God. I go through the same malarkey I went through the first time, (I guess they dont transferr notes). So I tell him the same thing about taking an advance, that I was just giving a courtesy call, (something that I will never ever do again). Then he tells me that just for my information,there will be a one time 3% transfer charge, and also, whenever anyone takes an advance, the % rate on that money is now at a higher rate, this peaks my interest. I ask how high? It will be billed at 19% sir. I almost fall off of my chair! 19%?! I have excellent credit, I have never been late on a bill in my life I tell him. He says, I’m sorry sir that is the policy, it applies to everyone, (unless your Congressman Christopher Dodds I suspect). Then he says, but the money that is already in there will remain at the same 7% that it is at now.
This gets better, next he says, you have to pay off the existing balance at 7% before any payments are applied to the advanced money at the higher 19% rate! At this point I visualize lobsters coming out of this guys ears! So, I say, let me get this straight, what you have just told me is that I would now be paying 26% on the entire balance of my card, 19 + 7 = 26%, is that correct? Not to mention the one time transfer fee of 3%! Well, yes sir it is. In Mafia circles that is called loan sharking, and it is highly illegal I tell him. But because its a credit card company it is legal!? Yes sir.
Boy, I think, isn’t Congress just looking out for us little folks, and not paying any attention to those greedy credit card lobbyists! Boy oh boy, what a swell bunch of representatives down in D.C.! (sure). So I say to this guy, I know this is not your fault, but take a note and pass it up the food chain would you please? Yes sir. Tell them s.o.b.’s that we, the tax payers of America bailed their asses out, directly due to their ineptitude, and now they have the unmitigated gall to charge their saviors 26% on our money!? On second thought, forget the advance, I am now glad I called, and when I kill off the balance of this card I will close it, tell them jack asses that for me would you? Yes sir! Then I did what I should have done in the first place, I bought that item with cash. Take note folks, this is your stimulus rescue money at work for you, courtesy of Congress! What do you think?
Mark Shean www.mafirearmsafety.com written 6-24-2009
Dear Representative DeMacedo: On May 6, 2009, Governor D. Patrick submitted for the House to consider, a bill entitled “An Act To Reduce Firearm Violence”. In the governors first paragraph he states; ‘We simply cannot allow violence with illegal guns to continue’, next he claims that his proposal tackles the problem of violence and illegal firearm possession in several ways:* It shrinks the supply of illegal guns by limiting gun buyers to one firearm per month.
Really. Mr. DeMacedo, in case you missed what that last sentence just said, by limiting LEGAL gun buyers to one firearm per month he feels he is limiting illegal guns! So legal permit holders are all criminals? In his mind, we are the perceived crime problem?! I understand that politicians do not like to read a bill, they vote first and read it later, but in this case could you convince people to read this one first? Maybe you and others could ask the governor to explain how limiting me, and all those I associate with, and all those they associate with, and so forth and so on, (you get the picture), we want to know how this bill will deter one criminal from committing a gun crime? We would really like to know.
News flash! Criminals have no gun permits, do not go into, cannot go into gun stores to buy guns, but all your law abiding constituents, (you know, people who vote) with permits can, and do. This proposed so-called legislation only targets law abiding citizens, and after reading the entire convoluted mess, I am strongly asking you to vote NO to this infringement into law abiding citizens lives and their rights!
I have lived long enough to figure out that virtually everything is about money, this ‘Act’ is nothing more than an attempt to raise revenue. It takes away the legal permit holders ability to transfer a firearm to another legal permit holder by forcing them to sell it at a gun dealers store. Why? Tax money for the state from the fees charged by the gun shops, that’s why.
I did not realize that our jails were so empty that there was room for 10 years for anyone with a legal high capacity permit caught buying 2 high capacity magazine’s / guns within a month, that is what the governor wants. Pedophiles who rape and molest our children, even killers get a lessor sentence, sad but true. Section 2 of the ‘Act’ boils down to gun registration, how else would anyone know when someone buys a second gun or magazine in one month? That is unconstitutional.
Nothing in this proposed bill stops or even reduces crime, it just picks the pockets of and threatens law abiding citizens. There are laws on the books for criminal behavior already, enforce them. Does the governor really believe criminals guns will be registered? If he doe’s Ill sell him a bridge in Brooklyn. If you want to clean up crime, start in the House were the last 3 out of 4 Speakers have been indited. Leave the law abiding public alone!
I will end this with some astute words of wisdom from a once prominent Italian lawyer. {“False is the idea of utility that sacrifices a thousand real advantages for one imaginary or trifling inconvenience; that would take fire from man because it burns, and water because one may drown in it; that has no remedy for evils except destruction. The laws that forbid the carrying of arms are laws of such nature. They disarm only those who are neither inclined nor determined to commit crimes. Such laws make things worse for the assaulted and better for the assailant’s; they serve rather to encourage than to prevent homicides, for an unarmed man may be attacked with greater confidence than an armed man.”} Cesare Beccaria, circa: 1770.
{Note: If you want to call your public servant at the State House call 617-727-1100 then press 0 for a real person. Mark Shean–
UPDATE, 7-3-09, I did get a reply from DeMacedo’s office, one of those form letters they use to brush you off with. You know, “Thank you for your concern in this matter,……and here is a phone number to a representitive of G.O.A.L, you can contact him with your concern. Excuse me Mr. Vinny DeMacedo, if Im not mistaken, I voted for YOU to represent me, not G.O.A.L.!
Sincerely, M.Shean www.mafirearmsafety.com written 6-19-2009