RedState

I'd like to quote a conservative political paper called RedState:

Why didn’t restrictive gun control laws save the victims of Newtown?

This is what the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence has to say about Connectictut’s gun control regime:

Connecticut has strong gun laws that help combat the illegal gun market, prevent the sale of most guns without background checks and reduce risks to children, according to the Brady Campaign. In the organization’s 2009 state scorecards released for all 50 states, Connecticut earned 53 points out of a total of 100 and has the nation’s fourth strongest gun laws.

“Connecticut has done more than most states to combat illegal guns and has worked to keep guns out of the hands of dangerous people. In fact, Connecticut has a one-of-a-kind law that allows a judge to remove guns from people who have been determined to be a threat to themselves or others,” said Ron Pinciaro, President of CT Against Gun Violence.

As noted above, according to the Brady Campaign, Connecticut has the nation’s fourth-strongest gun laws. The sale and possession of so-called assault weapons are banned under state law. As noted above, the state empowers judges to remove guns from those who constitute a threat. The state earns high marks for gun dealer regulation, reporting of lost or stolen guns, background checks, permit to purchase, child safety, and earns the maximum score on guns in public places.

So here’s the challenge for gun control advocates: explain why you failed the people of Newtown. You cited Connecticut as a national example. You said its laws “reduce risks to children.” You gave no state a higher rating for keeping guns out of public places — like schools.

And a criminally insane man stole legally-owned guns (owned under Connecticut’s regime) after being denied their legal purchase, broke in through a window, and killed children and adults — adults who were not armed to shoot back, and so died unable to save the children who also died.

You want this one event to be a national test? Fine. Why are there 20 children dead when the state of Connecticut did what you said they should to keep their people safe?

Once you answer that question, we can get this conversation underway.

Evil people will find a way. You can't protect the innocent by taking away their ability to fight back.

Dan Emplit WBFD
USN 1986 - 1992

Just some random gun thoughts and some facts

Just some random gun thoughts and some facts:

A 1997 high school shooting in Pearl, Miss., was halted by the school's vice principal after he retrieved the Colt .45 he kept in his truck.

A 1998 middle school shooting ended when a man living next door heard gunfire and apprehended the shooter with his shotgun.

A 2002 terrorist attack at an Israeli school was quickly stopped by an armed teacher and a school guard.

A 2002 law school shooting in Grundy, Va., came to an abrupt conclusion when students carrying firearms confronted the shooter.

A 2007 mall shooting in Ogden, Utah, ended when an armed off-duty police officer intervened.

A 2009 workplace shooting in Houston, Texas, was halted by two coworkers who carried concealed handguns.

A 2012 church shooting in Aurora, Colo., was stopped by a member of the congregation carrying a gun.

At the recent mall shooting in Portland, Ore., the gunman took his own life minutes after being confronted by a shopper carrying a concealed weapon.

To counter a few incidents of muslim extremists in 1974 shooting up schools, the Israeli Govt. trained and armed teachers.
When is the last time you heard of a Jihadist shooting up a school in Israel?

The Clinton era Federal Assault Weapons Ban defined 'Assault weapons' because they possessed a minimum set of largely COSMETIC features from the following list:

Semi-automatic rifles able to accept detachable magazines and two or more of the following:
Folding or telescoping stock
Pistol grip
Bayonet mount or lug
Flash suppressor, or threaded barrel designed to accommodate one
A muzzle mounted Grenade launcher

Semi-automatic pistols with detachable magazines and two or more of the following:
Magazine that attaches outside the pistol grip
Threaded barrel to attach barrel extender, flash suppressor, handgrip, or suppressor
Barrel shroud that can be used as a hand-hold
Unloaded weight of 50 oz (1.4 kg) or more
A semi-automatic version of a fully automatic firearm.

Semi-automatic shotguns with two or more of the following:
Folding or telescoping stock
Pistol grip
Fixed capacity of more than 5 rounds
Detachable magazine.

Now how the HELL are any of these things supposed to make a weapon lethal? They don't. Another example of politicians doing something just to be seen doing something. I mean, bayonet mounts/lugs really?

The defunct federal ban also set a magazine limit at 10 rounds, except for military or police. Because police operate with backup and in groups, which is why they need larger capacity pistol magazines than do “civilians” who must face criminals alone and therefore need less ammunition. WHAT!!?

Its expiration had little if any increase in crime.
As for Europe, Asia, Australia and Canada. Funny how, where guns are BANNED...gun crime is rising steadily.
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1996 National Agreement on Firearms in Australia

In the first 12 months since gun owners in Australia were forced by new law to surrender 640,381 personal firearms to be destroyed by their own government, a program costing Australia taxpayers more than $500 million dollars. The first year results are here:

Australia-wide, homicides are up 3.2 percent

Australia-wide, assaults are up 8.6 percent

Australia-wide, armed robberies are up 44 percent (yes, 44 percent)!

In the state of Victoria alone, homicides with firearms went up 300 percent. Note that while the law-abiding citizens turned their guns in, the criminals did not, and criminals still possessed their guns!

While figures over the previous 25 years showed a steady decrease in armed robbery with firearms, this has changed drastically upward in the year after its passing, since criminals now are guaranteed that their prey is unarmed.

There has also been a dramatic increase in break-ins and assaults of the ELDERLY. Australian politicians are at a loss to explain how public safety has decreased, after such monumental effort and expense was expended in successfully ridding Australian society of guns.

The Sandy Hook school tragedy should never happen again, but it is not the fault of firearms. Remember Timothy McVeigh murdered 168 people, 19 of whom were six or younger, he never fired a shot. The sick twisted murderer WILL find a way.



Dan Emplit WBFD
USN 1986 - 1992

I was going to..

I was going to post about the futility of gun control, but happened upon this on facebook.


Kyla Campbell via Jason Evans

This doesn't change what happened in #Newtown Friday. But we have to remember the number of good people in this world outweighs the bad.

26 Moments That Restored Our Faith In Humanity This Year

I think this is much more important than anything I can say.


Dan Emplit WBFD

A Paramedic checks in

There's something to be said about seeing a grown man cry. If that doesn't tug at your heart strings and make you cry as well, your heart is of steel. Those of you who were in attendance of last night's meeting of Wilkes-Barre's Council know exactly what I'm speaking of. I'm not referring to the 11 co-workers who have been furloughed. I'm referring to the gentleman from Parsons who sat in tears and addressed city council to explain how, on 2 separate occasions, he had gone into cardiac arrest and was there to thank the members of the fire department whose quick response and expert care allowed him to still be here to see the birth of his first grandchild. I'm referring to the retired fire captain who wept as he spoke of his years on the job and the impacts he has seen on the lives of so many throughout the years. I'm referring to the letter from a South Wilkes-Barre resident who thanked the fire department for their prompt response and wonderful care after he found his mother unresponsive at home. I'll also refer to a time years ago when I, myself, carried a little girl to a waiting ambulance after her lifeless body was found by co-workers and pulled from her second-floor bedroom as her house burned. This isn't about the firemen, this is about THEM, as they are all still here! To the cowards who felt the need to hide behind a screen name and write senseless, ignorant, uneducated comments under the newspaper's online stories: I pray for you. I pray for the day when you or a loved one is in need of emergency care. Whether you reside in an area that provides a tax-based service or is covered with the skilled care of admirable volunteers, perhaps you, too, will realize the importance of how minutes or seconds matter. This isn't about the men who are fighting to get their jobs back. They are fighting for people like you! They are fighting to provide the care & services the taxpayers deserve! This is about YOU!!!

Angela Patla
W-B Paramedic

Repost of How I wrap Christmas gifts

2 years ago I posted this, thought I would again

Bob & Tweek^

Stewie ^

How I Wrap A Gift
How I Wrap A Gift (With Help From my cats (Bob,Tweek & Stewie)...)

1. Clear large space on table for wrapping present.
2. Go to wardrobe and collect bag from wardrobe.
3. Open door and remove Bob from wardrobe.
4. Go to cupboard and retrieve rolls of wrapping paper.
5. Go back and remove Tweek from cupboard.
6. Go to drawer and collect transparent sticky tape, ribbons, scissors, labels, etc.
7. Lay out presents and wrapping materials on table to enable wrapping strategy to be formed.
8. Go back to drawer to get string. Remove Stewie that has been in the drawer since last visit and collect string.
9. Reopen drawer and remove Tweek.
10. Remove present from bag.
11. Remove Bob from bag.
12. Open box to check present, remove Bob & Tweek from box, replace present.
13. Lay out paper to enable cutting to size.
14. Try to smooth out paper, realize Stewie is underneath and remove cat.
15. Cut the paper to size, trying to keep the cutting line straight.
16. Throw away first sheet as Bob tried to chase the scissors and tore paper.
17. Cut second sheet of paper to size by putting Bob & Tweek in the bag the present came out of.
18. Place present on paper to cut to size.
19. Lift up edges of paper to seal in present, wonder why edges now don't reach and realize Bob is between present and paper. Remove cat and retry.
20. Place object on paper to hold in place while cutting transparent sticky tape.
21. Spend next 20 minutes carefully trying to remove transparent sticky tape from Stewie with pair of nail scissors.
22. Seal paper down with transparent sticky tape, making corners as neat as possible.
23. Look for roll of ribbon, chase Bob down hall in order to retrieve ribbon.
24. Try to wrap present with ribbon in a two directional turn.
25. Re-roll ribbon and remove paper that is now torn due to Tweek's enthusiasm to chase ribbon end.
26. Repeat steps 13 - 20 until down to last sheet of paper.
27. Decide to skip steps 13- 17 in order to save time and reduce risk of loosing last sheet of paper by retrieving old cardboard box that you know is right size for sheet of paper.
28. Put present in box and tie down with string.
29. Remove string, open box and remove Bob.
30. Put all packing materials in bag with present and head for lockable room.
31. Once inside room, lock door and start to re-lay out packing materials.
32. Remove Bob & Tweek from box, unlock door, put cats outside door, close door and re-lock.
33. Repeat previous step as often as necessary until you can hear the cries from the cats outside the door.
34. Lay out last sheet of paper. (I know this is difficult in the small area of the bathroom, but try your best.)
35. Realize that Bob & Tweek have already gotten to the paper. Unlock door, go out and hunt through various cupboards looking for sheets of last year's paper, until you remember that you haven't got any left due to Stewie help with wrapping last year.
36. Retire back to room, lock door and sit on toilet while trying to work out how to make a torn sheet of paper look halfway presentable.
37. Seal box, wrap with paper and start repairs by very carefully sealing down tears with transparent sticky tape. Now tie up with ribbon and decorate with bows to hide worst affected areas.
38. Label, then sit back and admire your handiwork, congratulating yourself on making good of a bad job.
39. Unlock door and go to kitchen to make a drink and feed the cats.
40. Spend the next 15 minutes looking for cats before coming to obvious conclusion...
41. Unwrap present, untie box and remove cats.
42. Retrieve all thrown away sheets of wrapping paper, feed the cats and retire to room for last attempt, making certain you are alone and the door is locked.
43. Find least torn and wrinkled sheets of paper along with the ones that the pattern matches closest.
44. Vainly try and wrap present in patchwork paper. Tie with the now tattered ribbon and decorate with the now limp bows. Label and put present in bag for fear of anyone seeing this disaster.
45. At time of handing over present, smile sweetly at the receiver's face as they try to hide their contempt at being handed such a badly wrapped present.
46. Swear to yourself that next year you will get the store to wrap the darn thing for you!

Merry Christmas,
Dan Emplit WBFD

Star Trek Into Darkness - Official Teaser (HD)

Trailer for the Star Trek Sequel

High-Rises

Casey Roman called me a little while ago. He told me that someone on the Citizens Voice website was claiming that W-B had no high-rises. I don't know where that guy got that idea, I think he was just a troll, like Casey said he was.

W-B has the third highest amount of high-rises in the state. If I remember correctly, we have far more than the next highest city.

The National Fire Protection Association defines a high-rise as being higher than 75 feet, or about 7 stories.

This is one of the big reasons why our manpower MUST not be cut. The fire at the Sherman hills high-rise was almost a nightmare (from what I've been told because I was out of state at the time). People refused to leave the building, they stay close to the building and there are so many people that it overwhelms our department almost immediately when we are not at the strength we need.

Casey has also pointed out,"I can spit out my bedroom window and hit my neighbors house." This is another big reason that these cuts are insane. Fire doubles in size EVERY MINUTE! It will jump from one house to the next with more ease than Casey's spit.
But Leighton doesn't care, Barney farms is well spaced and made of newer materials than most of the city.


We are entering the most dangerous months of the year for fires AND fatalities, But Leighton 'furloughs' your ONLY line of defense.

And with the high-rises being mainly older people the risk is even greater.

Add on Edit: Chief Tom Makar informed me we are actually #4 in number of high rises.
"The order is Philly, Pittsburgh, Harrisburg, and then W-B tied with Reading is the list from 2005"
Interesting since Reading has roughly twice the population.

Dan Emplit WBFD
AKA Don Quixote