Thursday, September 12, 2013

Missing My Buddy.........

As many of you know my Uncle Jeff went home to be with Jesus on Monday Sept 9th. I know not a lot of you knew him like I did. Even though he lived in Illinois and I did not actually see him that much I still felt connected to him on a different level. A connection I only feel with a few people on this planet. Not a connection like a parent, sibling or wife, something much different. I don't know why my connection is so intense for me, I can't explain it.

Jeff Sheppard was a husband, a father, a brother, a grandfather and an Army veteran. I will miss you more than you know. Your infectious smile, your contagious laugh, your humor at the expense of your brothers (all in good fun of course). I will miss the 6:30 am text from you just to say "Thinking of you. Hope you have a great day. Love you." A year ago you finally get on the tech bandwagon and got a smart phone. For the first time we could talk whenever we wanted to and we did often. It was really great to see you at Brad & Lora's wedding 6 weeks ago. It was my pleasure to present you with that gift I gave you. I got exactly the reaction I was looking for.

I am so heartbroken that you are gone. I have been finding myself staring at your picture, sometimes for hours. The other day I looked at your picture so long my phone died. It still hasn't sunk in yet that you are gone. You absolutely left this world way to early.The world is now a little darker without you in it.

Jeff Sheppard is survived by

Wife - Michelle
Son - Chris
Son - Adam
Daughter - Courtney
Grandson - Miles
Grandson - Caison
Granddaughter - Ava

Brother - Doug
Brother - Cliff
Sister - Nancy
Brother - Scott

Nephews - Brian, Patrick, Jesse, Brad, Craig, Josh, Jacob
Nieces - Lexi, Megan

Great Uncle to Hannah, Carly, Emma, Allison, and Bethany

I will think of you often and remember you properly on my family hero wall in my man cave. Thank you for being part of my life. I will always miss you. Rest in Peace.

From Left: Doug, Cliff, Jeff. At Brad & Lora's wedding.

Presentation of my gift.

The gifts were replica of their dad's WWII medals. I had such fun doing this for them. Uncle Scott if you are reading this I will be bringing yours with me this weekend.

Friday, June 28, 2013

Friend or Foe

No doubt in recent weeks you have heard of the NSA leaker Edward Snowden. The Obama Administration is calling him a "whistleblower" and have charged him as a criminal under parts of the Espionage Act. The OA (Obama Administration) slammed Hong Kong and be raided Russia for the release of Snowden which they say is not their problem. The OA is also threatening Ecuador if they grant Snowden asylum. To which they say "We no longer require or want your aid. And in a dig to Washington has offered the US $23 million dollars in aid for "education about human rights". Sounds to me like they are really scared of what the OA is going to do if they protect Snowden. That was sarcasm if you didn't get it. When China and Russia snub you over your stupid treats that's one thing, but when smaller countries are now starting to do it it make the US look really pathetic. President Obama has ruined this country so bad with his foreign policy that I do not think it will ever recover.

To me Edward Snowden is a national hero. I have long suspected that the government was spying on its own citizens, but not like that. It’s not even funny how unsafe I feel. I feel like I am being watched all the time, even in my own house. Our rights are being trampled every single day and no one is held accountable for it. The scandals the OA is involved in are terrible. How come NO ONE is talking about impeachment here? It makes me sick. First this thing with Benghazi, then the DOJ gathering stuff on journalist, then the IRS thing, and now the NSA leaker. WHY IS OBAMA STILL IN CHARGE????? He says he knows nothing about what is going on. COME ON!!!! You're the President of the United States and you don't know? That is like a boss asking if he has any employees. How can you not know anything? 

This administration is a wreck. First you have Hilary Clinton saying "What's the difference?" during testimony for the Benghazi hearing about the killing of an ambassador and 3 Seals. WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE??? 4 AMERICANS DIED AND YOU DID NOTHING TO HELP THEM. That's the difference. Don't even get me started on Eric Holder. That guy just needs to crawl into a hole and never return. He is such a space cadet. Also saying that he wouldn't resign. PATHETIC!!!! Then comes the IRS Director Lois Lerner who pleaded the fifth in her first round of testimony at a hearing a few weeks ago. She's guilty!!! Again, PATHETIC!!!!

This country is in severe need of a reset. Viva la Revolution!!!!

Signed,

Legal, natural born AMERICAN, patriot citizen.


Thursday, May 30, 2013

Constitutional Freedoms

To day is May 30, 2013. On my lunch hour at work I have had the disgusting fortune of finding 5 articles on Fox News from Todd Starnes. These 5 articles have to do with teacher in schools and students against school boards. Below are the article headlines.

1.) Teacher punished for telling students about constitutional right.

          At teacher in an Illinois school district, John Dryden, advised his students of the Fifth Amendment right  no to incriminate themselves when the school district had him administer a survey to his students about at-risk behavior. When the school district investigated the matter he was had a formal reprimand and docked one day's pay. 

Reference URL: http://radio.foxnews.com/toddstarnes/top-stories/teacher-punished-for-telling-students-about-constitutional-rights.html

2.) Christian teacher under investigation for opposing homosexuality.

          Union Township, NJ. A teacher posts on her private Facebook page her christian faiths views on homosexuality and how it is a sin. Steven Goldstien's Gay right group had this comment.

“I find what she wrote on Facebook endangers the learning atmosphere for students beyond repair and violates the school district’s own policy of a safe and comfortable environment for all,” Goldstein said. “She’s no longer in a position to teach in the classroom because she will make many students fearful of her hatred.”

Since when is it wrong to state ones opinion or belief.

Reference URL: http://radio.foxnews.com/toddstarnes/top-stories/christian-teacher-under-investigation-for-opposing-homosexuality.html

3.) American student punished for refusing to recite Mexican pledge.

          A Texas high school student has filed a federal lawsuit against her school and her teachers after she was punished for refusing to salute and recite the Mexican pledge of allegiance. The Thomas More Law Center filed the suit on behalf of Brenda Brinsdon alleging the McAllen Independent School District violated the 15-year-old girl’s constitutional rights when she was forced to recite the Mexican pledge and sing the Mexican national anthem. 

Brinsdon, who is the daughter of a Mexican immigrant and an American father, refused. She believed it was un-American to pledge a loyalty oath to another country.


Ironically, the school district has a policy that prohibits a school from compelling students to recite the American Pledge of Allegiance.
The district also has a written policy that excuses students from reciting text from the Declaration of Independence if the student “as determined by the district, has a conscientious objection to the recitation.”
“There is a sad trend in public schools across our nation to undermine American patriotism,” said Richard Thompson president of the Thomas More Law Center. “But it’s encouraging to see students like Brenda stand up for America despite pressure from school officials.”
4.) Teacher faces possible firing for sharing Bible verse
          The Phillipsburg School Board said Walter Tutka broke two policies – distributing religious literature on school grounds and another policy that directs teachers to be neutral when discussing religious material.
The controversy has generated outrage among the region’s religious community – with many claiming that Tutka is being “persecuted” for simply being a Christian. The electrical company retiree is a well-respected member of the community.
“It was appalling,” said Joe Imhof, a close friend of Tutka. “They read him the riot act. They used words like separation of church and state and inclusion. And then they sent him home for violating school district policy.”
5.) Teacher Stomps on American flag inside classroom
          Michael Copeland’s daughter was in the classroom when the incident occurred. He told television station WIS that the teacher’s actions were disrespectful and unpatriotic.
“He drew a couple of symbols, like one of them was a cross, and he said, ‘What does this represent’ and everybody said ‘Christianity,’” Copeland said. “Then he proceeds to take down the American flag and said, ‘This is a symbol, but it’s only a piece of cloth. It doesn’t mean anything,’ and then he throws it down on the floor and then stomps on it, repeatedly.”
Malcolm Kline, executive director of Accuracy in Academia, told Fox News he was impressed that the school district took action.
“I’m astounded by this,” said Kline, whose organization exposes political bias in public school classrooms. “What you usually hear is students suspended for actually wearing an American flag.”
“I would have expected something like that somewhere in the northeast rather than below the Mason-Dixon line,” he added.

There is a massive attack on not just us as adults, but it is bleeding into schools as well. This is not the first time I have read articles about this type of thing. These people are teaching our kids. It is our jobs as parents to defend and know what our kids are being taught or asked to fill out. In that first article the school super said that the Fifth Amendment has no place in a class room because the school district has a policy that students cannot incriminate themselves that will lead to police action. WHAT!!! The Fifth Amendment has no place. If not there then were? Our children need to be taught what their constitutional rights are. I have been out of school for almost 20 years. When I went there was a required class called "Government". We all had to take it. It was taught by a very good teacher. She was tough, but effective. We learned about the government stuff. Constitution, Bill of Rights and the Declaration of Independence and all the other stuff that goes along with it. No one had to inform us of our rights, we were already taught them. 
As it stands right now our kids are being taught not to think for themselves and that the government owes them something. This is very disturbing to read these and how we are being attacked as a nation from within and at the most lowest level. Teachers are there to teach and inform our children about life and society. It is our job as parents to reinforce that and encourage our children to be free thinker so they can make informed decision and be a productive member of society.

As I watch my children grow up and start to attend school I am watching very closely what they come home with and how they are being taught. When my oldest daughter Emma was getting ready to start Kindergarden, my wife and I threw around the idea of just sending her to public school. I figured I'm paying the taxes for it anyway; why not take advantage of it. After thinking and praying about it I think we made the right choice to send her and her sister to a private school. They will be attending this school for the entire time they are in school. We have thrown off public school in favor of a more rounded structure and where they can feel free express themselves and there faiths. I will still pay close attention to how they are taught though. I am anticipating a few course corrections, but hopefully it will go as smooth as possible throughout their lives.

That is all for now.

Signed,

Concerned Parent

B

Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Protect and Serve: The civilian way!

I have been quiet long enough. I have not blogged since the election and for good reason. I needed a break from this administration, but I haven't gotten it. Everyday I hear more and more news stories of what the Dems and BHO are going to do. The 2nd amendment states, and I quote "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." The keys words here are "SHALL NOT BE INFRINGED". Many news reports and interviews from democrats say that the gun lobby needs to compromise. Well you know what, WE HAVE!!!! Listed below are the gun control acts enacted as a compromise during the 20th century.

1.) 1934 - National Firearm Actimposes a statutory excise tax on the manufacture and transfer of certain firearms and mandates the registration of those firearms. Things regulated included, Machine guns, short barreled rifles and shotguns, Destructive Devices (Bombs, grenades, etc.) and silencers. Signed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

2.) 1968 - The Gun Control Actsigned by President Lyndon Johnson; that broadly regulates the firearms industry and firearms owners. It primarily focuses on regulating interstate commerce in firearms by generally prohibiting interstate firearms transfers except among licensed manufacturers, dealers and importers. The 1968 Gun Control Act was supported by America’s old school manufacturers (Colt, S&W, etc.) in an effort to forestall even greater restrictions which were feared in response to recent domestic violence.

1993 - Brady Handgun Violence Act - that instituted federal background checks on firearm purchasers in the United States. Signed by President Bill Clinton.

1994 - "Assault Weapons" Ban - prohibition on the manufacture for civilian use of certain semi-automatic firearms, so called "assault weapons". Also signed by President Bill Clinton.

5.) 1995 - Gun Free School Zone Actprohibits any individual from knowingly possessing a firearm at a place that the individual knows, or has reasonable cause to believe, is a "school zone". Also signed by President Bill Clinton. Expired in 2004.

As far as I am concerned we have compromised ENOUGH!!!! The words "shall not be infringed" mean absolutely nothing to the Democrats that enacted all these so called "laws" that actually do harm to the law abiding citizens of the United States. When are they going to get it that criminals don't follow the law anyway. That's why we call them CRIMINALS. This massacre that happened in Newtown, CT, though very sad and heartbreaking, is not a gun control issue. Gun control would not have prevented this tragic event. Now if the mental health system was broadened maybe we could have done something about it. 

Here is a startling static - The average number of people killed in mass shootings when stopped by police is 18.25. That same average when stopped by gun carrying civilians goes down to 2.2. For me that puts things in perspective a great deal. It is also a very sad day when a local area Chicago school is planning on using blank rounds in a shooting drill. WHAT!!!! The safest city in America has to go through shooting drills using blank ammo to simulate a mass shooter in the hallway. What in the world are you they thinking? Seriously!!! The gun violence is so bad that they have to practice running from a shooter. The district says the drill is designed to prepare students to deal with a school shooting, and will help them familiarize them with the sound of gunfire. That is ridiculous. I'm not a huge fan of arming teachers, but putting armed guard(s) in this school seems like a great idea. People are going there because they want to kill people and they know there are no guns there to shoot back at them. 

However, I like what South Dakota just did. They passed a bill allowing the school districts to arm teachers. Also here is Michigan I hope Gov Synder signs the new gun bill going back through the reps as a revision to the one he vetoed in December.

The newest thing from BHO is immigration reform. Don;t get me started on that. That is for another time. I will wait and see what happens with that later. I will be watching for new developments in that area over the coming weeks.

Talk at you later.

Signed,

Legal gun owner.

B