Grin ‘N Bare It

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HR 1859 Sponsored by Carolyn McCarthy

Citizen Reign

“To disarm the people (is) the best and most effectual way to enslave them…” George Mason

“Arms in the hands of citizens [may] be used at individual discretion… in private self-defense …” John Adams

“Laws that forbid the carrying of arms…disarm only those who are neither inclined nor determined to commit crimes…Such laws make things worse for the assaulted and better for the assailants; they serve rather to encourage than to prevent homicides, for an unarmed man may be attacked with greater confidence than an armed man.” Thomas Jefferson

“The very atmosphere of firearms anywhere and everywhere restrains evil interference - they deserve a place of honor with all that’s good” George Washington

“The beauty of the second amendment is that it will not be needed until they try to take it” Thomas Jefferson

“Firearms are second only to the Constitution in importance; they are the peoples’ liberty’s teeth.” George Washington

“The stongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government” Thomas Jefferson

Americans have the right and advantage of being armed - unlike the citizens of other countries whose governments are afraid to trust the people with arms. James Madison

No man shall ever be debarred the use of arms. The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government. Thomas Jefferson

And what country can preserve its liberties, if its rulers are not warned from time to time that this people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms….The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time, with the blood of patriots and tyrants. Thomas Jefferson

Before a standing army can rule, the people must be disarmed; as they are in almost every kingdom in Europe. The supreme power in America cannot enforce unjust laws by the sword; because the whole body of the people are armed, and constitute a force superior to any band of regular troops that can be, on any pretense, raised in the United States. A military force, at the command of Congress, can execute no laws, but such as the people perceive to be just and constitutional; for they will possess the power, and jealousy will instantly inspire the inclination, to resist the execution of a law which appears to them unjust and oppressive. Noah Webster

The Constitution shall never be construed…to prevent the people of the United States who are peaceable citizens from keeping their own arms. Samuel Adams

Guard with jealous attention the public liberty. Suspect everyone who approaches that jewel. Unfortunately, nothing will preserve it but downright force. Whenever you give up that force, you are ruined. The great object is that every man be armed. Everyone who is able might have a gun. Patrick Henry

Are we at last brought to such humiliating and debasing degradation, that we cannot be trusted with arms for our defense? Where is the difference between having our arms in possession and under our direction, and having them under the management of Congress? If our defense be the real object of having those arms, in whose hands can they be trusted with more propriety, or equal safety to us, as in our own hands? Patrick Henry

To disarm the people is the best and most effective way to enslave them. George Mason

Congress have no power to disarm the militia. Their swords, and every other terrible implement of the soldier, are the birth-right of an American. Tench Coxe 2/20/1788

The best we can hope for concerning the people at large is that they be properly armed. Alexander Hamilton

And two final items for those who question what a militia is:

“A militia, when properly formed, are in fact the people themselves…and include all men capable of bearing arms.” Richard Henry Lee

“I ask sir, what is the militia? It is the whole people, except for a few public officials.” George Mason

You gotta see these idiots!

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I sometimes get print jobs hung in the print spooler. Using the Cancel from the printer control window does not clear the hung job. The only way I have found to dump the spool file is to open Administrative Tools and Stop then restart the Printer Spooler Service.

I was attempting to have a form for medicaid assistance quickly reviewed for completeness. I entered Social Services office at 3:40 pm. The waiting area was empty. The receptionist’s comment was that it was 3:41 and that they close at 4pm.

I explained that I already had the form filled out and just need somone to quickly look over it before submitting it. She said “well let me look at the form” and pointed out one mistake. She then sniffed the paper and remarked “this form smells of smoke, who smokes” to which I replied “I do”. She then called someone in the back and asked if they could review the form. I do not know what the response was but I was told I could go out into the hall and use the courtesy phone to phone the person in the back and ask questions.

Since I had spent many many hours donating my time to support emergency drills and other county actvites in the past I had worked with Jerry Varner during those times. I then asked to speak with Jerry.

He came promptly out of his office and I told him I thought it strange to have to go out and phone my questions back into the office. Jerry’s response was “I think it is the hour”.

My question then would be what are the REAL operating hours of our Social Services Department since they certainly are not the published hours. Is it 3:30 or 3:00 or what?

Are we the tax payers getting our money’s worth?

I am appalled that any religious figures would be desecrated. I do feel that the current display of anger by the Islamic world is somewhat misdirected however. The real culprits are those Muslim terrorists who lead the rest of the world to believe ALL Muslims ascribe to their same violent tactics in the name of Allah.

I think the true Muslims need to speak out against the terrorism and rid themselves of the terrorist elements shedding such a poor light on their religion; so as to make the rest of the world associate Islam and Terrorist as one and the same.

Since municipalities can now seize property for re-development in addition to more legitimate public works projects, thanks to recent Supreme Court rulings. We need better laws to protect the rights of individuals. Anyone who has ever had property seized by eminent domain knows that contrary to belief rarely are owners offered “fair market” value for their property being taken.
You think they are fair see this case in point near and dear to my own heart!

The organization seizing the property either uses it’s own appraisers or contracts to have the required appraisal performed. When they pay for the appraisal; I am sure you can guess which side the appraisals tend to favor. The individual is then made an offer often if not usually far below true “market value”. The individual must then hire their own appraisal to show the inequity of the original one, hire an attorney and expert witnesses to present to the courts to try and get what they should have been offer in the first place. By the time the case is settled the property owner usually winds up with about 50% of the gain over the original unfair offer. While still worth the effort the property owner looses the 50% costs to get a true “fair market value” so they never in fact can receive just compensation for their loss.

Several much needed pieces of legislation have been authored to address some of the violation of individual’s rights. The fact that this occurs has finally been recognized in Virginia; and beginning July 1 the law allows that individuals are to be compensated for expenses, other than lawyer fees, if the court’s award is 30% or more greater than the original offer. Many states already have similar laws which also allow for lawyer fees to be reimbursed as well. Since the attorney fees are the largest portion of the 50% cost of a commission trial they need to be included here in Virginia as well. Remember the taking party knows that the individual will never get full “fair market value” in the courts after expenses; so they know they can, and do, low ball their offer. The new laws take a step in the right direction but stop short of providing meaningful relief.

In Virginia the Department of Transportation is the leading “taking” party under eminent domain due to their many road projects. They spend millions of dollars per year in litigating eminent domain cases using contract attorneys. It would be interesting to see a study of the amount of public funds spent litigating these cases vs. the amount of additional funds awarded by the courts to individuals. Perhaps these funds would be better spent fairly compensating individuals rather than fighting them; it may even save public funds.

The only way to stop the unfairness of eminent domain is to have laws which require an individual to be reimbursed for all expenses and damages when it is determined that the original offer was not “fair market value”. I personally believe that the 30% margin in the new law is too large. I believe an appraisal done at arms length should be within 10% of the “market value” and therefore any award greater than that should require full re-imbursement including attorney fees. This would be plenty fair to the taking party since the individual would still have to gamble on the trial commission awarding something greater than 10% over the offer or they would not receive re-imbursement for their out of pocket costs to litigate. It would however give incentive to the taking party to truly make a “fair market offer” in the first place; or face having to pay costs in addition to the increase in value awarded by the court. It would put both parties on a more level playing field during negotiations.

Write your representatives and let them know how you feel on this matter!

For more information see the following links:
Virginia Property Rights Coalition
Attourneys Win in Virginia Eminent Cases
Farmer Wins Compensation in Eminent Domain Case
Our Case in Point