Op-Ed: Top five books to get a libertarian this Christmas

Op-Ed: Top five books to get a libertarian this Christmas - Andrew Moran, Digital Journal:

December 19, 2012 - "If you haven't finished your shopping for that special libertarian in your life then here are five books to give that Ron Paul supporter, proponent of Austrian Economics and hater of big government.

"If you have ever come across a libertarian, one thing you’ll understand right away is that they have an extensive collection of books, whether it’s political theory (Frederic Bastiat), economic thought (Friedrich Hayek) and/or issues that affect personal freedom (Ron Paul).

"However, since there is a large selection of books out there, it’s pretty much a given that a libertarian in the United States or Canada doesn’t have every single book by Murray N. Rothbard, Milton Friedman or Thomas Sowell ... now would be the perfect time to surprise the libertarian in your life with some free market economics."

Read more: http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/339411
'via Blog this'

Libertarian Party sues three cities in Kansas over open carry bans

Libertarian Party sues three cities in Kansas over open carry bans - KansasCity.com:

"Lawsuits were filed Friday against two Johnson County cities and the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kan., alleging they are violating citizens’ constitutional rights by banning the open carry of firearms.

"The Libertarian Party of Kansas filed suits against Prairie Village, Leawood and the Unified Government, seeking injunctions to prevent them from enforcing their bans.

"“The denial of inherent truth will not stand!' party officials said in a written statement Friday. 'Our efforts will continue until all law-abiding citizens in Kansas have freedom from persecution to exercise their Second Amendment rights to bear arms by open carry.'"

Read more: http://www.kansascity.com/2012/12/21/3977666/libertarian-party-sues-three-ks.html
'via Blog this'

LP: Halt the massacre of innocent children by ending prohibition on self-defense in schools

Libertarian Party: Halt the Massacre of Innocent Children by Ending Prohibition on Self-Defense in Schools -Newsroom America:

"Families throughout the nation mourn the horrific deaths of 26 people, including 20 young children, killed Friday during a Newtown, Conn., mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School.

"'It’s impossible to imagine the depths of despair and grief that the victims’ families are experiencing right now,”' said Geoffrey J. Neale, Chair of the Libertarian National Committee. 'Our hearts go out to every one of them.'

"In the immediate aftermath of news surrounding the shootings, pundits and politicians called for new restrictions on firearm ownership, exactly the opposite of the approach needed to combat tragic gun violence in schools.

"'We've created a "gun-free zone," a killing zone for the sickest criminals on the face of the Earth," said R. Lee Wrights, vice-chair of the Libertarian Party. 'We've given them an open killing field, and we've made the children of this country the victims.'

"Wrights pointed out that merely the knowledge that armed people will be present acts as a deterrent for would-be shooters."

Read more: http://www.newsroomamerica.com/story/334779.html
'via Blog this'

Volunteering a great gift: LIBERTY RULES | Column | Opinion | Barrie Examiner

Volunteering a great gift: LIBERTY RULES | Column | Opinion | Barrie Examiner - Paolo Fabrizio:

December 17, 2012 - "Christmas has always been my favourite time of the year.

"It’s the time of the year that really brings out a Libertarian style atmosphere, where people help out each other and those less fortunate get to enjoy some Christmas spirit.

"The best part is the government has nothing to do with it, mostly because the politicians are already on their extended Christmas break and aren’t around to mess with it.

"People helping people, and the best part is we can do it for free."

Read more: http://www.thebarrieexaminer.com/2012/12/17/volunteering-to-help-others-can-be-the-best-gift
'via Blog this'

Australian ban had no effect on gun deaths

Opposing view: Homicide rate was already declining - Robert A. Levy, USA Today:

December 18, 2012 - "Why not emulate Australia's rigorous gun control model in the United States?

"For starters, it hasn't worked. Twelve years after the new regulations were implemented, Time reported on new research suggesting the new regime 'was a waste of public money and has made no difference to the country's gun-related death rates.' The homicide rate had been declining before the 1996 ban; its post-ban decline has merely been a continuation of that trend. Indeed, not one other country that has banned guns has lowered its murder rate.

"That doesn't mean our existing gun controls are optimal. Early detection and treatment of mental illness might lead to firearms access restrictions that the most ardent gun rights advocates could support. But regulations must be fashioned with great care, not simply as a formulaic response to the Newtown tragedy. Multivictim killings — heart-rending and horrifying — are but a fraction of 1% of all murders in the United States, and they will sadly occur even where stringent gun controls are imposed."

Read more: http://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2012/12/18/gun-control-cato-institute/1778507/
'via Blog this'

Rapper Big Boi trashing Obama, praising Gary Johnson

Rapper Big Boi: Trashing Obama, praising Gary Johnson · Hammer of Truth:

December 14, 2012 - "Atlanta rapper Big Boi (of Outkast fame) was interviewed by Pitchfork, and he’s mighty unimpressed by Obama:

"'BB: I’m not pro-government at all, I’m pro-people. Our freedoms are getting taken away every day with things that people aren’t aware of, like the [National Defense Authorization Act]. I don’t care who the president is– it ain’t just all about who’s black or who’s white or who’s Republican or Democrat, it’s about who is for the betterment of people, period.'

"And last month, he was on Hot 97 in NYC where he claims it was racist of some people to assume he (or other black people) voted for Obama, when in fact he says he voted for Gary Johnson:





Read more: http://hammeroftruth.com/2012/rapper-big-boi-trashing-obama-praising-gary-johnson/
'via Blog this'

Does government trigger mass shootings?

In Mass Shootings Does Government Provide the Trigger? - Blogcritics Politics - Dave Nalle:

December 16, 2012 - "That young men in the 16-24 year old age range have a higher propensity towards adjustment disorders leading to true mental illness is nothing new. But there is a perception that members of this group are more prone to act out violently today than they did in the past. Assuming that this is true and acknowledging the facts that guns and violent entertainment have been around since long before this rise in violent outbursts, I think we have to look for another specific trigger.

"When you put guards and metal detectors in your schools, when you invasively search airline passengers, when you begin to spy on your own citizens: you create an atmosphere of fear and the expectation of violence. The average citizen finds this heightened level of state security oppressive. Red light cameras, TSA checkpoints, random blood draws, internet data mining and new security laws like the warrantless indefinite detention of citizens in the NDAA all contribute to this environment. For someone who is troubled and prone to paranoia this creates a world which is directly threatening....

"We all react to ... stress differently, but logic suggests that in those already prone to irrational violent impulses the high level of stress we are subjected to and the threats posed by government can lead to the heightened paranoia which triggers violent action.

"This isn’t just speculation. The writings, statements and behavior of these killers consistently express a fear of government as one of their overriding concerns. Even in the sane community this has been responsible for increased political radicalism, higher gun sales, and an increase in harmless paranoid behavior like 'Doomsday Prepping.' It’s about time we admit that the actions of government play a major role in encouraging this violence. 

"Ironically the reaction to these incidents is invariably to try to implement more security and take away more rights. They’ll want to seize guns, fortify schools and other public places, track the mentally ill,. monitor more of our communications and take away more of our rights. None of these will be very effective at solving the problem and all of them are likely to contribute to pushing more volatile people over the edge to violence."

Read more: http://blogcritics.org/politics/article/in-mass-shootings-does-government-provide1/
'via Blog this'