Sens. Hutto and Lourie, you and I both know that actual state sovereignty legislation hasn’t a shadow of a chance of passing if we cannot pass a non-binding state sovereignty resolution. Furthermore, if dealing with the 12% unemployment rate is really more important, get out of the way and pass the “useless” resolution and move on. Contrary to your words, your actions show you feel this is a very significant resolution.

Several binding pieces of states-rights legislation have already been filed or are in the process of being filed, but before we can begin to nullify unconstitutional federal legislation and refuse federal funds for unconstitutional programs, we have to put the feds on notice that the South Carolina legislature believes that the 10th amendment actually means something, and we are prepared to stand our ground.

There is nothing controversial about this bill. This non-binding resolution merely restates what the U.S. Constitution already says, that “the powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.” We the people see through your political games and we’re sick of it. To Democrats and RINOs alike: stop being obstructionists and get on with business.

Eric Odom of the American Liberty Alliance (in case you don’t know, Eric was one of the most prominent national organizers for the Tax Day TEA Parties) has announced an important new project, codenamed “Project 73″.

It’s a grassroots news service that will be a central gathering place for ACCURATE and BALANCED news.

Reliable and timely news played a core part of the first American Revolution, beginning with Paul Revere’s famous ride and continuing with committees of correspondance (you couldn’t trust the newspaper back then, either).

How to help:

• Volunteer to be an editor (initial categories are: Breaking News, Hot/Featured, Weekly Opinion Columns, Daily News, Politics, Entertainment, Sports, Video (daily), Special Reports, Team Vlogging)
• Volunteer to be a citizen journalist

If you are interested, read the official announcement and then send Eric Odom an e-mail asking to be on the planning conference call on Tuesday. His e-mail address is eric@americanlibertyalliance.com.

As an eyewitness, I can testify to the fact that these were mainstream Americans, not some radical fringe group. I saw both young and old, black and white, most of whom traveled all night by car or bus to be there. The event was marked by politeness and cheerful enthusiasm—not what you would expect for a “mob.”

As a volunteer, I can also testify that the event was grassroots from top to bottom (I haven’t seen any “astroturf” checks in my mailbox!) Personally, I spent $1000 of my own money to be there along with several in my family.

In such economically difficult times, what would drive middle Americans, including many who had never protested before, to take this kind of action? Was it because Obama won the election, as some accuse us? No, we are acting from a sense of outrage, frustration, and fear. Outrage, because our views and values are being trampled by Congress. Frustration, because they are not listening to us. And fear, because we see our free Republic being transformed into a fascist form of government.

The focus of this rally, and all the “tea parties” across the US was not the President or any particular party. It was Congress. Democrats and Republicans alike no longer protect and defend the Constitution of the United States—the only thing their oath of office binds them to.

Rather than letting our economy heal itself, they are bleeding it. Rather than fixing the real causes of skyrocketing healthcare costs, they are taking actions that will eventually kill the quality of America’s world-class healthcare. They are leaving our borders open and endangering our security. While pretending to champion the cause of minorities, they encourage murdering the unborn, the coming generations that could keep America great.

As we marched down Pennsylvania Avenue chanting, “Yes we can—throw you out!”, I realized that Americans are tired of double-dealing and political games. Expect an overhaul of Congress in 2009, 2010, and 2012 (see goooh.com) and watch as this imperial ruling class joins the ranks of the unemployed, one person at a time.

Dear Editor,

I would like to know if you honestly deny that voter ID fraud is happening. If so, I would follow up by asking if you think Elvis really died.

Come on, let’s be serious. This is a day in which voter fraud is frighteningly common. Organizations like Acorn have fraudulently registered so many “voters” that Indianapolis, for instance, had 105% of its population registered to vote in 2007. What’s going to happen when these fraudulent registrants show up to vote?

Voting is a wonderful privilege-I’m afraid that many Americans have no idea just how much it cost to obtain the freedom to choose our own leaders in a fair election process. We must keep the process fair.

In your editorial Monday, you state that requiring party registration would “disallow some voters a voice in primary elections.” Seriously? Party registration simply ensures that you get the correct ballot when you vote in the primary-it has nothing whatsoever to do with your right or eligibility to vote in the primary.

Unless, of course, your one of those sneaky types that wants to vote in both party primaries.

As the organizer of the Anderson TEA party on 4/16, I know firsthand that the residents of Anderson are sick and tired of lies, cheating, and corruption wherever it is found, in the elections, in Washington, or even in the newspaper. We would appreciate it if you would stop spinning the hard facts.

Thank you,
Jonathon Hill

These were the words of Katherine von Tour, a former Handgun Control, Inc. employee who is now a member of the Gun Owners of America. What changed her mind? The L.A. riots.

She writes: “Within a week, the very street where this incident happened had erupted in rioting, looting and killing. I watched on television as the Korean grocers defended their property with AK-47′s and AR-15′s, and thus prevented it from being torched and looted. The police couldn’t stop the violence and killing.”

Sure, guns are used in violent crimes every day. But for every one of those, why don’t we hear about the five or six attempted crimes thwarted by armed and responsible citizens?

It is absurd to think that gun control will reduce violent crimes. Firearms have been a part of our nations heritage from the beginning, but it is only in recent years that crime rates have exploded to such epidemic proportions. What has changed? Certainly not the invention of guns.

Folks, we need to get real. Like Susan Gonzalez, another former gun-hater: “Reality set in when I was shot, to the point where I realized why my husband and others had guns for self-defense.”

An armed public is the single greatest fear of would-be muggers and murders. The town of Kennesaw, GA is living proof. Since their city ordinance requiring every head of household to own a gun was passed over 25 years ago, not a single resident has been involved in a fatal shooting – as a victim, attacker, or defender, in spite of critics’ dire predictions of “Wild West” showdowns.

Tom Palmer of the Cato Institute put it this way it in an interview on “20/20”: “If someone gets into your house, which would you rather have, a handgun or a telephone? You can call the police if you want, and they’ll get there, and they’ll take a picture of your dead body. But they can’t get there in time to save your life. The first line of defense is you.”

According to the Women Against Gun Control (www.wagc.com), gun control is “the theory that a woman found dead in an alley, raped and strangled with her panty hose, is somehow morally superior to a woman explaining to police how her attacker got that fatal bullet wound.”

Imagine watching your spouse or child being shot without mercy, and being absolutely helpless to stop it. This is the real price of gun control.

By Jonathon Hill, in response to Jenne Malmgren, “Our precious ‘right to bear arms’ too often comes with a high price: death“, by Jenne Malmgren, Anderson Independent-Mail 3/15/2009

References and Notes:

“Gun Control: The theory that a woman found dead in an alley, raped and strangled with her panty hose, is somehow morally superior to a woman explaining to police how her attacker got that fatal bullet wound.”
– Women Against Gun Control, http://www.wagc.com

“Reality set in when I was shot, to the point where I realized why my husband and others had guns for self-defense.”
– Susan Gonzalez (http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/071800/met_3568307.html)

“Women must not depend upon the protection of man, but must be taught to protect herself.”
– Susan B. Anthony, July 1871

“The look in their eyes changed in an instant from threatening to fearful, and they immediately turned around and ran in the opposite direction. The light changed. I drove away. No one was hurt, but a gun in my formerly liberal hand had, I believe, probably saved my life, or at least prevented me from likely injury.”
– Katherine von Tour, a former Handgun Control, Inc. employee in “My Transformation From Anti-Gun Feminist To Armed Feminist”, http://gunowners.org/sk0101htm.htm

“It equalizes unequals,” Palmer told “20/20″. “If someone gets into your house, which would you rather have, a handgun or a telephone? You can call the police if you want, and they’ll get there, and they’ll take a picture of your dead body. But they can’t get there in time to save your life. The first line of defense is you.”
– Tom Palmer, The Cato Institute

On January 16, 2002 in Grundy, VA, two Appalachian School of Law students upon hearing shots went to their cars, got their guns and restrained the shooter until the police and arrested him.
– http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Appalachian_School_of_Law_shooting

In March 1982, 25 years ago, the small town of Kennesaw – responding to a handgun ban in Morton Grove, Ill. – unanimously passed an ordinance requiring each head of household to own and maintain a gun. Since then, despite dire predictions of “Wild West” showdowns and increased violence and accidents, not a single resident has been involved in a fatal shooting – as a victim, attacker or defender.
– 25 years murder-free in ‘Gun Town USA’, 04/19/2007, WorldNetDaily (http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=55288)