Gun control, libertarians and a first step towards sanity

I think it is well established that I am both an atheist and a libertarian. I should clarify that I'm a little "L" libertarian rather than a big "L" party hack. We share some things in common, but for the most part we do not agree on tactics or on our approach to politics.

What do I believe? I believe that responsible citizens should have the right to keep and bear arms. I am a responsible gun owner. I cannot conceive of a reason why I would need to surrender my gun or make purchasing another gun burdensome. That does not mean I would appose regulation of guns and gun ownership, quite the contrary. I believe our laws help keep us safe and effective enforcement of just laws are necessary, but not the only way,  to reduce the incidence of gun violence. 

The Libertarian position opposes all control, even bans on assault-style semiautomatic weapons.

Foolish politicians and police now seek to ban semi-automatic "assault rifles". They ignore the fact that only honest citizens will comply; criminals will still have them. Such a ban will only increase the criminals' ability to victimize the innocent.

Of course, we know these arguments to represent an extreme negotiation point. They are stating a position that is the most conservative to begin bargaining (as if they have influence), instead of looking for a solution to gun violence via all vectors, they instead exclude any control that would limit access to, or ownership of, guns. Their position is intractable and is unpalatable to the vast majority of Americans. The Libertarians claim to be the "Party of Ideas", but what they often represent is bad ideas. Universal gun ownership appeals to a minority of the population for a reason. It does not work. People are dying and our children are being slaughtered. Voicing a position that supports the widest possible gun ownership is so out of sync with reality as to be considered laughable. There is a better way. 

The real question is how do we assure a citizen's right to own guns while maximizing efforts to reduce gun violence? 

I have a suggestion here too. Let's start by putting an executive in charge of the A.T.F. 

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, (ATF), the federal agency responsible for enforcing gun laws, has for years been choked by legislative restrictions that keep it from functioning efficiently, according to a report from The New York Times. The bureau also suffers from a six-year vacancy of its director’s seat.

Let start with leadership. We can climb the next hill when we finish the first.

Youth pastor Dennis Myers indicted

The formula is simple. Take one youth pastor and then add unfettered access to children. Something snaps. The result can be everything from texting to child molestation, plus everything in between. I read about it every day.

Take Dennis W. Myers, the former youth pastor at Christ United Methodist Church in Independence, Mo. Myers was named in a three-count indictment. Myers is 52 and had worked as a youth pastor at two or more churches. Now he's accused of possessing child pornography. Good grief…

Dennis W. Myers, 52, is named in a three-count indictment that includes charges of viewing, receiving and possessing child pornography last year.

Investigators said he knowingly received a video file of a minor engaged in sexually explicit acts on April 13, 2011. They said that on Sept. 15, 2011, he was found to be in possession of at least one item of child pornography.

Read more: Ex youth pastor indicted in child porn case

Child porn is gross. Youth pastors who partake of child porn are scum.  It's pretty simple. If guilty, the bastard needs to sit in a prison cell with bubba for a few years.  It is Missouri after all, I am surprised that they have not run the guy out of town on a rail, or at least send him off to prison. 

More counts for youth pastor Gregory Forehand

I first reported on youth pastor Gregory Forehand when he was arrested last August. At the time of his arrest he was the youth pastor at Real LIfe Christian Church in Chesapeake. Nothing had been posted about the case since his arrest, but a short news story provided some interesting new information. It seems Forehand may be a serial child molester as there are now three victims. He was indicted this week on five counts of custodial indecent liberties with three different victims. More to follow…

Senator Mike Crapo arrested for DUI

Republican Senator Mike Crapo was arrested for DUI on December 23, 2012 in Alexandria, Virginia. While driving under the influence, he ran a red light which caused the local police to pull him over. He failed a field sobriety test with a blood alcohol content of 0.11 percent. Crapo, a Mormon, was caught doing something reckless and shameful. His arrest was a surprise as he is respected in his home state of Idaho for being a man of virtue, but we know all about men of virtue here on Deep Thoughts. They tend to fall rather hard. 

Mike Crapo caught my attention because he is a Mormon bishop and should not drink at all, plus he is a Republican Senator, which normally means his done his fair share of moral lawmaking. People like Mike Crapo sit on a moral bubble. When the bubble pops, I want to know the story. I judge others by what they do. I'll judge Mike Crapo by what he does in the aftermath of his mistake. You should too. 

Prior to his arrest, Crapo was simply a political opponent. As the 39th most senior Senator, he had amassed some influential committee assignments, including the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs and the Committee on Finance. He may end up as the top Republican on tthe Senate Banking Committee next year, plus he was a member of the Gang of Six. Crapo is a player in the Republican party. He’s not a leader yet, but a solid foot soldier on his way to the top. When a foot shoulder in the war for the hearts and minds of Americans falters, it gets my attention. We should notice this type of character flaw. It tells us a lot about how he will lead in the future.

Mike Crapo published an apology:

“I am deeply sorry for the actions that resulted in this circumstance. I made a mistake for which I apologize to my family, my Idaho constituents and any others who have put their trust in me. I accept total responsibility and will deal with whatever penalty comes my way in this matter." It is a rare thing to see a real apology, but that is what this is. Crapo admits his mistake, apologizes for it, and promises to take responsibility."

Mike Crapo is being compared to Larry Craig because it is a rare thing to see the arrest of a United States Senator and people want a frame of reference. I don’t buy into the Christian notion that all sins are equal in the eyes of God. Some crimes can and often do result in the death others. A high school friend of mine in doing 12 year in prison for driving drunk… and killing a man in a traffic accident. The difference between my friend and Mike Crapo is simply that the police caught Crapo before he could kill anyone. Comparing Crapo to Craig is not possible. Sex does not kill. The Idaho Statesmen would like us to believe is it is a simple mistake and not a horrible sexual misstep like the that of Larry Craig. 

One mistake does not erase an otherwise honorable career. It’s a good guess that the embarrassment anybody might feel for him is nothing compared with the embarrassment he feels for himself. It’s bad enough that Crapo has to explain himself to his wife and family. It’s worse when he has to explain himself to 1.6 million constituents, many of whom have viewed Crapo as an example of what American politics should be about.

On the other hand, both Crapo and Craig failed as leaders within their political movement. Craig lived a lie and that lie eventually cost him his reputation and power. Crapo is caught in the same trap. His public fail is both criminal wrongdoing and a moral falling. Who will trust a man who stakes his public reputation on his religion and from abstinence from alcohol? The right answer is nobody. Who will trust a man who cannot control himself? The right answer is nobody. I don't see much of a difference between the impulse control problem of gay sex in a public bathroom and the self control problem if drinking too much and driving. Contrition, rehabilitation, and some serious soul searching are in order Mike Crapo and not the slap on the wrist that is sure to follow.

Do we cut Senator Mke Crapo a second chance? I would, but only after he pays his debt to society. 

Hypocrisy level mind blowing

I track clergy misconduct under the labels Hypocrisy Watch and Clergy Sexual Abuse. Hypocrisy Watch has over 1,445 entries. Clergy Sexual Abuse has over 530 entries. Most of these stories focus on clergy doing decidedly non-Christian acts, some of which are heinous in nature, like child molestation and murder. Every year or two a storied comes across my desk that is simply mind blowing. Like this one from tipster spritgn… Deacon removed after child porn charges.

MONTREAL — A prominent West Island deacon — who used to comment on church sexual abuse scandals — is expected to appear in court on Monday after being charged on the weekend with the production and distribution of child pornography.

William Kokesch, a 65-year-old deacon of St. Edmund of Canterbury Parish in Beaconsfield, was arrested Friday after police carried out two search warrants — one at his home in Pointe Claire and the other at the church.

Deacon William Kokesch is a hypocrite. The word hypocrite barely touches the level of depravity involved in this man's alleged crimes. He was known for officially criticizing pedophiles and clergy sexual abuse, yet he was charged with making and distributing child pornography. I mean… what the fuck?

Kokesch is another example of a member of Catholic church, criticizing the clergy sexual abuse scandal while allegedly living a double life focused on abusing children. Did I mention he worked with children? Kokesch also advised the pope. It is simply mind blowing. Kokesch is a real player in the Catholic church and is often sough out for media interviews to comment on clergy sexual abuse. He's also an ordained official of the Catholic church. He is not a priest, but is something known as a "permanent deacon".

Kokesch, who was ordained as a “permanent deacon” in the diocese of Montreal in 1981, then served as the communications director for the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops in Ottawa. In 2005, he was entrusted by the conference to coordinate the Canadian delegation to World Youth Day Catholic celebrations in Cologne, Germany.

The Catholic church needs a purge and a do over. I don't see how anything they say can be trusted. They have lost their moral imperative (if they ever had one).

Related articles

• Catholic deacon charged with making and distributing child pornography after police seize 2,000 images from his Montreal home (news.nationalpost.com)
• Churchgoers mum on deacon charged with producing child porn (sunnewsnetwork.ca)
• MONTREAL: Catholic Deacon Busted For Child Porn Production & Distribution (joemygod.blogspot.com)

My favorite gifts

I was asked an odd question by a long-time friend the other day. He asked, 'Joe, what are your favorite gifts?" I say odd because I don't really like the gift recieving part of the holidays, and he knows it. I enjoyed getting gifts as a child, but as an adult things got a little weird when I realized how much effort went into the whole commercialized Christmas thing. Besides the negative aspics of over shopping in December, I think the reason I'm off gifts is that most gifts are just not something I'm interested in. Be it well-meaning ties or manicure sets, gifts like this all seem like a waste of time and money. My wife and kids usually mange to nail it though. Take this year for example. They kept it small and simple. I love the Innova Boss disc my son gave me, and the gaming mouse from my wife too. They were both small and practical gifts, which are perfect in my book. Plus, they did not waste hours inside a mall shopping for that perfect gift.

I would rather give a good small gift; like something I've made or something that reflects our shared connections, than the lasted tech toy or bauble. As for friend-to-friend gift giving. I'd rather share a meal and a few beers and call it done. Still, I wanted to answer my friend, so this is what I told him.

1. Books: I am a reader. Nothing pleases me more that the gift of a book. My mom gave me the collected works of Edgar Allen Poe last night. Talk about perfect. I'll read it the rest of my life. Books are a great gift. Plus, I keep them in my ever-growing library. 

2. Knives: I love a good knife. I have a good-sized collection, but the gift of a new knife is always appreciated. Take my simple Frontier U.S.A pocket knife. A friend spent $25 on it as a birthday gift 10-years ago. I've carried it, or had it close, ever since. It's practical and if cared for, will last me a lifetime. 

3. Discs: I play disc golf. Discs are inexpensive and always appreciated. They don't last forever… I hit a lot of trees, but they are practical and will see a lot of use. 

4. Scotch & Cigars - What can I say, I like scotch and a good cigar. 

Part of my disapproval of large scale holiday gift giving is the spectacle. I watch the madness associated with Black Friday and the endless mall parking lots full of frenzied shoppers and think, why am I participating in the mass crassness? My idea of a Holliday celebration is what I did last night and what I will do again in a few hours. Last night, we cooked a prime rib roast and some Hobbit inspired side dishes for our parents. We talked and ate until the old folks needed to go home for the night. Tonight, I will do the same at a family party with 70 of my closest relatives. I'll eat and talk until I'm too tied to do it any more, and then I'll call it a night. A few small gifts will change hands too. If I'm lucky I'll get a book or some booze. 

Happy holidays folks and keep it simple. 

Mojoey

Pastor Wiley Jackson indicted

Okay guys, here is my plan. We start a church. We build membership by acting the way a pastor/christian should act while promoting the prosperity doctrine because that brings in the poor folks. Then, when we've got them on their knees praying to God for wealth, we prey on the weak and infirm. Rich I tell you! We will be rich!

That's how the scam works folks.

According to DeKalb County District Attorney Robert James, the leader of Gospel Tabernacle Church recruited members to buy shares in an unregistered company called Genesis, LLC. James said neither brother was licensed by the state to sell securities.

"Some people lost a lot of money," said James.

CBS Atlanta News first reported on the alleged investment scheme in 2010, when two investors accused their former pastor of taking thousands of dollars.

According to the indictment, Abbey Shanks of Locust Grove lost $10,000 when she invested in Genesis in 2002.

Source: Megachurch pastor Wiley Jackson, brother indicted for securities fraud

Pastor Wiley runs the mega church the Gospel Tabernacle Church in Atlanta. 

Ten tips to prevent losing all your money to a pastor

Tip #1 - Never trust a pastor named "Wiley"

Tip #2 - Never trust a pastor that drives a Bently

Tip #3 - Never let your pastor invest your money

Tip #4 - All investments carries risk

Tip #5 - Judge a pastor by how he handles his own money

Tip #6 - Go read the bible about Jesus and the money changers (there was a message in the text)

Tip #7 - Fire your pastor if he starts a business that targets his flock (it's called a fleecing for a reason)

Tip #8 - Find another church if your pastor preaches the prosperity doctrine 

Tip #9  - If you are attending a mega church you are doing Christianity wrong

Tip #10 - Read this blog. 

These cases crack me up. How can anybody be so dumb as to listen to a man like this and then give him your hard-earned savings? It defies credulity. 

Atheists giving aid to Sandy Hook Elementary

American Atheists along with the Society of Open-Minded Atheists and Agnostics (SOMA) and We Are Atheism are raising funds for the children and families affected by the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School. Do your part if you can. Pitch in and help.

Pastor Otis Jetter arrested

Baptist pastor Otis Jetter, 70, was arrested on multiple warrants for child molestation. 

The charges we made my a man in his 20s. The abuse allegedly took place when the victim was a boy. 

A man in his 20s came forward with allegations that Jetter molested him as a boy after seeing Jetter with another boy at church. He worried the boy might be in the same situation.

Jetter,  was the pastor of Pilgrim Chapel Missionary Baptist Church in Indianapolis. 

I give you… Baptist Nutball Sam Morris

Baptist pastor Sam Morris made the news this week because of his mouth. He let it spew hatred in public. The world too note of his idiocy. Key points follow:

• Public schools are "mind-control centers." 
• Public schools teach "junk about evolution." 
• Public schools teach "how to be a homo." 
• He thinks all this is about gun control. 
• Called equal rights a "sham" and equated it with "equal immorality." 
• Claimed Adam Lanza was taught that he was a God in public school. 
• Suggested we publicly mutilate the body of Adam Lanza. 
• Morris wants revenge against a dead man.
• Conflated mass murder with his political position on abortion. 
• Ranted on gun control while claiming that mass shootings never take place at gun shows which suggests that if school teachers were armed it would have prevented the shooting. 
• Blamed the shooting on kicking God out of public schools. 
• Called public school "government school." 
• Said that evolution teaches us that we are animals, so we can act like animals. 
• Suggested that public schools teach you to rebel against your parents.

Source: Tennessee pastor: Mass shootings because schools teach evolution and ‘how to be a homo’

All this tripe from a pastor in response to a mass murder. I listened to his words in disbelieve. Where is the love of Christ in this message of paranoia and hate? How is this Christianity? How is Pastor Morris a role model or a leader of sane people? Not only are his words political rhetoric and full of vitriol, they are universally the words of a ranting nutball… except from maybe the part about no mass murders at gun shows. He also suggested that there had never been a shooting at gun show. Ten seconds on the internet proves that wrong. 

Pastor Sam Morris preaches at Old Paths Baptist Church. Does Morris actually preach? You be the judge.

I always spend a little time looking at the education of blowhards like Morris. He claims to have a Doctorate of Divinity in 2011 from Historic Baptist Bible College and Theological Seminary, in Scarborough, Ontario. (Which is actually an unaccredited school located in a church.) The school website does not offer PhD programs. And get this, the school gives women a different degree then men for the same course of study. Morris sounds "highly" educated. 

Is this what being a Christian is all about? Is it simply a collection of paranoia, fear, hatred, and contempt for the truth? Where is the love? Where is the sympathy for the victims of this horrible tragedy?

Send a condolence letter to Newtown

An employee of mine suggested that we send a letter of condolence to the people of Newtown and those affected by the tragic shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School. I thought it was a good idea. 

Those who wish to send expressions of comfort should address them to:

Messages of Condolence for Newtown
P.O. Box 3700
Newtown, CT 06470

It is an easy thing to do, and a good idea. 

On another note, my son's school called while I was making this post to tell me about their emergency response plans. I don't' think we had those when I was a kid. 

Numbers Matter. Be counted.

Participate in the Atheist Census. I did. Atheist Census - Numbers matter. Be counted.

The problem with Victoria Jackson

The problem with Victoria Jackson and the problem with celebrity opinions in general is that we confuse working in entertainment with intelligence and wisdom. We should listen to the wise among us, but seriously now, who thinks Victoria Jackson is wise? After the Sandy Hook massacre, we hear this from the "sage" actress Victory Jackson

"My friend Jim Riley posted: "Wasn't the Connecticut killer just doing what abortionists do every day? It's a wonder we don't have more 20 year old "dads" doing what women and doctors have been an accomplice to for years in America. When you forget the TEN COMMANDMENTS, people, THIS is what you get."'
Source: A FORMER Saturday Night Live star has sparked controversy for saying the Sandy Hook Massacre is "what you get when you forget the Ten Commandments."

We see her for what she is, another evangelical nutball using a horrible massacre to further a political agenda.  Normal people hear of the massacre and take a moment to reflect before offering condolences. Abnormal people, evangelical nutballs if you will, take the issue and use it to push an agenda. The hate bleeds through every word they use. Children died unthinkably violent deaths just a few hours ago, and the best she can do is blame it on the victims. Is this wisdom? No. It is hate, and we all see that.
Jackson goes on to belittle President Obama, who like many Americans, was overcome by the scale of the tragedy and in an all-too-human moment, shed a tear with us. What does Jackson say about this important moment?

"Obama dramatically wiped a tear as he said, "The majority of those who died today were children - beautiful little kids ... They had their entire lives ahead of them - birthdays, graduations, weddings, kids of their own..."
"YEAH OBAMA. SAME AS THE MILLION BABIES YOU HAD ABORTED THIS YEAR.
"ARE YOU CRYING FOR THEM?!"

Instead of seeing the Presidents acts for what they are, an honest reaction to horrible traction, she must bring up her pet issue. Everything is about her issue. Fuck the victims of Sandy Hook… I want to beat my drum. Look at me. Look at me. We know you like it Victoria Jackson. It's all about attention.
What can you do?

• Tell Victory Jackson to fuck off via Twitter. 
• Keep the story alive. Post about her idiocy. 
• Remember this event and protest each and every future Victory Jackson endeavor. 

Pastor Isrom Perry-Johnson arrested

Baptist Pastor Isrom Perry-Johnson, 33, of Prince of Peace Missionary Baptist Church in Albany, was arrested on three counts of second-degree sodomy. His church is shocked.

One member of Johnson’s congregation at Prince of Peace Missionary Baptist Church, in the 700 block of Linden Avenue in New Albany, said he was shocked by the charges.
“He’s a very loving and caring person,” said Timothy Vinson, 28, of Jeffersonville. “He’s the definition of a pastor. It comes as a shock. I couldn’t see him doing the crime.”
Source: Pastor of New Albany church faces sodomy charges

A small Baptist church with a home-grown pastor. Where have I heard this story before?

Pastor Clarence Taylor arrested

Associate pastor Clarence Tyrone Taylor, 26, was arrested for using Facebook and text messages to solicit sex from a 15-year-old boy.
 

…Taylor allegedly made suggestive comments to several young people in his congregation, prompting parents to approach the pastor of the church. In response to those complaints, the pastor contacted Lancaster County Detectives and the Lancaster City Police Department, who forwarded the case to the Attorney General’s Office because of the specialized investigations performed by the Child Predator Unit.
Source: Lancaster County associate pastor arrested of Attorney General's Child Predator Unit by Amanda Smith. 

The article suggests parents should "Discuss internet safety with their children," which seems odd to me since most parents are not qualified to discuss the topic. Heck, few people are qualified. It's one of those gray areas that others assume people know about, but few actually do. A case in point… I talked to a parent last week about her son's use of an iPad for web surfing. She was sure that what her son was doing was safe because she reviewed the sites he had visited. When I showed her private browsing, she lost all confidence. Private browsing is just one way a smart kid can get around a parent's good intentions. There are so many more ways to get around safety features. It boggles my mind. Most people know nothing about this stuff. I work in this area professionally and I struggle to keep up. What does a layman know?

One of the problems that keeps me up at night is that parents let kids have Facebook accounts. A few months on Facebook is all it takes for a kids to figure out how to get around all of the safeguards. Recent studies show that young girls who use Facebook can stunt their emotional devleopment. You do the math. Youth, immaturity, emotional issues… It all ends with someone like pastor Taylor sexting your child, or worse.

I've been asked to start speaking on this issue at local churches and civic groups. I think its time I put together another PowerPoint deck and start getting the word out. It is the least I can do.

Update 1/27/2014
Clarence Taylor was convicted today on all three charges. Ball was revoked and reset to $100k.