There is good reason that it is called Reason Magazine

A few days ago Steve Chapman, columnist and editorialist over at the Chicago Tribune, penned a well-reasoned rebuttal of the Cook County Board's latest nonsensical and misdirected efforts in the gun control realm.

"The levy was dubbed a 'violence tax,' which is exactly what it isn't. It would not target criminals who have malice in mind, but would fall entirely on the law-abiding."

As Chapman points out, these efforts are futile because the burden they impose never falls on the intended target and is instead borne by the population segment the tax purports to want to protect. And neither will it stop the flow of firearms and ammunition into the Cook County area. Nobody with any sense will pay the price within the county when a short drive to some neighboring county with politicians sensible enough to understand that Cook County has just handed their sporting goods shops a plum will provide the savvy shopper whatever firearm or ammunition desired... further shipping sales tax monies out of Cook county to the detriment of the citizens.

All of this is smoke and mirrors. Gun ownership and possession is all but illegal in Mexico, yet which group in Mexico is it that is unarmed (and unprotected) and which is armed to the teeth? Pot (do they still call it that?) is illegal in this country yet I’d wager I could find some and get it bought within the next 24 hours if I was of a mind. 

Prohibition doesn't make anything unavailable... it just makes it inconvenient and expensive and it protects nobody. The bad guys don't mind because if it disarms anybody it will be to their benefit. 

Prohibition by any name and under any guise does not work and history has taught us that it never will. The politicians and bleeding hearts of Cook County would do well to learn this and refocus their efforts on other issues. Education comes to mind.

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Sunday Funnies

More funnies below the fold....

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Verbatim

Marine amputee taunted at south Charlotte grill

A U.S. Marine who lost both his legs in Afghanistan was forced to leave a Charlotte restaurant with his family after local football fans hurled vile abuse at them for wearing Dallas Cowboys jerseys.

The full story HERE

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you watched the big boys...

... but did you watch this?

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None of them has the hope of a fart in a hurricane, but many of their ideas have the ring of good sense.

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Sunday Funnies

... There's a whole bunch more below the fold...

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Fairytales and Misconceptions

Time for another long rant...

It should come as little surprise that this blogger self-identifies as atheist… or more precisely as non-theistic. Although always open to new data, there has so far has been no credible evidence offered to even hint of the existence of any supernatural power or being. The supernatural has always been a product of a fearful mind... an invention to explain the as yet unexplained. As humankind's knowledge base has grown, the myths have receded. We laugh at many of those myths these days.

So I am godless. Unlike many others with similar lack of belief my atheism does not seem to be the result of a de-conversion or some sudden epiphany. Being exposed to evangelical Christianity while still in grade school, I have no memory of ever actually believing. Even at that early age I felt it was all hogwash.

This was not a fact that in those days was often shared with friends... and not until relatively  recently with family. Although just a child it was apparent to me that making any statement of disbelief would very likely result in poor reaction... so lack of faith was hidden and I just went along with the mumbo jumbo for the sake of getting along.

...Continued below the fold....

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Early Rock & Roll and modern history

My good friend Valerie came up with this video, posting it on Facebook. It's an old YouTube from 1998. Several of my friends these days are younger and may never have heard either of the band or the song... but I do and I was surprised to learn what the video revealed. Utterly cool!

 

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Voter fraud

Well, I'm not too proud to admit it when I'm wrong. Since the beginning of the Republican efforts to stamp out voter fraud I've argued that these bills were addressed at a crime that was all but nonexistent. I'm ashamed to say that the Republicans have proved me wrong. 

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Sunday Funnies

...There's a bunch more below the fold...

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Gay marriage bans demolished

Object to gays? this won't be your cup of tea. Don't like Rachel Maddow? You won't want to watch this. It will just piss you off. It's 55 minutes long. Don't have the time or don't want to spend the time? Your loss. But if you give a shit about individual rights and are willing to open your mind, you should take the time. You may learn something new.

Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

The day will come when humans accept that other humans are very likely different, and that being different isn't such a bad thing. In this 21'st century since the birth of some mythical "savior," we have had plenty of time to learn how not to hate, and how not to be afraid.

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Mongo only pawn

Former actor and football star, Alex Karras... dead at 77

While he made hundreds of tackles on the football field, Alex Karras' most memorable take-down occurred when he played Mongo in the great 1974 Mel Brooks film, Blazing Saddles, when he sucker punched and KO'ed a horse.

Television is not my schitck, so until this news came across the wires I had never heard of 'Webster.' Apparently some felt it was a good show for which Karras will be remembered, but for those of my generation we will forever remember what was arguably the best line in any el Brooks flic.

Alex Karras - Gone but not forgotten.

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Sunday Funnies