WE THE PEOPLE

Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Our first lady: Bitter harridan

Very Informative


http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=305257#ixzz1NxDK9JpS





Monday, May 23, 2011

HERMAN CAIN FOR PRESIDENT

HERMAN CAIN FOR PRESIDENT
A True Conservative!!! What does race have to do with anything? Remove our skin and we all look the same. Cain is genuine!!! No matter what color he is, I vote for qualifications and values, both of which Herman Cain has!!! Vote for CAIN because OBAMA is not ABLE!!! My Choice All The Way. A TRULY GREAT AMERICAN!!!



About Herman Cain: My Story

I was raised in Atlanta, Georgia by loving and hardworking parents. We grew up poor, but we grew up happy. Things weren’t always easy, but my mom and dad knew that if they kept their faith in God, faith in themselves and their faith in the greatest country in the world, they, too, could achieve their American Dream.

That dream, we discovered, was for my parents to own their own home and watch their two sons graduate from college. Those dreams required that my father work three jobs to support our family.

The first dream was realized in a brick home on Albert Street. I can still recall the excitement of the day, as he surprised us—even my mother—when he drove us to our new home.

Their second dream was realized when I proudly accepted my degree in mathematics from Morehouse College in 1967 and my brother graduated from Morris Brown College. Both of my father’s American Dreams were achieved. Now, I set off to achieve mine.

One year after graduating, I married the love of my life, Gloria. And together, we started our journey to achieve our Dreams. This meant relocating to Indiana where I would begin my Master’s degree program at Purdue University, while working full-time as a mathematician at the Department of the Navy.

After earning my Master’s degree and six years working for the Department of the Navy, we returned home to Atlanta, where I began to climb the corporate ladder with the Coca-Cola Company. I faced challenges, but I always remembered the values my parents taught me. With enough faith and determination, I knew I could go as high in corporate America as I desired.

I enjoyed a successful career at the Coca-Cola Company and later moved to the Pillsbury Company. Within a short period, I rose to the position of Vice President. When I got there, I thought I had already achieved my American Dream on the 31st floor of the new Pillsbury Corporate Headquarters with a corner office. But I quickly realized I wanted something more.

I resigned my position and started on another path- the restaurant industry. I knew that in order to be successful, I had to start from “the ground up.” This meant broiling hamburgers at Pillsbury’s Burger King division. After nine months of a grueling restaurant experience, I was assigned to lead a low performing region of 450 Burger King restaurants. Within three years, we became the best-performing region in the U.S.

I could have been content with my executive role with one of America’s biggest corporations. Instead, after consulting with my wife, we decided to take one of the biggest risks of our marriage: picking up our young family, relocating yet again and accepting the call to become CEO and President of Godfather’s Pizza, a company teetering on the edge of bankruptcy.

In 14 months, we turned the company around and returned it to profitability, and I ultimately led my management team to a buyout of Godfather’s Pizza. The company never went bankrupt, and today, there are still hundreds of locations across the U.S.

My success at turning around Godfather’s got the attention of fellow restaurateurs around the nation who invited me to join the Board of Directors of the National Restaurant Association and later elected me its chairman. In 1996, they retained me as the full-time President and the CEO of the National Restaurant Association, working on behalf of thousands of small businesses and entrepreneurs.

In 1994, as chairman of the National Restaurant Association, I had the opportunity to speak with President Clinton during a nationally televised town hall meeting. Here, I challenged the President regarding the impact on businesses if his health care overhaul proposal were passed.

President Clinton attempted to assure me and the millions of viewers watching at home that his legislation would not harm American business owners and their employees.

I was skeptical. “Quite honestly Mr. President, your calculations are incorrect,” I said. “In the competitive marketplace, it simply doesn’t work that way.”

Through these and other appearances on behalf of the National Restaurant Association, I began working with business leaders across all sectors of the American economy. This led to my acceptance of a position on the Board of Directors of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, and I was subsequently elected their chairman.

Today, I host a radio talk show, “The Herman Cain Show,” on Atlanta’s WSB 750 AM/ 95.5 FM. I serve as a regular contributor on several broadcast networks and as a keynote speaker at conferences and events around the nation.

Despite the many professional commitments of my life, I continued to enjoy most the time spent with family and friends. As my children got married and had their own children, I knew that I had an extraordinary obligation to do what I could to make this a safe and prosperous nation for them. The paramount joys in my life are my wife, Gloria, our children and our grandchildren.

I am grateful for the many professional successes I have enjoyed. I am grateful for the steadfast loyalty and unwavering love of my family and friends. And I am grateful for this country that is so exceptional that I was afforded the opportunity to achieve my American Dreams.

I’m not done yet!


RubinReports: Obama At AIPAC: Beneath The Flattery, He Revealed His Indifference to Israel’s Needs and His Tilt Against It

RubinReports: Obama At AIPAC: Beneath The Flattery, He Revealed His Indifference to Israel’s Needs and His Tilt Against It

Saturday, May 21, 2011

USGS Release: 3 to 4.3 Billion Barrels of Technically Recoverable Oil Assessed in North Dakota and Montana’s Bakken Formation—25 Times More Than 1995 Estimate— (4/10/2008 2:25:36 PM)

USGS Release: 3 to 4.3 Billion Barrels of Technically Recoverable Oil Assessed in North Dakota and Montana’s Bakken Formation—25 Times More Than 1995 Estimate— (4/10/2008 2:25:36 PM)

YID With LID: Why The Palestinian Authority-Hamas Deal Is So Dangerous

YID With LID: Why The Palestinian Authority-Hamas Deal Is So Dangerous






YID With LID: Energy From Shale Would Solve Our Energy Problems (If Obama Would Allow It)

YID With LID: Energy From Shale Would Solve Our Energy Problems (If Obama Would Allow It)






Holocaust Survivors - Their Stories

Though they survived the Holocaust, most have not escaped from the pain. Read the stories of the survivors.

Alexander Kimel: Memoirs of a Survivor

Over a dozen stories from Alexander's life during the Holocaust. From the trauma of a baby born in the ghetto to a young girl who survived an Einsatzgruppen action, his stories are powerful and traumatic. (To find the rest of his story, use the links on the left side of the page under the heading "Memoirs.")

Alicia Appleman-Jurman: Survival and Heroism of a Young Girl During th

This web site is based on the remarkable book Alicia: My Story. Alicia was only thirteen when she was thrust into the horrors of the Holocaust. Though she saw her family murdered around her, Alicia was able to survive through both luck and bravery. Alicia also saved two groups of Soviet partisan groups.

Ann Levy

Only four years old when the Germans invaded Poland, Anne and her family moved from Lodz to Warsaw in order to be with family. Anne tells the interviewer from the Southern Institute about hiding in a cabinet in the Warsaw Ghetto and then how her family escaped the ghetto and hid as Catholics in the "Aryan-side."

Benjamin Jacobs - The Dentist of Auschwitz

From labor camps to Auschwitz, follow Benjamin's story of survival. He gives you a detailed story including the shtetl where he lived, his deportation, the murder of his family, his life in labor camps, and then his experiences as a dentist in Auschwitz. Benjamin's memoir has been published as The Dentist of Auschwitz.

Camp Survivors

Brief recollections from four survivors of Auschwitz and Bergen-Belsen. These men and women describe the conditions in the cattle cars as well as the daily routine in camp.

Charlotte Guthmann Opfermann: Interview with a Survivor

From your About.com Guide - Charlotte's personal account of life within the Theresienstadt Ghetto.

David Budnik and Yakov Kaper

Budnik and Kaper are two of only fifteen that survived the cremation squad at Babi Yar. This site has both of their stories - links on the bottom of the page. (Parts 5 and 6 of Budnik's story describe his time at Babi Yar.)

The Ernest and Elisabeth Cassutto Memorial Page: Survivors of the Holo

Read the touching life stories of Ernest and Elisabeth. They survived the Holocaust, lost dear and close loved ones, and had to begin a new life after liberation.

Eva G.

Interviewed by the Southern Institute, Eva G. tells her story to the interviewer. Eva was born in Oleszyce, Poland in 1924. She tells us about her town while growing up and about her anxieties when she is sent to Germany and must pose as a Catholic while working on a farm. See Henry G.'s story below.

Eva Galler: Portrait of a Survivor

This seems to be the same Eva as the link above, but her story is told very differently. This time, she also tells of her family, a special blessing that was placed on her by the Belzer Rebbe, as well as her escape from a death train heading to Belzec. Included are some audio selections from Eva and various photographs about her story.

Evelyn Pike-Rubin: Shelter Found in Shanghai

As a young, Jewish child in Nazi Germany, Evelyn was not allowed into the parks like the other children nor was she allowed to go to a public school like the other children. After Kristallnacht her family fled Germany to Shanghai where conditions were not good, some of her family members died, and she and her mother had to fight to survive.

Felicia Fuksman

Felicia, born in Lodz, Poland in 1924, survived the Lodz Ghetto and Ravensbrück. In the interview with the Southern Institute, Felicia shares her experiences when she entered Ravensbrück as well as how she met her husband (also a survivor) in the United States after the war.

Gloria Lyon: From Auschwitz to Ravensbrück

This site has no text but has Gloria's story on Real Audio. Gloria describes her entrance into Auschwitz and life within. She describes how she escaped from being sent to the gas chamber and her subsequent moves to different camps. Finally ending up in Ravensbrück near the end of the war and again almost killed right before liberation.

Harold Gordon: The Last Sunrise

Harold's story takes you from his hometown of Grodno to Bialystok to Buchenwald to Auschwitz to Dachau as well as several other places in between. Harold has given you an interactive map in which to follow his story as well as links to nine sections of his story. In addition, you can hear his story in his own voice and read a synopsis.

Henry G.

Born in Oleszyce, Poland on June 14, 1921, Henry tells his story to an interviewer from the Southern Institute. Henry describes life before the war, about joining the Polish Army in 1941, and about what he experiences when he tried to go back and see his home after the war.

Jeanine Burk: Portrait of a Survivor

Jeanine was only three years old when she was put in hiding. Born in 1939 in Brussels, Belgium, her father took her to a Gentile woman's home where she was hidden indoors for two years. Jeanine's brother and sister, both much older than Jeanine, were also placed in separate hiding places. Included are some audio selections from Jeanine and various photographs about her story.

Joseph Sher: Portrait of a Survivor

Joseph makes you smile and makes you sad by his very vivid descriptions of the events in his life. Born in 1917 in Krzepice, Poland, Joseph was a tailor before the war. He was taken from the ghetto in Czestochowa to even worse conditions in Cieszanow to help build a highway. Joseph vividly describes the terrors of the "toilet," itching of the lice, and the death of his grandmother.

Judith Jaegermann: Memories of My Childhood in the Holocaust

Judith was only a young girl when she was transported to Theresienstadt, then Auschwitz, then labor camps, then on a death march to Bergen-Belsen. She describes being shaved, being tattooed, watching the despair of a woman who dropped her saved piece of bread in the latrines, of beatings, of lice, and of the ties to her family.

Isak Borenstein: Portrait of a Survivor

Born in 1918 in Radom, Poland, Isak fled to Russia before the war. When Germany invaded Russia, Isak joined the Soviet Army but was soon captured. He made an amazing escape and soon joined the partisans. He was captured and tortured horribly. Then Isak shares many near death experiences while at sub-camps of Mauthausen.

Leo Scher

Born in 1921, Leo spent most of his youth in Czestochowa, Poland. While telling his story to an interviewer from the Southern Institute, Leo describes what he saw and how he felt when the Germans entered Czestochowa, rumors of blood libel before the war, how a Volksdeutsche helped save him by helping him hide in a factory, and what life was like right after the war.

Renee Molno: Shame of Humanity

This site has no text but has Renee's story on Real Audio. Renee grew up in Greece and was taken to Auschwitz with his family. His brother and he survived the initial selection while both of his parents were sent to the gas chamber. Renee then talks about what he saw in Auschwitz and about his brother being chosen for sexual experiments. This is a moving story that is worth listening to.

Shep Zitler: Portrait of a Survivor

Six months before World War II began, Shep was drafted into the Polish army. Once his unit was captured, he was sent to various labor camps. In this story, Shep also details the fate of his family and discusses his life after the war in America. Included are some audio selections from Shep and various photographs about his story.

Sidney Finkel: Holocaust Speaker

Sidney's site focuses on his experiences teaching young people about the Holocaust. Sidney is a survivor of Buchenwald and Theresienstadt.

Solomon Radasky: Portrait of a Survivor

Born in 1910 in Warsaw, Solomon was a furrier before the war. After working for several years in the Warsaw Ghetto, Solomon was shot in the leg and nearly sent to Treblinka. Instead, he got sent to Majdanek where he had to have another prisoner "operate" on his leg. Later he was taken to Auschwitz. Included are some audio selections from Solomon and various photographs about his story.

Ruth Westheimer - My Jewish Learning

Ruth Westheimer - My Jewish Learning






A Speech Every American High School Principal Should Give

The Dennis Prager Show













BEST POEM IN THE WORLD

BEST POEM IN THE WORLD


I was shocked, confused, bewildered

As I entered Heaven's door,

Not by the beauty of it all,

Nor the lights or its decor.


But it was the folks in Heaven

Who made me sputter and gasp--

The thieves, the liars, the sinners,

The alcoholics and the trash.


There stood the kid from seventh grade

Who swiped my lunch money twice.

Next to him was my old neighbor

Who never said anything nice.


Bob, who I always thought

Was rotting away in hell,

Was sitting pretty on cloud nine,

Looking incredibly well.


I nudged Jesus, 'What's the deal?

I would love to hear Your take.

How'd all these sinners get up here?

God must've made a mistake.


'And why is everyone so quiet,

So somber - give me a clue.'

'Hush, child,' He said,

'they're all in shock.


No one thought they'd be seeing you.'
JUDGE NOT!!


Remember...Just going to church doesn't make you a

Christian any more than standing in your garage makes you a car.


Every saint has a PAST...


Every sinner has a FUTURE!



 


Life without God is like an unsharpened pencil - It has no point!
http://www.boblonsberry.com/writings.cfm

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Barack Attack!

Barack Attack!
May 18, 2011 by John Myers

“They want what every first-term Administration wants — a second term.” — from the movie “Clear and Present Danger”

America hasn’t had a leader like President Barack Obama in generations. He is more shrewd than a Chicago mayor, more powerful than the Tea Party and able to read a teleprompter at a single glance. He is ObamaMan! Not since former President Harry Truman’s capture of former Prime Minister of Japan Hideki Tojo has the nation had such a “presidential” President.

The “interdiction” ordered against Osama bin Laden, aided by the best fighting force in the world, is sure to make Obama’s Nobel Peace Prize a footnote for some of his biographers. And depending on whom you listen to, the President has either eradicated Muslim extremism or set a course for democracy in the Middle East.

No doubt Hollywood producers are hoping Wesley Snipes will be released from jail so he can play the role of the commander in chief. Expect the screenplay to deviate from the truth. In the film version the President will probably overcome an army of Muslim bodyguards armed with AK-47s before kicking down a steel door and dealing with bin Laden mano a mano.

The true story is not nearly as engrossing. It is about a president desperate for reelection and seeking the spotlight for an American electorate who only glance at headlines.

But the question remains: Why did it take our government nearly a decade to kill the worst mass murderer of the 21st century? And why was our closest ally in the Middle East protecting him? In the final analysis, both Pakistan and the White House may have to answer for the medieval meltdown that is the Muslim world.

We are left watching The Barack Obama Tour, with visits by the President to Ground Zero, an hour-long interview on 60 Minutes and a jingoistic speech in front of America’s real patriots, the men who carried out the mission: the Navy SEAL assault force the President spoke to at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

If you think I am wrong about Obama being an opportunist, consider what Gary D. Barnett wrote for The Daily Reckoning:

“There has never been such an opportunity for the U.S. government to stage a false flag event in order to start yet another war as there is today. The setup is obvious to Libertarians and some sane others, but it eludes most (sic) all Americans who are busy dancing in the street after the so-called killing of Osama bin Laden.

“Consider the timing of this attack by U.S. Navy SEALs, and then consider recent events. First, the economy is in shambles, unemployment is sky high, price inflation is excessive, and the U.S. military has been bombing civilians in an attempt to assassinate (Moammar) Gadhafi, including murdering innocent little children. Our money is being destroyed before our eyes. The wars are not going well for the ruling elite, and Obama’s ratings are horribly low at the beginning of his presidential crusade.

“What better reason then for an event to solidify the masses… ”

It is the dangerous masses, a growing Muslim mob that is becoming more belligerent to America each passing year. Arab governments collect billions of dollars from us while secretly supporting jihad when our backs are turned. What makes it all the more maddening is that a tidal wave of Arab hate created bin Laden and not the other way around.

More lives than a cat
According to the CBC TV program The Fifth Estate, there were nine previous attempts by the U.S. to kill or capture bin Laden before his death. They commenced with the Administration of former President Bill Clinton and finally succeeded this month. But should it take more than a decade and three Presidents to kill one man living next door to Pakistan’s version of West Point?

On more than one occasion, Pakistan’s government or security apparatus, the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), tipped off bin Laden. That is a bad deal to U.S. taxpayers who have provided Pakistan with more than $10 billion since 9/11. Then again, bin Laden was a cash cow for the Pakistani government, which only feigned being his bounty hunter.

But that gravy train might soon be over, as announced by Senator Dianne Feinstein, the head of the Senate Intelligence Committee. The Democrat from California said that if it turns out the Pakistani government knew where bin Laden was hiding, Congress may cut $1.5 billion dollars in annual aid to Pakistan. That should have happened years ago, and the Obama Administration knows it.

The problem with PakiSatan, a Muslim power with more than 100 nuclear warheads, is its intelligence service and the government itself are corrupt — begging for money from the United States in a pretense to arrest extremism while at the same time providing aid and support to Islamic extremists. The evidence comes from the Pakistani government which first insisted it knew nothing of the planned assault, then claimed to have provided crucial intelligence for the raid on the compound.

Pakistan can’t have it both ways, or can it? The government of Pakistan even wants an apology from Washington for conducting a military operation on its soil to get bin Laden. So strained have relations between the two countries become that, on occasion, U.S. troops have had to engage Pakistani soldiers in firefights, and the Navy SEAL team was prepared to shoot its way out of Pakistan should it have to engage the enemy… I mean ally.

It is hard to know who America’s real friends are in the Muslim world, as many Islamists are outraged over the killing of bin Laden. They don’t understand our outrage, and I partially blame Obama for that. Obama was sympathetic to the mosque being built next to Ground Zero and shared his outrage over Pastor Terry Jones’ burning the Quran.

American troops are still falling in Afghanistan as the Obama Administration props up corrupt and unpopular Muslim leaders. These diplomatic failures will in the end far outweigh the killing of one aging terrorist.

While it is wonderful to have bin Laden dead, others are carrying the torch of hate. In the end, one dead Saudi isn’t going to pave a road to peace.

Yours in good times and bad,

John Myers
Myers’ Energy & Gold Report









Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Sarah Palin | Obamacare | Unflippingbelievable | The Daily Caller

In response to the revelation that about 20 percent of the latest slew of Obamacare waivers went to luxurious restaurants, nightclubs and hotels in House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi’s district, former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin told The Daily Caller the waiver process is “corrupt.”



Read more: http://dailycaller.com/2011/05/17/gov-sarah-palin-on-pelosi-districts-obamacare-waivers-seriously-this-is-corrupt/#ixzz1MdijDeW9



Sarah Palin Obamacare Unflippingbelievable The Daily Caller






Saturday, May 14, 2011

George W. Bush Reacts Publicly to Osama Bin Laden Death for First Time - ABC News

George W. Bush Reacts Publicly to Osama Bin Laden Death for First Time - ABC News

Jews & Musical Theatre - My Jewish Learning

Jews & Musical Theatre - My Jewish Learning

Saturday, May 7, 2011

IMMIGRANTS!!!



Maybe we should turn to our history books and point out to people like Mr. Lujan why today's American is not willing to accept this new kind of immigrant any longer. Back in 1900 when there was a rush from all areas ofEurope to come to the United States , people had to get off a ship and stand in a long line in New York and be documented.
Some would even get down on their hands and knees and kiss the ground. They made a pledge to uphold the laws and support their new country in good and bad times. They made learning English a primary rule in their new American households and some even changed their names to blend in with their new home.

They had waved goodbye to their birth place to give their children a new life and did everything in their power to help their children assimilate into one culture. Nothing was handed to them. No free lunches, no welfare, no labor laws to protect them. All they had were the skills and craftsmanship they had brought with them to trade for a future of prosperity.
Most of their children came of age when World War II broke out. My father fought along side men whose parents had come straight over from Germany , Italy , France and Japan . None of these 1st generation Americans ever gave any thought about what country their parents had come from. They were Americans fighting Hitler, Mussolini and the Emperor of Japan. They were defending the United States of America as one people.
When we liberated France , no one in those villages were looking for the French American, the German American or the Irish American. The people of France saw only Americans. And we carried one flag that represented one country. Not one of those immigrant sons would have thought about picking up another country's flag and waving it to represent who they were. It would have been a disgrace to their parents who had sacrificed so much to be here. These immigrants truly knew what it meant to be an American. They stirred the melting pot into one red, white and blue bowl.

And here we are with a new kind of immigrant who wants the same rights and privileges. Only they want to achieve it by playing with a different set of rules, one that includes the entitlement card and a guarantee of being faithful to their mother country. I'm sorry, that's not what being an American is all about. I believe that the immigrants who landed on Ellis Island in the early 1900's deserve better than that for all the toil, hard work and sacrifice in raising future generations to create a land that has become a beacon for those legally searching for a better life. I think they would be appalled that they are being used as an example by those waving foreign country flags.

And for that suggestion about taking down the Statue of Liberty, it happens to mean a lot to the citizens who are voting on the immigration bill. I wouldn't start talking about dismantling the United States just yet.
KEEP THIS LETTER MOVING. FOR THE WRONG THINGS TO PREVAIL, THE RIGHTFUL MAJORITY NEEDS TO REMAIN COMPLACENT AND QUIET. LET THIS NEVER HAPPEN!

I sincerely hope this letter gets read by millions of people all across the nation

Sunday, May 1, 2011

THIS IS WHY I CARRY A GUN (GUNS & AMMO VERSION)
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I am a newspaper columnist by trade, and host a daily radio talk show.


And once or twice a week, to get ideas and to clear my head, I take walks through the neighborhoods of the city where I work. Just an amble, to see what's going on and to visit with people. Over the years, it's been a great source of stories and personal enrichment.

And through it all I've never had trouble. I go to the worst parts of town, and talk to cops and crooks, and because I treat people with respect and kindness, they treat me the same way. Until last week. Last week, as I write this, something changed. And I'm not sure how I will react to that in the long run, but I know that I'm here to consider it because of my gun.

It was a beautiful day, bright and warm, and at 3:30 in the afternoon I had just passed an elementary school. There were low-income housing projects on both sides of the street -- a busy, city thoroughfare -- and scores of people were out happily enjoying the sun or visiting on their stoops. I was half watching a group of teen-agers playing basketball when I heard running footsteps approaching me from behind.

I turned and saw a young man strangely dressed in a winter coat and hat. He started to speak to me. I kept walking. He said several words, the only one of which I could understand was, "money." I looked puzzled and he repeated himself. Still not able to make out what he was mumbling I said, "I'm sorry, but I'm not understanding you. What did you say?"

He was clear this time: "Give me your money."
I kept walking, like I always do with panhandlers, and said I didn't have any money. He reached over and touched my pants pocket, seemingly feeling it for its contents, and repeated his request. I kept walking, and repeated my refusal.

"Hey, I'm going to stick you," he said. "I'm going to shoot you. Give me your money."

As he spoke he was pulling his hand from his coat. I braced and watched it, and saw it come out empty. And I kept on walking. We were surrounded by possibly hundreds of witnesses, it was broad daylight, the police cruise that street constantly, and this guy was reading like a chump to me. So I figured he was nothing more than a panhandler, and a rather unimaginative one at that. So I repeated my refusal and I kept walking.

And when he clubbed me I remember the only sensation I had was one of wonderment. Holy cow. So this is what that feels like. My glasses broke and flew and my head felt strange and separate. I wasn't really dazed, and I wasn't angry or afraid. I was mostly shocked that this guy wasn't leaving me alone. And that's all I wanted. To be left alone.

I don't know if there is an instinct for that, but I just somewhere deep felt like I wanted to walk down that sidewalk and right now something was happening to me that was very bad and was going to keep me from doing that.

That's what I realized later, as I stood in the circle of cops and started coming down.

But in the bewilderment of that split second after he pounded my head there were only two things. Simple things, unconscious things, urgent but not frantic. Get a good grip and bring the weapon between us.

My carry gun varies with my clothing. That day I had a .45 AMT Back Up in an Alessi inside-the-pants holster above my right hip. It is a small gun and the trigger pull is beastly and the kick is substantial and I realize all that now but then it just distilled into the primal need to get a good purchase on the gun.

And bring it up.

He was closing, lunging I think, and his arms were up. And I never quite looked at him directly but I stepped back and saw the ground between us and his body coming in and I knew I had to see the gun on his chest. Not the sights, and not aiming or even quite pointing, but on top of the two-dimensional image of his trunk I wanted to see my hands and the AMT.

I saw it about the same time he did. And in the instant before a third instinct would have sent a MagSafe at point blank range into his chest he stopped and turned and ran. And I was left there with a throbbing head and broken glasses and a new perspective.

And here's the point I want to make.

It wasn't like I imagined. It wasn't like in the Army, when we thought we were young fire-eaters. There was no anger, or hate, or macho. It was a passionless fight. Mechanical, automatic, unconscious. There is no swagger in this tale. I am not some kind of big man now. A conditioned response was stimulated, and if that stimulus had not been removed when it was, I would have killed a man. And I do not glory in that.
But because of that response, and because of that gun and my God-given right to defend myself, I got to live. And three hours after it happened I was walking my family down another street, going out for ice cream, talking to my kids and laughing.

And that, if you don't already know, is why I carry a gun.

- by Bob Lonsberry reprinted from Guns & Ammo magazine, copyright 1997. 
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