Bullheaded Texan's "Open Thread"

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Comment by Bullheaded Texan on May 2, 2018 at 4:52pm

This afternoon, it will be my privilege to travel to Calexico to see the 30-foot high wall that’s being built there. I’m told the crews are working around the clock to finish this new wall, installing as many as 50 new panels every single day. And I look forward to seeing the progress firsthand.
With President Trump in the White House, I know you all know you have a leader who not only is listening to each and every one of you, and standing with each and every one of you, but he’s also standing on the conviction that walls work. And we will prove it when we complete this section again.
But let’s be clear — as we think about the hardship of those families gathered at our border in the so-called caravan, this wall is not only necessary to support you men and women who are on the frontlines of our homeland security, but it’s also a physical manifestation of the determination of the American people to protect our borders and protect our sovereignty. And we will complete it.

Comment by Bullheaded Texan on May 2, 2018 at 4:51pm

But as we all know — and you better than me — it’s not just about building the wall. The truth is our immigration laws today are ineffective, and they invite inhumane results. As the President said earlier today in the Oval Office, we call on the Congress to close deadly immigration loopholes that are exploited by terrorists, traffickers, and criminals. And we do so again today.
Whether it be the catch-and-release program or asylum policies that don’t require people to stay in the first safe country in which they arrive, we’re calling on Congress to work with us to bring about change. And it’s change that recognizes the hardship that is placed not just on the American people, but by those who by virtue of these lax immigration laws are emboldened to make a long and dangerous journey to come to the American border. The truth is these laws create an incentive for vulnerable families, and those who would exploit them, to make that long journey up the peninsula.
But let me make you a promise: Under this President, this administration, we will not rest until Congress passes legislation that will modernize our immigration laws and remove the message and the incentive of people to the south to try to enter our country by any means!
That means cracking down on catch-and-release. It means ending chain migration and the visa lottery. It means cracking down on sanctuary cities and closing those dangerous loopholes.
And it also means fully funding that border wall system so that all of you have the resources that you need to protect our families and go home safe to yours.
The President and I both know the challenges you face every day are enormous. Every day, our Border Patrol agents apprehend more than 1,100 people illegally entering our country.
And here in the Imperial Valley, in the last fiscal year alone, you apprehended more than 18,000 illegal aliens. Many of them come from all over the world to exploit the gaps in our southwest border.
Weak and unprotected borders also provide easy access for violent criminal organizations and drug cartels trying to infiltrate our country and threaten our families and our communities.
Every single day, across all of America’s borders and ports of entry, the Department of Homeland Security, I’m also told, refuses entry to seven individuals who are known or suspected to be connected with terrorist organizations.
And the dangers are only growing!

Comment by Bullheaded Texan on May 2, 2018 at 4:51pm

(2)
In Fiscal Year 2017, attacks on our Border Patrol agents actually increased by 73%. And this very sector has the highest number of assaults on agents anywhere on our southern border!
Last year alone, across the Imperial Valley, El Centro agents seized 3.8 tons of illicit drugs in the midst of that rising violence against them.
But let me say, the assaults on our Border Patrol agents must end! The assaults and the violence on our agents will end.
The American people know each and every one of you, the frontline officers and agents who secure our borders, are heroes. You deserve the support of the nation!
I’m pleased that, last year, President Trump signed into the law the largest increase in border security in nearly 10 years, investing new resources in detention facilities, new technology, and more.
And under our administration, thanks to the President’s leadership and the courage of all of you gathered here and all you represent, I’m pleased to report that illegal crossings at our southern border have fallen by more than 40% in the past 12 months. Job well done, men and women!
But we’re just getting started; I can assure you of that. And we’re going to keep the pressure on leaders in both parties in the Congress to do their job. And we’re going to take every step necessary to protect our border.
A few weeks ago, as you all are aware, President Trump sent National Guard units to provide vital assistance to those of you on the frontlines of border security in the air and on the ground that our Border Patrol agents will have the support that you need to focus on the immediate job at hand. To date, we’re pleased that nearly 1,000 Guardsmen have deployed across Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona, and more are on the way.
In the days ahead, we’re informed that upwards to 250 Guardsmen will be deployed across Southern Mexifornia to help secure the border, improve operational readiness, and strengthen your ability to respond to security threats across the Imperial Valley.
On behalf of the President, I want to thank the governors who have stepped forward to be full partners with our administration to secure our border and give our frontline officers the resources and support you need and deserve. They’re putting America first, and we are grateful for these Guardsmen and their leaderships and their states for partnering with us in our national and homeland security.
And lastly, we’re grateful to all of you. Our southern border is nearly 2,000 miles long.
And here in El Centro Sector, you’re responsible for securing 71 miles stretching from Jacumba Mountains in the west to the Imperial Sand Dunes in the east.
The vast territory you patrol is 940 square miles; it includes mountains and valleys, deserts, and farmland, the All-American Canal, and the New River.
As a sign of the strong partnerships along our borders, the seamless integration of neighboring Border Patrol sectors, I’m pleased to report that we’re joined today by Border agents from Yuma Sector, who patrol an additional 126 miles of border. To the Yuma Sector team, thank you for being with us today to demonstrate the strong, strong partnership between sectors.

Comment by Bullheaded Texan on May 2, 2018 at 4:47pm

2)
Now, we all recognize you all, and our friends in the Yuma Sector, you supervise some of the toughest terrain in the country.
But looking out at all of you, I know that tough terrain is only matched by the toughness of the men and women that I’m looking at today.
The truth is America is safer and more secure because of all of you, because of the sacrifices that and your families make every day when you put on the uniform and you head to your assigned duties along our border.
You are, in every sense, the men and women who stand on that rampart and protect the sovereignty of our nation. And you have our thanks.
America is safer and more secure because of your courage and your dedication. And President Trump, and every American family, is grateful for your service.
As we continue to fight every day for an immigration system that puts America first, just know this: We will always stand with the men and women who stand on the front lines to protect the homeland. You’ve answered the call to service. We’ll answer the call to stand with you. I promise you that.
In the very words of Homeland Security’s Mission Statement, each and every one of you serve with honor and integrity to “safeguard the American people, our homeland, and our values.”
And I promise you the American people are proud of you and grateful for you every day.
So let me just ask God’s blessings on each one of you, as you serve, that He might watch over you and protect you as you stand, too often, in harm’s way to protect this great nation.
And let me make you a promise: With your continued courage and commitment, and that of your families, with President Donald Trump in the White House, with the strong support of the American people, and with God’s help, I know we will secure this border!
I know we will stand with our sovereignty. We will make America safe again. And we’ll have all of you to thank.
So thank you for your service to the United States of America. God bless and protect each and every one of you. And may God bless the United States of America. It’s an honor to be here with you."

Comment by Bullheaded Texan on May 2, 2018 at 3:52pm

Why Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel Is No Leader!
4:00 pm Apr/27/18 by John Dempsey
Law enforcement chiefs and sheriffs must have the confidence of their officers. The community they are in charge of protecting deserves to have a leader they trust, as well. Just yesterday, the Broward’s Sheriff’s Office Deputies Association held a symbolic vote about Sheriff Scott Israel’s leadership.
As Tom noted earlier today, of the 628 officers in the union, 534 said they have no confidence in Israel. The high number of officers that voted against Israel is alarming. And it’s likely that those who voted in favor of Israel are command staff that worries about termination.
It is safe to say this was brewing before the incident in Parkland, Florida.
The Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Shooting is simply the event that exposed Israel for his poor leadership.
Israel is continuing to deflect issues away from himself. When asked about the vote of no confidence, he turned to money. Israel claimed the union president was attempting to extort a 6.5% pay increase for deputies.
In response to the vote, Israel claimed that Bell was trying to “use the Parkland tragedy as a bargaining tactic to extort a 6.5 percent raise.”
We all know this vote was about Israel’s competency as sheriff, not money.
Seventeen innocent people were murdered, and he’s trying to make it about pay.
Real law enforcement leaders don’t do that.
Actual law enforcement leaders take responsibility. They understand no man is perfect, including themselves.
They are capable of humbling themselves and admitting shortcomings.
Israel’s diversions from the failure of Resource Officer Peterson, attacks on Dana Loesch, and bad-mouthing of the NRA are just a few public signs of what the deputies of Broward County have had to endure under his command.
The leader of a law enforcement agency needs several qualities; they need to be respected, honest, approachable, and a servant.
Some of the best leaders serve those who work for them. They are selfless and look out for the well-being of their men. It’s clear Israel has only been looking out for himself.
Anytime the Sheriff is faced with a fact or question he deflects it away from his failures. Israel may not like it that his policies ultimately failed 17 children, but that is something he must accept.
The Broward County Sheriff’s Office responded to the Parkland shooter’s home 39 times, but he was never arrested. I find it hard to believe authorities did not have enough probable cause to respond to one particular residence that many times with no crimes committed.
Sadly, school shootings happen in this country. It would be interesting to know how much active shooter training Israel required his deputies to complete on an annual basis.
It is Israel’s responsibility to ensure his command administration has the right people in place to protect the community should someone go rouge.
The vote against Israel may be symbolic, but it exposes a significant problem in the Broward County Sheriff’s office.
The next step is to take the results to the Florida governor, Rick Scott, and ask for him to have the sheriff step down.
Leading is more than attacking those you don’t agree with politically. Israel has repeatedly boasted about his “amazing leadership” in the wake of the Parkland shooting. But as Harold S. Geneen once told us, “leadership is practiced not so much in words as in attitude and in actions.”

Comment by Bullheaded Texan on May 2, 2018 at 3:43pm

Colorado Senate Approves Constitutional Carry.
12:00 pm Mar/16/18 by Tom Knighton
For many people, having to apply for a permit just to exercise your constitutionally protected right to carry a firearm is ridiculous. They may do it, but they think it’s ridiculous. I tend to agree, but the law is the law and getting all of our rights back takes time. That includes constitutional carry.
For folks in Colorado, they’re one step closer to that happy moment.
The Colorado Senate has passed SB 18-097, which calls for allowing the carrying of a concealed handgun without a permit.
The bill would allow anyone 21-years of age or older who is allowed to carry a handgun legally to do so in a concealed manner.
The sponsors of the bill reinforced current laws which prevent the carrying of a weapon in schools and universities within the bill language.
If passed by the House and signed by Governor Hickenlooper, as currently written, would go into effect immediately with the Governor’s signature.
Unfortunately, Hickenlooper is a Democrat, and it’s not like he has a great track record when it comes to guns.
He previously signed bills that limit magazine capacity and universal background checks.
Without some serious political pressure, it’s not likely that he’ll sign any such bill.
Not that it matters. The Colorado House has a Democratic majority, which means the bill would need support from at least some House Democrats to make it to the governor’s desk.
Assuming every Republican votes for it, at least a few Democrats would need to cross the aisle. Not impossible, mind you, but unlikely.
Still, it’s a positive development for people in Colorado. Careful politicking could make it happen, and, at worst, it reminds the people of Colorado just how certain members of the House – and their governor – feel about them. In particular, not trusting them with firearms.
Colorado may be leaning Democrat, but it only went for killary by a few points in 2016. Enough pressure could very well force the state to swing toward a more sane firearm policy, if nothing else.
People just need to understand that all constitutional carry does is remove a burden from the law-abiding. The criminals are going to carry guns regardless of what the law says. We’ve seen that thousands of times at this point. They don’t care what the law says about it; they’re going to do it anyway.
So the laws only affect the lawful citizen, and that’s a problem. By removing the requirement that people have permits to concealed carry – they’ve already been able to open carry – you allow the private citizen to carry as he or she sees fit.
It has no bearing on the criminal population of Colorado and never will. It doesn’t allow convicted felons to carry since they can’t legally own a gun anyway. It doesn’t allow people to carry a gun if they’re committing a crime since that’s already illegal, as well.
Instead, it lets Joe and Jane Citizen who just got a death threat from someone they know strap on a firearm for their protection.
It allows the single mom who found out she has to go to a sketchy neighborhood slip a pistol into her purse.
It removes the barrier that might otherwise put these people’s lives at risk.
That’s all, and it needs to pass.

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Comment by Bullheaded Texan on May 2, 2018 at 3:37pm

Texas Woman Uses Gun To Keep Shovel-Wielding Intruder At Bay.
2:00 pm May/2/18 by Tom Knighton
A man with a shovel threatening you is a pretty scary thing for most people. Especially so for a woman, considering the muscle mass difference between the average man and the average woman. It’s often enough that a man could kill a woman with his bare hands. Give him a shovel to use as a weapon, and it’s even worse.
Unless you’re the kind of Texan woman who understands that firearms are the great equalizers.
Laura Williams says she grabbed her pistol and held an intruder at bay while her teenage daughter called 911 after the man kicked in the front door of her home on U.S. Highway 84 just outside of Mexia and charged her with a shovel.
“I aimed it at him and said if you take one more step I’ll kill you!,” she said Friday.
The man ran, but Limestone County deputies later arrested him.
Allen Tompkins, 47, was charged with burglary of a habitation, but additional charges are possible.
He’s held in the Limestone County Jail in lieu of $20,000 bond.
The incident happened Tuesday and Williams’ daughter, Hannah, 17, hasn’t been quite the same since.
“I felt really scared and my adrenaline was pumping so I don’t really remember a lot of it, but I’m not sleeping well at all.”
Laura Williams was awakened Tuesday morning by a ringing doorbell.
“I went to the door and opened it and there was an older man standing at my front door with a shovel and he asked for a lady’s name and I said ‘there’s no one here by that name I’m sorry, you’re at the wrong house, she doesn’t live here,’” Williams said.
However, the man didn’t leave. Williams observed him outside with the shovel, so she got her daughter and her dogs and headed to her bedroom, where the family keeps their guns.
That’s when Tompkins allegedly began kicking the door down. She grabbed a revolver and headed out of the bedroom while her daughter dialed 9-1-1.
There, Williams reportedly met Tompkins who had a shovel on his shoulder and was heading straight for them.
In the match of shovel vs. revolver, guess who wins.
Let’s be clear here, there’s no reason to believe that Tompkins intended to do anything but hurt Williams and her daughter. No reason at all.
He already knew she was home because he’d made contact, yet he still kicked the door in. Anyone who does that means to hurt whoever is in the house.
Williams was fortunate that she had a gun and was able to get to it quickly. If not, we might have been reading a far, far different story, one no one would really want to read.
Folks, guns save lives!
The anti-gunners would love to tell you otherwise, but time and time again, we see that they do.
Even the CDC found that there are roughly 2.5 million defensive gun uses each year.
But for Williams, the statistics are meaningless, I’m sure. She had a gun when she needed it. That’s all that really matters.

Comment by Bullheaded Texan on May 2, 2018 at 3:15pm

Georgia Gubernatorial Candidate Backtracks On Opposition To Constitutional Carry.
May/2/18 News x
Lt. Governor Casey Cagle probably realized he didn’t say the best thing possible to cement his lead in the Georgia GOP gubernatorial primary. You see, Georgia is a very pro-gun state. We had a lot of gun control at one time–holdovers from a more racist era, truth be told–but we’ve been fighting to repeal those last vestiges of Jim Crow. It’s something near and dear to the hearts of many Georgians.
In other words, if you want to be governor, you probably need to oppose gun control.
However, Cagle mentioned during an interview about his opposition to constitutional carry. That was…not smart. Cagle has been involved in Georgia politics long enough that he should know better.
Still, it seems he has at least learned the error of his ways.
Days after Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle told a news station he opposed a “constitutional carry” law, his campaign sent out a lengthy statement to supporters that he supports the law that would let gun owners conceal and carry handguns without a permit.
The Republican’s campaign won’t say he misspoke when he told 11Alive’s Doug Richards that he was against the policy. Instead, it said it wants to clarify “inaccurate information” on social media about his stance.
In a lengthy statement issued by his campaign manager, Cagle said he backs constitutional carry but wants an “effective process” to prevent convicted felons, people in the country illegally and mentally ill gun owners from carrying weapons.
He also wants to keep an optional permit in place for people who want to travel out of state with their weapons.
Cagle and his rivals for the GOP nomination for governor have feuded for months over their pro-gun chops, but the heat is intensifying as the May 22 primary approaches. The latest AJC poll shows Cagle has a commanding lead over his rivals and a tight race for the second spot in a likely July runoff.
Now, let’s take a good look at what Cagle specifically said in that interview.
“Georgia is in a very good position where our gun laws stand today,” Cagle said, adding he knows of no areas where gun rights need to be expanded in the state.
That doesn’t sound like a misspoken position. That sounds like a politician who thought guns were a non-issue in the state and found out that he was wrong.
For Georgia voters, that leaves two possibilities: one, you can trust that Cagle will support the Second Amendment as governor, which is what the NRA is banking on since they’ve endorsed Cagle, or you can pick another candidate who you feel makes your right to keep and bear arms a priority. I’m not sure anyone has impressed me enough on that score. Not yet, anyway.
As for Cagle, I’m sure he’ll make sure not to “misspeak” in any further interviews on gun rights. It’s potentially very costly to a candidate in the GOP primary to oppose any expansion of our Second Amendment rights.

Comment by Bullheaded Texan on May 2, 2018 at 2:53pm

Trump Reignites Feud With Colin Kaepernick.
Source: TMZ
Donald Trump says Colin Kaepernick would have been A LOT better off if he would have just "honored" the American flag and stood for the national anthem.
Trump didn't mention Kaep by name during his rally in Michigan on Friday -- but it's obvious he was talking about the QB, who remains unemployed.
"We defend our flag and we honor our flag!," Trump said ... "and if others honored our flag, they'd be a lot better off wouldn't they?"

Comment by Bullheaded Texan on May 2, 2018 at 2:44pm

Where Will We Put Them? 400 ISIS Fighters Captured!
'Not Simple' to Find Place to Put 400 ISIS Captured Foreign Fighters, Mattis Says.
May/1/18 By Bridget Johnson
ARLINGTON, Va. -- "North of 400" foreign fighters are currently in limbo as the Trump administration weighs whether or not to send ISIS members captured on the battlefield to Guantanamo Bay and the State Department negotiates with the jihadists' home countries.
Today was the deadline for Defense Secretary James Mattis to deliver a review of Gitmo operations and proposals for its future to President Trump, per a January executive order.
At the Pentagon today, Mattis told reporters that he'd "not seen anything come in to me today" on the issue, "and usually we try to answer things in advance, so that on the day it's well resolved -- a couple days before we know where it's at."
"So right now I'm not working that issue. I'm not sure why. I'll go back and look at it," he added.
Mattis said the number of foreign fighters being tracked right now is "well over 400."
"They're not in our custody... don't use that number as if it's carved in stone, OK? I just know it's north of 400 foreign-held fighters, foreign fighters who are held there by the Syrian Democratic Forces," he said.
"And those folks there, we have been engaging with their home countries -- 'home' being the country they were a citizen of when they left to go fight.
Now, in some cases, those countries have stripped them of their citizenship, so they have a different view as far as what their status is today. So this is not simple."
Mattis said those repatriation talks are "being worked principally, of course, by State Department, and we're giving all the support that we can -- but so far they're all still in SDF custody at this date."
Mattis defended the need for a continued presence in Syria, noting "our forces are in Syria to fight under the authorization of the use of military force against al-Qaeda and associated elements, and we all know that al-Qaeda in Iraq morphed into ISIS and so it is directly under that authority and that authority alone that we are conducting Train, Advise Assist missions with the SDF."
"That said, almost every nation in the region that is concerned with what Iran is doing. And what we don't want to do, now that we are on the cusp of winning on the battlefield, in terms of taking down the physical caliphate, the geographic caliphate, we do not want to simply pull out before the diplomats have won the peace," he said. "So you win the fight and then you win the peace. And so we're going to be working again -- I'm meeting with special UN envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura this afternoon and see where the Geneva process is and what we can do to assist. And obviously it's mostly a diplomatic effort in Geneva, but it has a military element, which says we don't allow the ISIS to come back in the midst of all this."

ARLINGTON, Va. — “North of 400” foreign fighters are currently in limbo as the Trump administration weighs whether or not to send ISIS members captured on the battlefield to Guantanamo Bay and the State Department negotiates with the jihadists’ home countries.

Today was the deadline for Defense Secretary James Mattis to deliver a review of Gitmo operations and proposals for its future to President Trump, per a January executive order.

At the Pentagon today, Mattis told reporters that he’d “not seen anything come in to me today” on the issue, “and usually we try to answer things in advance, so that on the day it’s well resolved — a couple days before we know where it’s at.”

“So right now I’m not working that issue. I’m not sure why. I’ll go back and look at it,” he added.

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