mnischalke

I woke up, groggily unzipped my tent fly to find the pelican six inches from my nose, staring at me. Unfortunately, during the night, the chickens just disappeared. You were one of the two Ohio guys who accompanied us to Chinese, right? mike Girls only want boyfriends who have great skills--You know, like nunchuk skills, bow-hunting skills, computer-hacking skills.

Excellent report, soldier! Are you gonna be out at O soon? I wanna dump down Brian G's helo video if you still got it. I never got a chance to have him dump it for me. There's really nothing better than hanging off the skids of a helicopter at 4500ft on the sunset, sunset, sunset load with three of your friends and looking cool too. hehehee! Shockers!!!!!!! mike Girls only want boyfriends who have great skills--You know, like nunchuk skills, bow-hunting skills, computer-hacking skills.

Ahhh, the crazy people from Orange...heheheee. Note to all: If you see us setting up camp, you might want to clear a wide berth if you'd like to sleep at night. Note to self: If I see the Colonel loading his pockets with fireworks, confiscate them early. mike Girls only want boyfriends who have great skills--You know, like nunchuk skills, bow-hunting skills, computer-hacking skills.

Ummmmm, well again, that's not why they said they were coming in the first place. They said they were coming to take a look at the serial number. No interview, no seizure of the firearm (it's a firearm, btw, not a weapon). If they wanted to ask questions, or borrow the rifle for a test, they should have said that up front. Instead they made it seem like an innocent visit. Lots of other Marylanders got the same visit. Some have their firearms back looking like they were used to pound nails. Others still have not seen them yet. This is my point--an abuse of power. Don't assume anything like that. I never inferred you were a Nazi. I don't know if you are a Special Agent in Charge or a mall security officer--you might just watch lots of Law and Order. It makes no difference, as I made the Nazi Germany historical reference in regards to the jack boot federal agents in this case, and it doesn't seem like they were the only ones. My disclaimer was made in reference to said agents or anybody like them. Sorry if you took it personally, it was not meant that way. I am speaking in reference to the way this "lawful detention" is used. You said they should have "cuffed him and took him back to the office under investigative detention. They could have been a lot more of a pain than he ever thought about being." This sounds like retaliation to me. That's not the way law enforcement is supposed to work in this country. I am sorry. If they have evidence, fine, they should use it and arrest him. If they want a sample round from the barrel of his rifle, fine, they should ask for it. If the cameras were rolling as they looked at the serial numbers, what's the harm? It's cool B-roll for whatever newsstation. But, the guy was justifiably worried they were lying, and they were gonna take his property, or worse. He just protected his interests. I think the damning part is the reaction of the agents. They flipped out when they knew they could do no more than what they said on the phone. With a little more composure, they could have checked the number, smiled for the camera, and left. An hour later when the cameras had left, they could have came back. "Ummmm, i think i left my badge in your bathroom. And, by the way, where were you October third..." mike Girls only want boyfriends who have great skills--You know, like nunchuk skills, bow-hunting skills, computer-hacking skills.

kmcguffee, I am very curious as to what law enforcement organization you belong. You have some very twisted ideas of law enforcement practice, and I really need to know where to steer clear of on my travels. You are talking about detaining someone without any proof that they are in any way connected. You have one thing: A record of someone owning a gun in an extremely popular caliber. That is not enough to haul someone in on. Period. If you can't convince a judge to issue a warrant based on your *evidence,* you ought not be arbitrarily hauling everyone in who sneezes funny. You will have lots of lawsuits on your hands. Its the other part of Amendment V of the United States Constitution. I have posted it to this thread. Please read it. Another very concerning point of your last post is what you called the person in this story. You called him an asshole. Hmmmm. He did nothing wrong. He committed no crime. He knew they were coming to take his rifle away to "fingerprint" it (which happened to 300+ other law-abiding citizens of the state of Maryland, many of whom have yet to see their property returned, even though that part of the investigation is complete). He prevented having his rifle seized by having witnesses, both live and on tape. I consider him not an asshole, but a man exercising his rights as an American citizen, as well as a human being. Please review history--especially the period between 1935-1942 in Nazi Germany--for other misuses of public power and remember that those who forget history are doomed to repeat it. Disclaimer--I am criticizing only those in the law enforcement community who feel they are either better or need to feel more powerful than the common citizens they are sworn to protect, just because they carry a chrome shield. mike Girls only want boyfriends who have great skills--You know, like nunchuk skills, bow-hunting skills, computer-hacking skills.

That poor som bitch. He was prolly minding his own. Just hanging with his homies, burnin a blunt and getting his grove on to some Dr. Dre pumping over a phat 10,000 watt system in that lowered Cherokee with the 24-inch gold wheels. Just cruising cross the desert, looking for some bitches. Then WHACK. They all dead. Poor som bitch. (pouring beer) mike Girls only want boyfriends who have great skills--You know, like nunchuk skills, bow-hunting skills, computer-hacking skills.

FBI Agents 'Miffed' that Gun Owner Contacted Media By Jeff Johnson CNSNews.com Congressional Bureau Chief November 05, 2002 Capitol Hill (CNSNews.com) - Prior to the capture of "Beltway Sniper" suspects John Allen Muhammad and John Lee Malvo, an unconfirmed number of Maryland gun owners received surprise visits from the FBI as part of the investigation. One such gun owner had a surprise of his own for the agents when they arrived at his home. Jeff Brown of Gaithersburg, Md., was "a little nervous" when he heard the voicemail message from an FBI agent on the sniper task force who wanted to "visit" Brown at his home to check a .223 caliber semi-automatic rifle Brown purchased in 1993. Adding to that apprehension was the fact that Brown owns and drives a full-sized white panel van, the type of vehicle investigators believed the sniper was driving. "I expected, actually, to be pulled over and spread-eagle on the street at some point," Brown told CNSNews.com Monday. "When he called, I knew their database had had a double hit. A white van and a .223 rifle? I knew they were coming." In a subsequent telephone conversation, Metzger reportedly told Brown that agents merely wanted to verify the serial number of the rifle and confirm that it was, in fact, still physically in Brown's possession. The two scheduled an appointment to accomplish those goals. But Brown later learned that the agents had tried at least once to make an unannounced visit, and only called because they were unable to catch him at home. "Once I told some of my friends in the pro-gun community what was happening, they began to relate some stories to me about guys having their guns confiscated, for so-called 'ballistic fingerprinting,' and not getting their guns back," Brown explained. "I became alarmed." Larry Pratt, executive director of Gun Owners of America, said the attitude of the federal agents comes as a result of "years of accepting gun control as somehow useful for solving crimes." "The [Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms] went to the stores and got the lists of gun owners that had something that could fire a .223. But, it didn't solve the crime," Pratt noted. "The only reason we find that gun registration is 'useful' is for confiscation." FBI Agents 'Were Not Happy' Brown's apprehension prompted him to contact an attorney, who instructed him on preparing for the visit. So, when FBI Special Agent Greg Metzger and his partner arrived at Brown's home for their scheduled meeting, they were greeted by Brown and his wife, Mary, along with reporters and photographers from various media outlets. As Brown described the situation, the agents were "a little bit miffed." "They were not happy," he observed. "They just were not interested in being around any cameras." The agents asked Brown to step outside the home, away from the television crew, to talk. "Can we, uh ... come here," one of the agents said to Brown. Obliging, Brown stepped away from the door to speak with the agents, but still within view of the camera. Brown began recapping the agreement he had made with Special Agent Metzger. But when one of the agents realized Brown was wearing a wireless microphone, he stopped the conversation short. "Do you have a microphone on?" the agent asked as he reached toward the microphone clipped to Brown's shirt. Brown backed away and continued talking, but the agent interrupted him again. "Can you do me a favor?" the agent asked. "Can you take the apparatus off that you have on? I'd like to speak to you privately." Brown complied, but only after summoning his wife to serve as a witness to the conversation with the agents. Out of the camera's view, and believing they could not be heard, the agents challenged Brown about the presence of the media. "They were belligerent, at that point, with me. They weren't threatening me or pushing me around or touching me or anything like that, but their mannerisms and attitude quickly became offended and belligerent," Brown recalled. "I was thinking to myself, 'See, this is what I was afraid would happen if you guys came into my house, especially if I was alone.'" 'Don't You Know People Are Dying?' Parts of the conversation picked up by the camera's long-range microphone confirm Brown's account of what happened next. "Why didn't you give us a chance to do what we said we were going to do instead of ambushing us with the media? Why didn't you trust us?" one agent asked. Brown said it was not so much the words the agents used, as their attitude and body language that made him uncomfortable. "There was some lecturing about it," he said recalling one comment that did unnerve him. "One thing they said was, 'Don't you know people are dying and we're just trying to do our job?'" Brown recalled, "Of course, the inference was that I didn't care that there were people dying and I was trying to interfere with them doing their job." During that conversation, the agents reportedly admitted that they had seized other rifles, allegedly with permission, to compare them to the ballistic evidence gathered from the crime scenes. "They said, from some people, they do 'request' to take the gun with them and do 'ballistic fingerprinting,' as they call it," Brown recalled. "I just did not want to have my gun disappear." Pratt believes the agents "developed an attitude," because Brown challenged their attempts to violate his constitutional rights. "The FBI is trying to put this guy on a guilt trip because he's 'not cooperating' with the system but it's a totally useless system," Pratt argued. "They just assume that gun owners [are] all a bunch of suspects just for being gun owners and they should behave accordingly." 'They Were Doing It On Purpose' At the request of Special Agent Metzger, Brown instructed the media to stay outside his home, where they could see what was happening through a plate glass window. Brown had the unloaded weapon displayed in plain sight for the inspection. The agents followed Brown and his wife inside and confirmed the serial number on the rifle as they had said they wanted to do. But that was not the end of the encounter. "After they checked, they started [questioning Brown again], and that's when my wife stepped in and told them to leave," Brown said, noting that his wife formerly worked in law enforcement. Mary Brown believed the agents were attempting to agitate her husband, hoping he would say or do something to justify their confiscation of his rifle. "I could tell that they were doing it on purpose and I didn't like what they were doing to you," she told her husband. "So, I decided to just jump right in." The agents left the couple's property, as they were ordered to do. Jeff Brown does not believe the agents' reaction to the presence of the media, or their "brow-beating" tactics were justified. "I'm not here to make them feel happy. I have to make sure my rights are not violated. I wanted to help, but this is not Nazi Germany," he explained. "I looked [Metzger] right in the eye and said ... 'I don't care whether you're upset about being ambushed by the media. I felt I needed some witnesses here with me.'" Brown, a member of the National Rifle Association and former candidate for public office in Maryland, was also upset by what he perceived as a lack of honesty on the part of the FBI. "[Metzger] wasn't upfront with me, and I didn't have any guilty feelings about [contacting the media]," Brown said. "They weren't truthful with me. They didn't tell me all the truth. They only told me the part they wanted to hear." A Message to Gun Owners? Debbie Weierman, a spokeswoman for the FBI, said the bureau would not respond to any questions about the encounter, because the probe into the multiple murders was still in progress. "We're not going to be able to get into any kind of a dialogue with you regarding any aspect of our investigation," she said. Pratt believes the response of the agents to the presence of the media shows that their main focus was not on finding the "Beltway Sniper," but rather on sending a message to gun owners. "They know it's not about crime control because, if they were really interested in finding the perpetrator they would have kept moving. Obviously this guy wasn't the guy," Pratt concluded. "What it's really all about is showing that the feds are in control in a very totalitarian sense of the word." mike Girls only want boyfriends who have great skills--You know, like nunchuk skills, bow-hunting skills, computer-hacking skills.

Thank you for your kind words Homer. Your shade of green suits you. Go easy mike Girls only want boyfriends who have great skills--You know, like nunchuk skills, bow-hunting skills, computer-hacking skills.

Semper Fidelis LEJEUNE'S MESSAGE On November 10, 1775, a Corps of Marines was created by a resolution of the Continental Congress. Since that date, many thousand men have borne the name Marine. In memory of them, it is fitting that we who are Marines should commemorate the Birthday of our Corps by calling to mind the glories of its long and illustrious history. The record of our Corps is one which will bear comparison with that of the most famous military organizations in the world's history. During 90 of the 146 years of it's existence the Marine Corps has been in action against the nations foes. From the battle of Trenton to the Argonne. Marines have won foremost honors in war, and in the long eras of tranquility at home. Generation after generation of Marines have grown gray in war in both hemispheres and in every corner of the seven seas that our country and its citizens might enjoy peace and security. In every battle and skirmish since the birth of our Corps Marines have acquitted themselves with the greatest distinction, winning new honors on each occasion until the term Marine has come to signify all that is highest in military efficiency and soldierly virtue. This high name of distinction and soldierly repute we who are Marines today have received from those who preceded us in the Corps. With it we also received from them the eternal spirit which has animated our Corps from generation to generation and has been the distinguishing mark of the Marines in every age. So long as that spirit continues to flourish Marines will be found equal to every emergency in the future as they have been in the past, and the men of our nation will regard us as worthy successors to the long line of illustrious men who have served as "Soldiers of the Sea" since the founding of the Corps. "The inspiring message of our 13th Commandant has left its mark in the hearts and minds of all Marines. By deed and act from Inchon to the Korean War armistice, in interventions from Lebanon to the Dominican Republic, and from the opening battles in Vietnam to the Mayaguez Rescue, Marines have continued to epitomize those qualities which are their legacy. The success which they have achieved in combat and the faith they have borne in peace will continue. The commandant and our many friends have added their hearty praise and congratulations on this our 227th birthday." Semper Fidelis and Happy Birthday my fellow Marines! mike Girls only want boyfriends who have great skills--You know, like nunchuk skills, bow-hunting skills, computer-hacking skills.

Noooooooo. I spent my time with the rest of Uncle Sam's Misguided Children. We don't really have to go hang out over there. I was talking about lens caps on binos, a scope or a camera. I have done all three. mike Girls only want boyfriends who have great skills--You know, like nunchuk skills, bow-hunting skills, computer-hacking skills.

I guess the really funny thing is that no matter what the circumstances of the photo, none of you have ever done this. Ummm. I have. I also ask if any of you perfect people have made a jump without turning on your Cypres because you forgot. mike Girls only want boyfriends who have great skills--You know, like nunchuk skills, bow-hunting skills, computer-hacking skills.

The UN? I really have had it with the UN. The UN has NO place in today's world. The UN was created for a reason, and that reason is now nullified. It has become the demure master with the Big Dog on a heavy chain. The UN likes to play their little holier than thou games as we (the US) fund them and fight their wars. But god forbid we want to go defend ourselves from the evils of this world. If we want a global nation, fine. Let's put it to a vote. I say disband the UN and let everybody think for themselves. It has outlived it's usefulness and has become the all-powerful wizard. peace, mike Girls only want boyfriends who have great skills--You know, like nunchuk skills, bow-hunting skills, computer-hacking skills.

Bwwwwwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahahahahhahahahhahahahahhahahahahha!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! God, I am tearing up, I am laughing so hard. You paid a comedian for that material, didn't you? If, for some strange reason, you weren't joking, get a plane ticket to Saudi Arabia and pay a visit. Just look around Riyadh. Ummm, I couldn't afford to drive a Bentley on a sand road, but they do! mike Girls only want boyfriends who have great skills--You know, like nunchuk skills, bow-hunting skills, computer-hacking skills.

I say we just bomb everybody until they stand up and sing the "Star Spangled Banner!" There are plenty of bombs to go around. Hell, I will even help make more if we start getting low. I do suggest using environmentally friendly bombs though. Maybe one that cleans up after itself. The wreckage of al-Harthi's jeep was ugly and will rust. Maybe better environmental bombs will be able to disintegrate steel and bones completely, and if done right, like good Chinese fireworks, it will happen in stages. Maybe the last stage would be the sprinkling of the seeds of flowering plants and shrubbery. If you think about it, we could be doing a lot of good here, rather than just acting like judge, jury and executioner, we could just randomly kill people, therefore reducing the bulging population (capacity strain) of the world while growing more beautiful plantlife. Hmmm, maybe fruitbearing plants too... mike Girls only want boyfriends who have great skills--You know, like nunchuk skills, bow-hunting skills, computer-hacking skills.

Unfortunately, Bill, Kennedy is right here. Under mandatory registration, felons would be exempt due to Amendment V. This was a Supreme Court ruling, although I cannot lay my hands on it right now. "No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put into jeopardy of life or limb, nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use without just compensation." mike Girls only want boyfriends who have great skills--You know, like nunchuk skills, bow-hunting skills, computer-hacking skills.

So, wait, this wasn't even a SPIE line? just a bunch of ropes tied together and a makeshift harness? You were young and indestructable!!!!!!! mike Girls only want boyfriends who have great skills--You know, like nunchuk skills, bow-hunting skills, computer-hacking skills.

Holy shit! The vest started coming loose???? (damn man tits) Seriously, if memory serves me, you had saftety lines but those are attachted to the vest. If you come out of the harness, your are done. mike Girls only want boyfriends who have great skills--You know, like nunchuk skills, bow-hunting skills, computer-hacking skills.

I am totally cool in glass elevators except when they get to the top floor and there is something above my head. I can't explain it, but vertigo kicks in when I am up high and there is something stretching out over my head. I think it's that focus thing. mike Girls only want boyfriends who have great skills--You know, like nunchuk skills, bow-hunting skills, computer-hacking skills.

Ahhhhhh, the memories... Fast roping and SPIE rigging. I wonder why heights never factored in there either... Thanks Clay! My day somehow seems less meaningless. mike Girls only want boyfriends who have great skills--You know, like nunchuk skills, bow-hunting skills, computer-hacking skills.

I think you are totally right. 10,000+ ft. is surreal to the mind and actually removes the height element. It's like looking down on a map or a photo. At 800' with a base rig on my back, I still get the weak knees and terrible tumblys in the belly. I think it's because you can relate to your toes hanging off the object. You can see the object, whereas, under canopy at 800', there's nothing to fall off of. Your toes are dangling. If you want to get that fear of heights back, put your hands on your handles at 800' and start to pulllllllllll... mike Girls only want boyfriends who have great skills--You know, like nunchuk skills, bow-hunting skills, computer-hacking skills.

HOT off the press: CRIME UP SLIGHTLY IN 2001 REPORTS FBI . . . Final data from the FBI’s annual Uniform Crime Reporting Program confirm that, after a decade of decreasing crime, the Nation’s Crime Index rose by 2.1 percent in 2001 from the previous year. Crime Index offenses include murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, larceny-theft, and motor vehicle theft. Crime rose in all categories except aggravated assault, which declined 0.5 percent. Murder was up 2.5 percent. Forcible rape increased 0.3 percent. Robbery rose 3.7 percent. Larceny-theft was up 1.5 percent, and motor vehicle theft rose 5.7 percent. The 1.4 million reported violent crimes in 2001 represent an increase of 0.8 percent from 2000. Personal weapons, such as hands, fists, and feet were used in 31.1 percent of violent crimes. Firearms were involved in 26.2 percent. Knives and other cutting instruments in 14.9 percent, and other “dangerous weapons” were used in 27.8 percent. The FBI report notes, however, that in looking at five and ten year trends, the nation’s crime was down 10.2 percent from 1997, and down 17.9 percent from 1992. To hear some folks talk, one might think guns are used in a lot more than a quarter of all violent crimes. peace, mike mike Girls only want boyfriends who have great skills--You know, like nunchuk skills, bow-hunting skills, computer-hacking skills.

Wow! We agree on something. I am writing my Congressman and my Senator right now and asking them to mandate crystal ball research. Then, every gun seller can have an accurate look into the future of each person who wants to buy a gun. All problems solved! Justin, I wish humanity were more humane, but it's not. Ya just never know when a man is going to assault his estranged wife at her new house, or when a mom is going to run her car full of kids into a lake, or when a priest is going to rape an altar boy, or when a minister is going to seduce your wife during counseling, or when a doctor is going to sexually molest your 8-year-old daughter while she's sedated, or when a former United States Army soldier is going to start killing random people. The world is a big shit sandwich and we all gotta take a bite every time we walk out the door, turn on the news, pick up the phone or log onto the internet. Murders are going to happen. This country was dubbed the melting pot a loooong time ago. It is a culture of vastly different cultures slammed together trying to get through life. To compare our wonderful nation to others is apples and oranges. We are certainly the most successful nation as a whole on Earth. Even within this nation, some folks end up at the bottom and feel there is no better way to make an impact than to violently act. With our Sweeps Week--Every Week media, the bigger the crime, the larger the criminal's success and so, if I crave to make an impact on this world, but cannot do it the normal ways, I need to make my statement through violence. And, no violence is more eaten up by the greedy media (don't discount the fact that they know we are terribly voyeristic when it comes to gruesome tragedies of others) than a good murder spree. Truth be told, there would be no firearms accidents and maybe even fewer murders if everyone in this country was trained in the proper use and handling of firearms. Guns are a part of our world--we need to embrace them rather than mystify them. Children should be taught by their parents and teachers the dangers of a mishandled firearm. The NRA's Eddie Eagle program does just that for children (16 million to date) under the age of being able to actually grasp the safe handling of firearms. Does the Brady Campaign, VPC, et al. have such programs? Nope. Trust me, I would much rather have my 10-year-old striving to hit the X-ring of a target than blasting digital "bad guys" on the Playstation. I think i was about 8 when I had my first .22 rifle and about 10 when I was allowed to carry the .22 pistol around the farm I grew up on. Ya know, I got in more trouble riding my dirtbike on the road and running from the cops at 12 than I ever even dreamed of doing with a firearm. It just comes down to respect for both the power of a firearm as well as for you fellow man. I respect your opinion, but I beg to differ and will agree to disagree. I do hope that my posts and the many others in this thread helped you and others understand why ballistic *fingerprinting* just cannot work, especially with more than 250 million guns already in the hands of the people of this country. Also know that if for some strange reason, guns ever do become banned, I am moving to Texas, because that is one state sure to secede from the union and my rights will be restored! Bed time, gotta catch a Super Otter in the morning. Peace, mike Girls only want boyfriends who have great skills--You know, like nunchuk skills, bow-hunting skills, computer-hacking skills.

Well, I am silly, but it's still a CDC statistic for children under 10. mike Girls only want boyfriends who have great skills--You know, like nunchuk skills, bow-hunting skills, computer-hacking skills.

Nope, those who it makes look silly are those who say that just hundreds of little kids are accidentally dying from gunshots. Would you be included in that group? This is a fact: Buckets are more dangerous than guns for that age group. Period! Get off your high horse and campaign for something that matters more. mike Girls only want boyfriends who have great skills--You know, like nunchuk skills, bow-hunting skills, computer-hacking skills.

Huh? generally stolen firearms aren't involved in accidental shootings. They are used in the commission of a crime, generally. As for statistics, I would like to reiterate that twice as many children under 10 die from drowning in 5 gallon buckets than are accidentally killed from a gunshot--CDC figures. If you really want to read more about the gun debate and Amendment II, I suggest: More Guns, Less Crime By Prof. John Lott Gun Control -- a written record of efforts to eliminate the private possession of firearms in America by Robert J. Kukla Gun Control and the Constitution -- Sources and Explorations on the Second Amendment edited by Robert Cottrol The Great American Gun Debate by Don B. Kates, Jr. and Prof. Gary Kleck. Origins and Development of the Second Amendment by David T. Hardy mike Girls only want boyfriends who have great skills--You know, like nunchuk skills, bow-hunting skills, computer-hacking skills.