School Security vs Half Hearted Measures

I feel sorry for those who have written to inform me that I should have understanding for Adam Lanza and those of his ilk. I feel sorry for all of you who have written saying that I should be more understanding for those in America who hate us enough to kill our children.

I'm not sorry for hating Adam Lanza who killed those children in Newtown Connecticut, but he's not alone.

I absolutely hate James Eagan Holmes who walked into that movie theater in Aurora, Colorado, with evil in mind. They are the same person.

They have no known criminal record prior to the shootings. They watch a lot of violent movies and play a lot of violent video games, and they both have absolutely no regard or respect for the lives of others.

They are no different than a radical Muslim terrorist like Major Nidal Hasan in Fort Hood. They are no different than those who hijacked planes on 9-11. And yes, they are no different then others who vehemently hate so much that they want to destroy the innocent.

I hate people like Adma Lanza, Holmes and people like Nadal Hasan, who want to kill our children and attack the innocent.Yes I really do hate people who hurt or harm the innocent - especially children.

I fell the intensity of emotion, the same hateful conviction, but unlike Lanza and his ilk, I know that evil is evil.
And yes, most of us might hate people like Lanza vehemently. But what we hate is evil, and would not do harm to good people.

So Are Guns The Enemy?

Most of us know that we should recognize the enemy for who they are.

The enemy is not the citizen who follows the rules and leads a good and honorable life. The enemy is not the man or woman who drives a car and takes their kids to school, or those who goes to church and pray. The enemy is not those who have guns to protect their families. The enemy is not a knife or a car, or any other useful piece of equipment that we also use for a multitude of well intentioned reasons.

The enemy is the selfish, the self-absorbed, the one who hates for no reason, the one who wants the innocent harmed, the one who wants to curtail our liberties, and yes - the enemy may also be the one who shifts the focus away from the true problem and over to something that fits their personal or political agenda.

Yes, while I hate Adam Lanza for killing those children, I also hate those who refuse to face the real problem, to recognize the real issue of securing our children. I hate those who will wash their hands of responsibility when Americans get hurt or killed because of their inaction.

And no, that is not my way of talking about not sending in my fellow Marines into Benghazi Libya to save those you were later killed - even though Marines were only an hour away and could have been there to do what Marines do best. Kick ass and protect others.

But then thinking about it, there is one huge similarity between what happened in Benghazi Libya and Newtown. You see, I can't help but wonder if our embassies around the world have beefed up their security since the murders that took place in Benghazi? Something that has not been done at our schools around the country.

I worked in Security for years and saw clients try to cut corners to appease insurance companies and bosses who wanted the issue looked at. I know how it is to have a problem with security, and watch people do nothing about it. And yes I've seen people who want to do the minimum to achieve the maximum protection.

People have a tendency to want the easy quick fix even to a complicated problem. And yes, just as what took place in Benghazi Libya which was a wake up call for more security at other embassies, the school shooting in Newtown Connecticut should be a wake up call.

It should be a call to get people off their ass and really do something about possible violent acts against school kids.

Do we need to move all of our children to abandoned prisons where tall fences topped with concertina wire and guard towers surround the facility? Can we protect our children, once "we get them in"? Do we want our children to go to school behind prison walls, or be made to feel like "protected prisoners"?

Should we now stress the construction of vehicle and personnel "sally ports" for visitors who come to a school?  For those who don't know what a "sally port" is, allow me to explain.

A "sally port" is a secure, controlled entryway, as that which you would enter in fortification or a prison. A guard in a protected location, today usually physically remote from the actual sally port, will have control over the middle space between the two doors. One door closes before the other will open.

The operation of the doors of the sally port, and the movement of all persons, materials and/or vehicles through the sally port, is what provides security.

This sally port guard will have the means to check the personnel, or their escorts, and/or the credentials of all those persons, materials and vehicles to be passed into the protected space through the first opened door, prior to its opening. He will then monitor the sally transit to ensure that procedures are followed before entrance can be obtained.

Sally ports are used to restrict the flow of people to one at a time so that intruders cannot pass into the classified or secure area on a cleared person's coattails.
If we assume that a fortification is needed, then can we depend on that fortification to work without security professionals to secure it? No, we can't.

Building fenced in facilities with concertina wire, guard towers, sensors, and sally ports for both vehicle and personnel entry, at all of our schools is pretty unrealistic.

So What Can We Do?

Well, how about hiring trained armed professionals to have on site in case of emergencies? What is wrong with having a "policeman or woman" on site? Why can't school districts pony up the money and pay for either armed security professionals or on site police officers from their local Police Department?

And no, I'm not talking about some under-trained armed security guard like the ones who stood by and watched as a person was assaulted in Seattle.

If you remember, in February of 2010, five security cameras underneath downtown Seattle picked up the graphic beating of a 15 year old teenage girl in Seattle's Metro bus tunnel while uniformed Seattle Metro security guards simply looked on and did nothing to help.

No, I'm talking about on site members of the local Police Department or armed security "professionals." I'm talking about having trained personnel on site who know how to use deadly force to stop an armed intruder like Adam Lanza.

National Rifle Association, vice president Wayne LaPierre has called for armed guards in schools, saying that plan is the fastest way to prevent another massacre like the massacre this month at a Connecticut elementary school.

“That’s the one thing we can do immediately that can make our children more safe,” he said on NBC News’ “Meet the Press.” We’ve got to get at the real cause.”

LaPierre, the gun rights advocacy group’s chief executive officer, made his original call for armed officers in every school a week after killer Adam Lanza mercilessly murdered 26 people, include 20 first-graders, inside the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown Connecticut.

Adam Lanza,supposedly had an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle and two handguns that he had taken from his mother, Nancy Lanza, who was the legal owner of the guns and Lanza's first victim.

We know for certain that the two handguns were found in the school building. But yes, there seems to be some confusion about whether or not Lanza had the AR-15 in the school. But why?

First reports from the authorities there said that upon a search of Lanza's car - that that is where they found the AR-15 rifle. But since then, there have been all sorts of claims about the whether he had the rifle or not.

Since the talk about increasing School Security has been shifted away from the prime issue of ensuring the security of our children, and instead is now being focused on Gun Control measures, I can't help but wonder what Democrats will do if they get another ban and another school shooting takes place?

Address The Problem!

Why not look at the problem for what it really is, our schools need better security. And yes, why not tackle the problem of securing our schools right now?

Democrats and some Republican politicians are openly considering new gun-control regulations, yet we need more security.

Friends, that's the same as promising a man a empty cup when he needs a drink of water. It does nothing to solve the problem right now and in the near future.

Wayne LaPierre says limiting Second Amendment rights is not the answer. And yes, I agree.

He said that the answer to gun violence in schools is an armed security force that can protect students, made up of trained volunteers stationed at every school across the country.

"It's not just our duty to protect [our children], it's our right to protect them," LaPierre said at a news conference.

"The NRA knows there are millions of qualified active and reserved police, active and reserve military, security professionals, rescue personnel, an extraordinary corps of qualified trained citizens to join with local school officials and police in devising a protection plan for every single school."

“The only thing that will stop a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun,” he told NBC News.
“If it’s crazy to call for armed guards in our schools to protect our children, then call me crazy,” Mr LaPierre said Sunday.

And yes, I agree with Wayne LaPierre 100%!

We need to protect our children today - and not legislate the problem away with some sort of pipe dream that says that a supposed ban will stop violence from taking place upon our kids.

And No, Democrats Do Not Understand That Bans Only Work If Citizens Respect The Law.

Why can't they understand that criminals don't abide by the law or anything else?

California Sen. Dianne Feinstein, who apparently sees the Sandy Hook School Massacre as an opportunity to further her cause of banning all guns, has vowed to introduce legislation next month to reinstate a ban on assault-style weapons and high-capacity ammunition clips.

Lawmakers have also proposed federal background checks for gun purchases, an attempt to keep weapons away from people with mental health problems.

But again, how exactly does that accomplish anything when a person like Lanza steals the guns from someone else - in this case his mother - to commit evil?

It doesn't do a damn thing to address the problem.

The Left's answer is more regulation and no action. Yes, all talk and no action.

Why is it that Democrats like Feinstein don't understand that action gives hope and builds confidence?

Democrats and Gun Control advocates slammed the National Rifle Association's Wayne LaPierre for proposing a force of armed security guards at schools across the country as a response to the Connecticut school shooting.

One Democrat politician who was quick to criticize but is without even the slightest hint of doing something to actually help address the problem facing schools, Sen. Frank Lautenberg, D-N.J., who actually said, "It is beyond belief that following the Newtown tragedy, the National Rifle Association's leaders want to fill our communities with guns and arm more Americans."

Did you read a solution in his quote? No, I didn't either.

How about Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., who said  that armed guards are only part of a possible solution and called for the ban on high-capacity magazines.

“We have to go beyond that,” she said on ABC’s "This Week.” “We cannot have an armed guard in every classroom, in every doorway.”

"Every classroom" and "every doorway"?

Where the hell did that come from?

Someone should let Amy know that we're talking about one Cop to one School - for Christ's sake, even the Chinese government did that very thing after a nutcase over there attacked 22 elementary school kids with a knife on the same day that Adam Lanza did his horrid deed.

Arming Teachers!

Yes, without using volunteer security or hiring trained security professionals to man a facility, we should instead arm and train school administrators and teachers.

And before you write me and tell me something to the effect of "What the Hell am I thinking?"

Please take this into consideration. As times change, so too does job requirements.

For example, about 35 years ago I looked into becoming a U.S. Park Ranger at Yosemite National Park. I was a little surprised at the time that the NPS (National Park Service) was looking for armed law enforcement rangers in the national park system.

It seemed just a few years before that that Rangers weren't armed. But the fact is, times changed.

So yes, maybe it is time that all of America's schools do what is done in other countries. Arm our teachers.

Now granted, that would mean drug testing and background checks. So yes, I know that many of today's teachers might have a problem getting a permit to carry a gun because they probably can't pass either.

But then again, I really believe that almost all of our teachers out there can and would if they knew that it is for the security of the children under their care and responsibility.

Banning Guns Is Not The Answer!

The answer is better security.

Since we somehow found a way to make it feasible to hire school psychologist, nutritionist, and a host of other Staff Support positions, why can't our schools cut some fat and add Security?.

Maybe some of those high paid positions at various school districts, school administrators, and high paid teachers would take a cut in pay so that schools can afford better security? Then again, maybe not.

But for those out there who think banning guns, even if there were a way to ban all guns, would be the answer - ask yourself if that really would make our society more secure?

OK, I just have to throw this in.

When I was in the private security field after leaving the Marine Corps, I had a boss who used to say, "If a law banning guns works so well, then pass a law to ban all guns - and then go ask the President of the United States if he'd like to give up his Secret Service security because there is now a ban on guns?"

Fat chance that he would. Fact is that even if there were a ban on all guns, every single one of them, America's criminal element would still do drive by shooting -  and yes, nut cases like Adam Lanza would still steal someone else's guns to do their evil.

So if we pass another gun ban, will the President feel safe enough to give up his security? You can bet he would not.

And also, think about this, why is it that the NRA's Wayne LaPierre is criticized and mocked for suggesting that we give a little bit of the security that is afforded to our politicians in Washington everyday?

And ask yourself this, is the President more important than a small child in Newtown Connecticut, or anywhere else in America?

When a couple of prevention choices of either putting trained security or arming our teachers in the schools isn't seen as worth the price of a child, we have bigger problems than guns.

Remember, there are a number of people who can replace the President in his position in the Executive Branch of our government at any given moment - yet we provide him with enormous security measures.

But really, who replaces little 6 year old Emily if she is killed because we only put out half hearted measures that didn't stop a crazy with a gun or a knife from getting into a school - or once he was inside we were helpless to fight back and did nothing?


Story by Tom Correa

I'm Sick Of Atheist's War On Christians And I'm Fighting Back!

The Christmas spirit might be alive and well around here, but I'm afraid that this year anger is also present.

Anger toward Atheists who for some reason feel entitled to try to ruin or mar Christmas for Christians in some way shape or form. And yes, I'm pretty sick of it!

I was in a store in town and heard some guy asking why Christmas was being supported by the city?

He wanted to know why the city pays its employees his tax dollars to put up lights and decorations on main street? He asked why, as a taxpayer, did he had have to pay for a Christmas tree lighting? He felt their should not be any involvement in a Christian holiday.

Since I was near enough, I asked the man, "Are you being serious or are you kidding?"

"I'm serious!" he said.

"So this your personal angst against Christmas? Are you a Muslim or Atheist? Or are you simply attacking a Christian holiday because you can in this country?"

He said he was "an Atheist and a taxpayer," and went on to tell me and a few others who gathered around him that "Christians in the town are violating the separation of church and state!"

I said "Christians violating what? The last time I checked, America accepts all religions - even those who preach hate for the United States. Besides," I asked, "where does it say anything about some supposed separation of church and state? Where does it say that a community cannot support a religious holiday?"

He said, "Haven't you ever heard of the U.S. Constitution?"

"I have, and unlike yourself - I've read it." I answered, "But the First Amendment of the Bill of Rights doesn't say anything about a separation between church and state."

The First Amendment of the United States Constitution states: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Now I'm no lawyer, but I can't find anywhere in the First Amendment that says there is this supposed separation between Church and State.

Fact is, in reality, I know damn well that the phrase, the metaphor of a wall, that gives a separation between church and state actually comes from the letters of Thomas Jefferson. But no, it is not in, nor does it come from, the Constitution of the United States.

Sure I know that we in reality have a separation between Church and State, this does not mean that it is OK for either government or individuals like Atheist to wage a war on Christians or any other religion.

Known as "the Establishment Clause," it solely prevents the establishing of a State run church like say the Church of England.

It does not say anything about our government not being able to publicly acknowledge God, or the existence of God, or the existence of a Supreme Being.

In fact, our government does do just that in many forms. From references to a Supreme Creator in our Declaration of Independence, to images of the Ten Commandments on the walls of the Supreme Court Of The United States, we see references to God and our Christian heritage everywhere.

The point is that our government only prohibits itself from establishing a "State Religion." It only stops our government from developing policies that encourage religious beliefs that favor one particular religion - but that's all it does.

It does not prohibit people from religious activity, it simply stops the government from choosing one religion over another.

To quote an e-mail from one of you, "By keeping government and religion separate, the establishment clause serves to protect the freedom of all to exercise their religion."

I believe that challenges could be made to allow religious symbols of all sorts from every religion on the public square.

As the same e-mail says, "The constitutional principle of separation of church and state does not purge religion from the public square - far from it. Indeed, the First Amendment's 'free exercise' clause assures that each individual is free to exercise and express his or her religious views - publicly as well as privately."

Whether Atheists like it or not, the majority of taxpayers are religious people - not Atheists. The public square belongs to them just as it does to Atheist.

And yes, maybe it belongs to religious Americans even more so - that is, if for example, we consider the fact that the majority of taxpayers in the United States are Christians and pay 90% of the taxes that go to taking care of the public square which Atheists think they own.

The Atheist pitching a fit about Christians made his point in that he did not worship Christ or observe Christmas, so I said to the Atheist, "I see you're shopping in town today getting in on the Sales right?"

He looked a little bewildered but finally said, "Yes."

Just then a salesperson walked up and asked if we needed help? I looked at the store employee and asked, "these 30% OFF Sales, are they only for Christian people observing Christmas or for everyone in town?"

She laughed and smiled and said, "Everyone, why?"

"This man hates Christmas and wants to pay full price." I said pointing at the Atheist. "He doesn't want to be a hypocrite and take advantage of the Christmas Sales."

"What? Wait ..." the Atheist stammered hearing everyone laugh at him.

"Well show your conviction!" I interrupted, "Demand to pay full price, and take a stand against Christmas!"

Those around us must have thought that that was pretty funny because everyone looked at him and laughed. He then quickly turned and started walking away.

"So," I said out loud, "I guess your convictions against Christians and Christmas stop when it comes to taking advantage of the Sales Prices that our holiday brings this time of year? And how about the revenue that the town gets as well?"

He just kept walking away as quick as he could. The salesperson smiled.

And yes, whether it has to do with our religious holidays or the fact that our government has its basis in Christian ideals, I really believe that Atheists should respect the benefits that we Christians bring to our towns, our cities, or our nation.

I'm starting to see Atheist and the Left as nothing less than Adam Lanza who attacked the kids in Newtown Connecticut. They are terrorist practicing their hate against others who are not like them.

But unlike Adam Lanza, who must have obviously been an Atheist, where we may never know his rationale for attacking those who pose no harm to him -  the Left and Atheists in America attack in order to attain goals that are political and ideological in nature.

Ours is a government that is based on the ideal that sovereign authority rests with God, not the state or with man over others. Importance of governing self and family is our first level of governance. Existence of objective moral values, fixed standards, absolute truth, and the believe that life is precious. That all men are created equal. These are all part of what we celebrate at Christmas.

Could have Atheist Created America? No!

Atheist tried to create a nation, and it was Communist where religion was looked upon as an evil. It failed because of many reasons, including that it stifled the soul of its people by outlawing religion. It failed because it restricted the rights of men and women and children to believe in something more than just the  government.

Because they had no faith, how could anything work for their people? It couldn't and failed miserably. Even with threat of violence, intimidation, and coercion, it failed because they neglected to include God in their foundation as a society.

Founding Father and educator Noah Webster once said, "The moral principles and precepts contained in the scriptures ought to form the basis of all our civil constitutions and laws. All the miseries and evils which men suffer from vice, crime, ambition, injustice, oppression, slavery, and war, proceed from their despising or neglecting the precepts contained in the Bible."

Yes, whether they like it or not, Atheists hate the fact that Christ is at the heart of our founding as a nation.

A lengthy email pointed out to me, "As for your concern about retailers and atheists and others who say or don't say things to your liking, that has nothing to do with the constitutional separation of church and state, which constrains government, not individuals."

While that is true, individuals should not try to use the separation of church and state as some sort of legal basis to attack Christians and Christmas - and after all, that is the point here.



Like the man who felt he had the right to kill children in Newtown Connecticut, Atheists fell they have a right to show contempt for those they hate.
Since this whole article is my knee-jerk opinion of what I see going on this Christmas, yes I see Atheist as a Hate Group because they demonstrate their disdain, their loathing, their complete lack of respect for the rights of Christians.

What they should do is respect others, and simply leave Christians alone. I think we should respect each other.

As far as I'm concerned, it's time for them to shut up and leave us to worship as we please. We Christians are the Left's target, just as it has been for years now. We should be protected from Hate Groups on the Left.

Someone should, because if not - than more of us are going to take them to task for being the hypocrite asses that they are!

Story by Tom Correa

In Bloomberg’s Fairy Tale Gun Free Communist World

By Jan Morgan, Jan Morgan Media

12/19/2012


New York Mayor, Michael Bloomberg lives in a fairy tale world … a place of make believe where dictators direct every aspect of the citizens’ lives … from what they are allowed to eat and drink, to what they can legally own, to what they can even think.

Mayor Bloomberg said over the weekend that President Obama should bypass Congress and by executive order, take action on gun control or thousands of people will die. He even named a number: 48,000 people: “If he does nothing during his second term, something like 48,000 Americans will be killed with illegal guns.”

Has he lost his mind? Why is no one looking into his mental stability?

First let’s examine some of the phrases he uses: “Bypass Congress.” “Executive Order.” It seems to me that Bloomberg’s view of America is more like a communist dictatorship rather than President of a Republic. Of course, Bloomberg knows the only way dictators can rule lives is to take away their ability to rise up and fight back against tyranny.

Mayor Bloomberg knows that in the 20th century, 170 million people were annihilated by their own governments after being disarmed. When you disarm the people, you can control the people. Gun control has never been about guns, it is about control.

Of course, Bloomberg doesn’t talk about the fact that 90 million people with over 300 million guns killed no one last year. He also doesn’t mention that over 2.5 million people used guns to save their lives last year and in most of those cases, simply pulling the gun stopped the crime.

Also notice Bloomberg uses the phrase “ILLEGAL GUNS.” In his eyes, all guns should be illegal.

It’s ridiculous to me that Bloomberg and other anti-gun fools think that eliminating the legal purchase of semi-auto firearms is going to stop criminals from committing crimes.

History proves otherwise. Making possession of illegal drugs a crime has not stopped drug trafficking and drug use in this country. Banning guns will only leave law abiding citizens defenseless or force them to hide their guns from the government, therefore becoming criminals in the eyes of the government.

Bloomberg is a very dangerous man, but even more frightening than that is the number of citizens in New York who continue to elect him to be their leader.

I say to those people as well as those socialists who voted for Obama: “Be careful what you wish for … you just may get it … and when that happens, there is no turning back.”

-- end of article.

Reprinted here with pleasure.

About Our Beloved Christmas Songs

 

Dear friends,

With holiday cheer in the air, and the help of various sources, let's take a look at a few favorite Christmas songs.


"Silent Night"

This is the world’s most popular Christmas carol. It comes in several different translations from the German original.

It started out as a poem by the Austrian Catholic priest Father Josef Mohr in 1816. Two years later, Father Mohr was curate at the parish church of St Nicola in Oberndorf when he asked the organist and local schoolteacher Franz Xaver Gruber to put music to his words.

Legend goes that Franz Gruber wrote it to be performed by two voices and a guitar. It was first performed at midnight mass on Christmas Eve in 1818 with Father Mohr and Franz Gruber themselves taking the solo voice roles.

"Silent Night" was translated into English more than 40 years later by Episcopal priest John Freeman Young, who is responsible for the version Americans favor.
It is said to have been translated into over 300 languages and dialects. 

And yes, to show the power of such a carol, because "Silent Night" was one of the only carol that both British and German soldiers knew, it famously played a key role in the unofficial truce in the trenches in 1914 during World War One. 

"Away in a Manger"

"Away in a Manger" is a Christmas carol first published in the late 19th century and used widely throughout the English-speaking world.

Although it was long claimed to be the work of German religious reformer Martin Luther, the carol is now thought to be wholly American in origin. Yes, the two most-common musical settings are by William J. Kirkpatrick (1895) and James Ramsey Murray (1887). The popularity of the carol has led to many variants in the lyrics.

"Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" 

This Christmas hymn is believed to be from 1739 or earlier.

Charles Wesley, the brother of Methodist founder John Wesley, penned as many as 9,000 hymns and poems, of which this is one of his best-known. It was said to be inspired by the sounds of the bells as he walked to church one Christmas morning and has been through several changes. 

It was originally entitled "Hark How All The Welkin Rings."  The term "Welkin" being an old word meaning "sky" or "heaven."

As with most of his hymns, Wesley did not stipulate which tune it should be sung to, except to say that it should be "solemn". The modern version came about when organist William Hayman Cummings adopted it to a tune by German composer Felix Mendelssohn in the 1850s. 

"God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen"

Another English traditional Christmas carol. It was published by William B. Sandys in 1833, although the author is unknown.

Like so many early Christmas songs, the carol was written as a direct reaction to the church music of the 15th century. However, in the earliest known publication of the carol, on a 1760 broadsheet, it is described as a "new Christmas carol", suggesting its origin is actually in the mid-18th century.

For those of you who have actually read Charles Dickens, it is referred to in his A Christmas Carol, 1843. It states, "...at the first sound of - 'God bless you, merry gentlemen! May nothing you dismay!' Scrooge seized the ruler with such energy of action that the singer fled in terror, leaving the keyhole to the fog and even more congenial frost."

This carol also is featured in the second movement of the Carol Symphony by Victor Hely-Hutchinson. While it is interesting to note that the author is unknown, its author is believed to be a mailman who delivered mail at around the 1700's. The legend goes that he sang this song on his route so that people would go to church.

What some might not know is that the song is enjoining the gentlemen who are probably the shepherds in the fields to be "merry" because of Christ’s birthday. It’s not telling “merry gentlemen” to rest! It is telling them to be happy.

"Adeste Fideles"

Yes, this is a hymn tune "O Come All Ye Faithful". The English translation of the latin "Adeste Fideles" version became "O Come, All Ye Faithful". 

It was translated by the English Catholic priest Frederick Oakeley. It is widespread in most English speaking countries. The original four verses of the hymn were extended to a total of eight, and these have been translated into many languages. 

Some say it may have been written in the 13th century by John of Reading, though it has been concluded that John Francis Wade could have also been the author. Then of course, there are those who say the carol may been attributed to the Franciscan Order of monks and the 13th century Italian theologian Saint Bonaventure, and to various authors from the 14th to the 17th centuries. 

I like to think the author was Portuguese King John IV, who was a noted musical patron and composer. The story goes that King John IV of Portugal wrote this hymn to accompany his daughter Catherine of Braganza to England in the mid-17th century during her courtship of her future husband King Charles II.

It is said that wherever she went, she and her embassy, were announced and accompanied with this hymn, which became widely known in England as the Portuguese Hymn. And though that may or may not be the case, it certainly represented Portugal in the form of the Princess Catherine.

The hymn was known for a while as the Portuguese Hymn after the Duke of Leeds in 1795 heard the hymn being sung at the Portuguese embassy in London and assumed that it had originated from Portugal.

"O Tannenbaum"

The traditional folk song that most in America know as “O Christmas Tree,” in fact celebrates the unwavering fidelity that Germans apparently once associated with fir trees.

As you may have guessed, "tannenbaum" is the German word for "fir tree". 

The song’s melody in based on an old folk tune that dates back more than 500 years. The lyrics were penned in 1824 by composer Ernst Anschütz, who was inspired by a love song in which the proud evergreen is presented as symbol of faithfulness.

As the popularity of Christmas trees grew in the 1800s, so too did the popularity of Anschütz’s song as a holiday favorite. Now you know!

"The Holly and the Ivy"

This is an English traditional Christmas carol, yet the carol contains intermingled Christian and Pagan imagery. Believe it or not, the holly and ivy supposedly represent, among other things, Pagan fertility symbols.

Holly and ivy have been the mainstay of English Christmas decoration for church use since at least the 15th and 16th centuries, when they are mentioned regularly in churchwardens’ accounts. Supposedly in ancient English village life there was a midwinter custom of holding singing-contests between men and women. The men sang carols praising holly for its "masculine" qualities, while women sang songs praising the ivy for its "feminine" qualities. The resolution between the two was under the mistletoe.

These three plants are the most prominent green plants in British native woodland during the winter, and for this reason they earned respect from the early country-dwellers and a place in their traditions.

Holly and ivy also figure in the lyrics of the "Sans Day Carol". The music and most of the text was first published by Cecil Sharp in the early 1800's.

Sir Henry Walford Davies wrote a popular choral arrangement that is often performed at the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols and by choirs around the world.


"Deck The Halls"

This Christmas song dates back to 16th century Wales, where its melody and much of the lyrics were borrowed from the New Year's Eve drinking song "Nos Galan." 

This musical makeover was done by Scottish folk music scribe Thomas Oliphant, who built his reputation on old melodies with new lyrics.

In 1862, his "Deck the Hall" was published in Welsh Melodies, Vol. 2. He'd go on to become a renowned translator of songs as well as a lyricist for the court of Queen Victoria. But Oliphant's version is not the one most commonly sung today.

Now known as "Deck the Halls," this variant became popular from revised music sheet printings made in 1877 and 1881.


"O Little Town Of Bethlehem"

This is the song that tells the story of the birth of our savior Jesus Christ. Its roots extent to the winter of 1865, when Phillips Brooks, the rector of the Church of the Holy Trinity in Philadelphia, visited the Holy Land. Included in his itinerary was a horseback ride from Jerusalem to Bethlehem on Christmas Eve. 

He was inspired by this experience and composed the lyrics of this song. His organist Lewis Redner was asked to add music so it could be performed by the church's children's choir at Christmas. Neither Brooks nor Redner really expected much more from their carol.

But in 1874, the Reverend Huntington, the rector of All Saints’ Church in Worcester, Massachusetts, chose to publish it in his Sunday School hymn book, 'The Church Porch. In so doing, he introduced the carol to a much wider audience. Yes, from there it spread in popularity across the world.

"The First Noel"

"The First Noel" is a traditional English Christmas carol which dates at least to the 17th century, and possibly to much earlier. 

According to some, the melody may in fact be an ancient French tune, but the lyrics are undoubtedly English probably from South West England. Originally the title was "The First Nowell", but much later it was changed to the French spelling of "Noel". 

The earliest publication of this song is from "Christmas Carols Ancient and Modern" edited by William B Sandys and Davies Gilbert in 1833. In their collection, Sandys and Gilbert arranged and added some lyrics and wrote down the melody to be used, and with some further amendments by John Stainer in 1871. The 1871 version is what we all sing today.

"What Child Is This?"

"What Child Is This?" is a Christmas carol whose lyrics were written by British poet William Chatterton Dix in 1865. At the time of his composing the carol, Dix worked as an insurance company manager and had been struck by a severe illness.

While recovering, he underwent a spiritual renewal that led him to write several hymns, including lyrics to this carol that was subsequently set to the tune of "Greensleeves" which is a traditional English folk song and tune from the 16th century. The carol's melody has been described as "soulful", "haunting and beautiful" in nature. The carol centers on the adoration of the shepherds, who visited Jesus during his Nativity.

The lyrics of the carol are taken from a poem written by Dix called "The Manger Throne". The part of the poem that was utilized as the song's lyrics consists of three stanzas in total. The first verse poses a rhetorical question in the first half, with the response coming in the second half. The second verse contains another question that is answered, while the final verse is a universal appeal to everyone urging them "to accept Christ". 

Although it was written in England, the carol is more popular in the United States than in its country of origin today. 

And now, for some Modern Christmas favorites.

"Jingle Bells"

Well, this song is forever associated with wintry Christmas cheer, yet “Jingle Bells” was originally written for a Thanksgiving celebration.

In 1857, James Lord Pierpont, an organist at a Unitarian church in Savannah, Georgia, published the music and lyrics to a song he had written, “The One Horse Open Sleigh.”

The song was first performed during a Thanksgiving concert at the church - but many maintain that it was written as early as 1850, when Pierpont lived in the village of Medford, Massachusetts. In fact, a longstanding feud has been waged between these two towns over the “real” birthplace of the song.

The song was re-published in 1857 and was given the title we all know today. Neither version made any impression on the public, it took several generations for “Jingle Bells” to become a holiday favorite.

And here's something for you trivia buffs. It is a fact that “Jingle Bells” holds the distinction of being the first song broadcast from space. That's right, on December 16th, 1965, the crew of Gemini 6 reported seeing a “red-suited” astronaut in lunar orbit before serenading Mission Control with a spirited take on the song - it was complete with bells and a harmonica that they smuggled on board their spacecraft.

"Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer"

The song that celebrates “the most famous reindeer of all” is based on a character created for a department store.

For us who remember Montgomery Ward, and how big they were, we'll be happy to know that part of their legacy is that the retail giant came up with "“Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” in 1939 as a part of an advertising campaign.

Staff copywriter named Robert L. May was given an assignment to create a character for a line of holiday-themed coloring books the company wanted to peddle to kids. Mr May came up with a story about a plucky reindeer who saves Christmas. 

It's said that after he rejected several names, like Rollo, he decided to call his creation Rudolph. The coloring book was an huge success, selling millions of copies in the years that followed.

Ten years later, May contacted a brother-in-law, a Jewish songwriter by the name of Johnny Marks - who we’ll hear about again - to write a song based on his original coloring-book story. It was released in time for the holiday season, Gene Autry’s version of “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer” was the top-charting song during Christmas of 1949.

"Santa Claus Is Coming to Town"

It was written by John Frederick Coots and Haven Gillespie and was first sung on Eddie Cantor's radio show in November 1934. 

Two elements in this song have made it of particular interest to children as well as adults. First is the attention-getting opening-line warning, "You better watch out," and second is the delightful promise of an upcoming event, "Santa Claus is comin' to town."

Coupled with a bouncy and catchy melody, these teasers have made the 1932 composition by lyricist Haven Gillespie and musician John Frederick Coots -- one of the most successful of all popular Christmas carols. Only "Rudolph" and "White Christmas" have outsold this depression-era joyful gem.

"Santa Claus Is Comin'" was the best-known piece by either Gillespie or Coots, although both had other successful hits. It was only by luck and/or persistence that their famous collaborative achievement ever got recorded.

Two frustrating years passed before the songwriters could get anyone to sing their composition. Finally, just before Thanksgiving 1934, Eddie Cantor, the popular entertainer and Coot's employer, performed the song on his radio show.

It's said that it took some persuasion from Cantor's wife Ida to bring about the premier. But all in all, Cantor's presentation of the song was extremely well received, and "Santa Claus is Comin'," aided by subsequent multi-million-selling recordings by Bing Crosby with the Andrews Sisters and by Perry Como, has become one of the more pleasant fixtures of our holiday season.

The song also has a special historical significance. It was the first in a series of top Christmas songs to appear during a uniquely productive generation from 1932 to 1951.

It is interesting to note that "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town"  became an instant hit with orders for 100,000 copies of sheet music the next day and more than 400,000 copies sold by Christmas.

"The Little Drummer Boy"

This song was originally known as "Carol of the Drum". It is a popular Christmas song written by the American classical music composer and teacher Katherine Kennicott Davis in 1941.

It was recorded in 1955 by the Trapp Family Singers and further popularized by a 1958 recording by the Harry Simeone Chorale. This version was re-released successfully for several years and the song has been recorded many times since over the years.

In the lyrics the singer relates how, as a poor young boy, he was summoned by the Magi to the nativity where, without a gift for the infant Jesus, he played his drum with the Virgin Mary's approval, remembering "I played my best for Him" and "He smiled at me".

I mean, let's think about this for a minute and ask ourselves, how much better a message is there at Christmas?

"The Christmas Song"

Like "White Christmas," this is a fairly new Christmas song. More popularly known as “Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire,” the song was written during a sweltering heat wave during World War II in the summer of 1944.

The music was written by Mel Tormé. He was inspired by a few lines he saw jotted down in a pad by his friend and lyricist Bob Wells. Believe it or not, the two began writing the song as a way to temporarily distract themselves from the heat - and yes, it was actually finished in just 45 minutes.

That's right, the holiday favorite that puts a romantic glow on a season when folks are dress up “like Eskimos” was written in the middle of a heat wave in just 45 minutes.

The great Nat King Cole was the first to record the song. He did four different recordings with his trio and as a solo performer between 1946 and 1961. The final version is likely the one you’re most familiar with.

Mel Tormé didn’t sell a lot of records featuring him singing his own work. As for "The Christmas Song," it is said that he was fairly ambivalent about the song. Mr. Tormé did recognize the monetary value of owning the publishing rights though, he was known to occasionally refer to the song as his “annuity” as the money rolled in.

"White Christmas"

MCA Records “White Christmas” is the best-selling song of all time. The song had its first public performance on a radio show, sung by Bing Crosby during the opening days of World War II on Christmas Day 1941.

It was written by Irving Berlin, famous for writing "God Bless America" and other American favorites, for the upcoming movie Holiday Inn.

Bing Crosby had not the slightest inkling that the song would practically define him - but did give his approval: “I don’t think we have any problems with that one, Irving.”

Crosby’s first recording of the song had disappointing sales in its first few weeks, but quickly bounded to the top of the charts. It was an immediate holiday favorite and sold millions of copies. Researchers from the Guinness book of records estimated—as there are no reliable sales figures from back then - that Crosby’s version has sold no less than 50 million copies.

The next highest-selling single is Elton John’s Princess Diana tribute “Candle in the Wind 1997,” which has sold 33 million copies.

"Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas"

The original lyrics for this lovely and bittersweet holiday song written for the 1944 movie musical Meet Me in St. Louis were said to be too depressing for the movie’s famous star and director. But Judy Garland did sing "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" in the movie Meet Me in St. Louis (1944).

Hugh Martin wrote the song and his first attempt concerned both Garland and the movie’s director and her future husband, Vincente Minelli, they found the words much too depressing and asked him to rewrite a few lyrics. Martin resisted, but eventually came around. There’s a mournful tone in the version we know and love, but one tempered by the we’ll-get-through-this-together line about finding the strength “to muddle through” adversity.

A wonderful movie classic, Meet Me in St. Louis tells the story of a close-knit family living in St. Louis in the early 1900s. The family is devastated when the father announces that they will soon be moving to New York City -- the news hitting his older daughters especially hard.

In a memorable scene towards the end of the film, Esther played by Judy Garland, five years after The Wizard of Oz, tries to console her younger sister Tootie played by Margaret O’Brien with the song.

“Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” was supposed to paint a picture of fragile hope and optimism.

"Do You Hear What I Hear"

Believe it or not, “Do You Hear What I Hear” started out as an anti-war song. It  was written while America was on the brink of nuclear war. The song was written by Noel Regney and Gloria Shayne during October of 1961.

At that time, the U.S. was facing down the Soviet Union over some medium-range missiles in Cuba. The Cuban Missile Crisis weighed heavily on the married songwriting team, who switched their traditional music-lyric roles for this song, Shayne was especially moved by the sight of mothers pushing baby carriages on a city street.

A single recorded by the same chorale group that had a radio hit with “The Little Drummer Boy” a few years earlier was released a few weeks later. The song’s plea for peace and “goodness and light” struck a chord with an anxious public and sold more than 250,000 copies. It has been a part of Christmas since.

"Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree"

Decca Records released the famous Brenda Lee version of the song, whish is unquestionably the best version. She performed and recorded the song when she was only 13 years old.

Listen to the song and it’s impossible not to hear the voice of someone 10 or 20 years older. Yes, unlike today's singers whose voices are hidden, or disguised, or drowned out, by their "background music," back in those days vocalist like Brenda Lee could show the world that she indeed had a wonderful voice.
The single was released over consecutive holiday seasons beginning in 1958 and sold less than 5,000 copies that season.  But not to worry, it became a hit two years later and reached a peak position of number 3 on Billboard’s holiday charts in 1965. Lee so thoroughly owns this song that no other version has come close to matching the success of her original.

The song was written by Johnny Marks, who was the same songwriter who wrote “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.” The fact that he was Jewish didn’t stop him from creating a mini empire of Christmas songs. Thankfully in those days political correctness didn't get in the way of talent and holiday cheer.

In addition to “Rudolph” and “Rockin’,” he wrote “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day” and the songs used in the TV special Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer, including the Burl Ives hit “A Holly Jolly Christmas.”

Playing saxophone on the Brenda Lee recording of the song "Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree" was the great "Boots" Randolph, who in 1963, released a long-enduring hit of his own.

"I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus"

This funny yet wholesome seasonal favorite which tells the story of a young boy who sees his mother smooching his father while he's dressed as Santa was too much for the archdiocese of Boston. Being a Catholic myself, I find it hard to believe that a bunch of stiffs in Boston had the nerve to condemn the song for debasing the holiday, but they did.

Jimmy Boyd had achieved some celebrity as a child star when he recorded the song in 1952. Like Brenda Lee, he was 13 years-old when he stepped into the studio. But unlike Brenda Lee, he sounds very much his age.

A few church leaders in Boston objected to the song’s suggestion of physical intimacy and tried to have it banned. The actions made headlines across the country.

Boyd’s record label flew their young star to Boston, where he meet with church leaders and explained how maybe the song really wasn’t so evil. The Boston archdiocese lifted the ban, and more headlines were made.

All in all, the ban ended up being great publicity for a song that had already sold an astonishing 2 million copies in its first week of release. Imagine that!

"Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer"

Written by Randy Brooks, the song was originally performed by the husband and wife duo of Elmo and Patsy Trigg Shropshire in 1979.

In the lyrics, the grandmother of the family gets drunk from drinking too much eggnog, which was probably spiked, and due to her having forgotten to take her medication and despite warnings from the family, she staggers outside into a snowstorm.

In the course of her walk to their outhouse, she is run over by Santa Claus and his reindeer and killed. Yes, it was meant to be funny!

The second and third verses describe the Christmas party the next day: "all the family's dressed in black" while the widower acts as if nothing's happened, drinks beer, watches football and plays cards with "cousin Mel."

The song closes with a warning that Santa, "a man who drives a sleigh and plays with elves" is unfit to carry a driver's license, and that the listener should beware.

"All I Want for Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth"

This wonderful children's favorite was written in 1944 by Donald Yetter Gardner while teaching music at public schools in Smithtown, New York. 

He asked his second grade class what they wanted for Christmas, and noticed that almost all of the students had at least one front tooth missing as they answered in a lisp. And yes, it's said that Gardner wrote the song in 30 minutes. Quick huh!

In a 1995 interview, Gardner said, "I was amazed at the way that silly little song was picked up by the whole country."

The song was published in 1948 after an employee of Witmark music company heard Gardner sing it at a music teachers conference. The song was originally recorded by Spike Jones & His City Slickers on December 6, 1947, with lead vocal by George Rock. That version reached the top of the pop charts in 1948, and again in 1949.

In the versions by Spike, The Chipmunks (Theodore on lead vocals), and Ray Stevens, the song ends with the performer shouting the words "Happy New Year!!!"

"Christmas Is a-Comin'"

OK, this is the song that drives my wife crazy because I play it constantly this time of year. It started out as a Christmas nursery rhyme called "Christmas Is Comming."

The musical version of the rhyme was popularized by The Kingston Trio as "A Round About Christmas", on their album The Last Month of the Year. A calypso sounding version of the carol was featured on a Christmas album John Denver and the Muppets. And yes, a jazzy piano-based arrangement was featured in the musical score of "A Charlie Brown Christmas."

The rhyme became the basis for the song "Christmas Is a-Comin." It was re-written by Frank Luther and performed by Bing Crosby. It contains the following lyrics:

"When I'm feeling blue, when I'm feeling low,
I start to think about the happiest man I know.
Now he doesn't mind the snow, he doesn't mind the rain,
But all December you will hear him at your window pane,
Singing again and again and again and again and again:

Christmas is a coming and the bells begin to ring,
The holly's in the window and the birds begin to sing.

I don't need to worry, and I don't need to fret,
And the more you give at Christmastime the more you get.

God bless you, gentlemen, God bless you!
The more you give at Christmastime the more you get.

Christmas is a coming, the egg is in the nog.
Please give a friendly man a friendly little dog.

If you haven't got a friendly dog, a friendly cat will do,
If you haven't got a friendly cat may God bless you!

God bless you, gentlemen, God bless you!
If you haven't got a friendly cat may God bless you!

Christmas is a coming, the lights are on the tree.
How about a turkey leg for dear old me?

If you haven't got a turkey leg, a turkey wing will do.
If you haven't got a turkey wing may God bless you!

God bless you, gentlemen, God bless you!
If you haven't got a turkey wing may God bless you!

Christmas is a coming, the cider's in the keg.
If I had a mug of cider I wouldn't have to beg.

If you haven't got a mug of cider, half a mug will do.
If you haven't got half a mug, may God bless you!

God bless you, gentlemen, God bless you!
If you haven't got half a mug, may God bless you!

If you haven't got a thing for me, may God bless you!"

For me, I love the idea that someone would wish God's blessings upon another even if he or she gets nothing in return.

Now as for the New Year's Song?

"Auld Lang Syne"

While I don't think this is really considered a Christmas Song, it is definitely the best New Year's song ever written. It is the tune that ushers in every new year.

“Auld Lang Syne” was written in 1788 and came from the pen of Scotland’s Favorite Son poet Robert Burns. The five verses that Scottish Poet Robert Burns wrote in the late 1780s and published posthumously in 1798, were applied to a melody of unknown origin that had first appeared around 1711.

The Scots title translates as “long long ago.” The song quickly became a part of Scottish New Year celebrations, and it was from Scotland that the tradition spread, carried by travelers and emigrants. It was surely sung by Scot families who made the Atlantic crossing, but it was a bandleader from Canada who put the song in every American home.

While it was written by a Scotsman, it was made famous in America by a Canadian. This happened in the mid-1920s when Canadian band leader Guy Lombardo and his orchestra were a highly popular act. Even the famous Louis Armstrong was a fan.

In 1929, the band landed a contract to play New Year’s Eve at the Roosevelt Hotel. Their performance was broadcast on the still relatively new medium called "radio." It was an arrangement that lasted almost 30 years. And it was at these parties that Guy Lombardo and his Royal Canadians began their tradition of playing “Auld Lang Syne” at midnight.

As the band’s New Year’s Eve radio shows gained popularity, eventually reaching a national audience, so too did the song. Lombardo’s big-band arrangements usually excluded Burns' original lyrics because few understood them.

In 1956, they reached an even bigger audience when they signed a TV deal. That lasted another 20 years, until their show began losing ground to the younger based program hosted by Dick Clark.

Guy Lombardo passed away in 1977 but he made "Auld Lang Syne" a part of our culture. Today, Lombardo’s version of the song is the one that is played at the most famous New Year’s Eve celebration in the world: the dropping of the ball at New York City’s Times Square. So yes, Canadian singer/bandleader Guy Lombardo's recording of "Auld Lang Syne" still plays as the first song of the New Year in Times Square. 

And just in case you're ever stopped by Jay Leno and asked what does "Auld Lang Syne" mean? You can tell him that the American translation of "Auld Lang Syne" is "Old Long Since", which is taken to mean "days gone by". 

Apply this "days gone by" to the song, and the song makes more sense. Besides, fact of the matter is that "Auld Lang Syne" started out an an old Scottish drinking song. Yes, it's the greatest tear in my beer song ever written. It's all about remembering "days gone by."

The singer has several opportunities to become undeniably inebriated while waxing nostalgic about the past and taking a swig between choruses. This sentiment and the thought of such gatherings helps to explain the tie-in to New Years Eve.

Some say the idea that one should not remember old acquaintances is sort of bothersome. But that's not what he's saying. Instead, if we read the lyrics, we see that he is asking us the question "should old acquaintances should be forgot and never brought to mind?"

He answers his question by saying, no. He does this by saying, "we'll take a cup of kindness yet, for auld lang syne." So yes, in effect he is remembering old acquaintances and saluting those of "days gone by" by taking a drink to their memory.

Songwriter George M. Cohan quotes the first line of the "Auld Lang Syne" melody in the second to last line of the chorus of You're a Grand Old Flag.

If you think that an old Scottish drinking song can't be behind one of the most beloved songs in America, think again. It is said that the melody of the Star Spangled Banner, which of course is our National Anthem, is also based on an old English drinking song.

As for Christmas and the coming New Year? Well my wife and I hope you and yours have a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

May God Bless you all!

Tom Correa

Gun Debate Starts Amid Tragedy

Democrats Using Connecticut Tragedy To Ban Guns

Even though the killer did not use an assault weapon to carry out his evil in Newtown Connecticut, the left wants to use this tragedy to go after so-called assault weapons.

Rahm Emanuel, present Chicago Mayor and former White House Chief of Staff to President Barack Obama from 2009 to 2010, once said, "You never let a serious crisis go to waste. And what I mean by that it's an opportunity to do things you think you could not do before."

It is apparent that liberal politicians are taking that to heart.

Among those leading the charge was one of Capitol Hill’s strongest gun-control advocates, nine-term New York Democratic Rep. Carolyn McCarthy.

She reminded the White House on Friday that “the gloves are off” if President Barack Obama did not work to toughen the nation’s gun laws.

“I want to talk to the White House,” McCarthy told Politico. “I know that they can’t give me an answer tonight, but I want to know what they’re going to do. I need to know what they’re going to do.”

McCarthy’s husband was killed and son severely injured in a 1993 mass shooting on the Long Island Rail Road in New York.
Meanwhile, her Democratic House colleague, Jim Himes, whose Connecticut district ends abuts Newtown, said, “I hope and pray that the flood of sympathy and condolences offered to the victims and survivors of this unspeakable crime will ignite the dedication and ingenuity of our nation to end this scourge of violence.”

And the blogosphere lit up with comments from gun-control advocates of all stripes.
“It's time 2 act to control access 2 handguns,” Minnesota Democratic Rep. Donna Edwards said on Twitter. “This not about ducks & deer."

For his part, President Obama, in a tearful speech later Friday afternoon, vowed that "it is time to take meaningful action to prevent more tragedies like this, regardless of the politics" - insinuating that he would ban guns in his next term.

Of course anti-American film maker Michael Moore said on his Twitter page, “The way to honor these dead children is to demand strict gun control, free mental health care, and an end to violence as public policy.”

It's not surprising that Democrat Sen. Diane Feinstein of California, who is as ardent an anti-gun advocate as you'll get, said Monday she will introduce a new assault weapons bill in January to stop the sale of more than 100 types of assault weapons.

"On the first day of the new Congress, I intend to introduce a bill stopping the sale, transfer, importation and manufacturing of assault weapons as well as large ammunition magazines, strips and drums that hold more than 10 rounds," Feinstein said. "I am in the process of gathering support for the bill in the Senate and House."

The previous assault weapons ban lasted from 1994 through 2004. It defined an assault weapon as any gun that was:

- semi automatic, meaning one round is fired per each pull of the trigger
- used a detachable magazine

And featured any two of the following attributes:

- a folding or telescopic stock
- a pistol grip
- a bayonet mount
- a flash suppressor
- a grenade launcher

Many gun rights supporters rightfully say they are no more deadly than some other guns that use a larger and heavier bullet. And since they are semi-automatic, they should not be called or confused with the fully automatic military version. Nor should a gun used by millions be outlawed because of the actions of a single mentally ill young man.

The National Rifle Association and most groups were keeping silent on the day that 28 people were shot dead. But some organizations spoke out, including Gun Owners of America, which has about 300,000 members and headquartered in Springfield, Virginia.

“Gun-control supporters have the blood of little children on their hands,” Larry Pratt, the group’s executive director, said. “Federal and state laws combined to insure that no teacher, no administrator, no adult had a gun at the Newtown school where the children were murdered.

“This tragedy underscores the urgency of getting rid of gun bans in school zones,” he added. “The only thing accomplished by gun-free zones is to ensure that mass murderers can slay more before they are finally confronted by someone with a gun."

Gun Owners of America called for state and federal lawmakers to immediately overturn bans on guns in schools.

And Washington GOP Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, the incoming chairwoman of the House Republican Conference, urged caution in rushing to enact tougher gun laws.

"We need to find out what happened and what drove this individual to this place," McMorris Rodgers told C-SPAN in an interview to air on Sunday, the Hill reports. "We have to be careful about suggesting new gun laws.

“We need to look at what drives a crazy person to do these kinds of actions and make sure that we’re enforcing the laws that are currently on the books,” McMorris Rodgers added. “And yes, definitely, we need to do everything possible to make sure that something like this never happens again."

Ari Adler, a spokesman for the Michigan State House Republican Caucus, said on Facebook that the Newtown shooting was unrelated to legislation passed on Thursday that would allow guns in that state’s schools.

“Regarding the school shooting in Connecticut, our first concern is thinking about the families and the tragedy they have suffered at the hands of a criminal bent on spreading evil,” Adler said, according to The Atlantic.

“What happened in Connecticut, however, is not because of nor related in any way to actions taken by the Michigan House yesterday in approving Senate Bill 59.”

Anti-Gun Rights people are using this incident to push for any sort of gun ban. They say these are high-power weapons, capable of firing multiple rounds quickly, and are too dangerous since their high velocity rounds can pierce most body armor and their magazines allow for mass shootings.
Of course they don't know what they are talking about, but they won't let their ignorance stop them from going after guns.

Fact is that statistics show, unlike handguns or shotguns, rifles account for only a fraction of homicides in the United States. Of 12,664 murder victims last year, only 323 were killed with rifles, according to the FBI.

Also, it should be noted that both the Paducah, Kentucky, and Columbine, Colorado, mass school killings occurred during the 10-year ban. In Paducah, the killer used a .22 caliber long rifle, 12 gauge pump-action shotgun and a Ruger MK II .22-caliber pistol.

In Columbine, the shooters used 99 explosive devices, a 12 gauge pump action shotgun. Hi-Point 995 Carbine 9 mm carbine, a 9 mm Intratec TEC-9 semi-automatic handgun, and a 12-gauge Stevens 311D double-barreled sawed-off shotgun.

In 2007, the Virginia Tech shooter used a Glock and Walther handgun to kill 32 and wounded 17. Like what just took place in Newtown, no rifle of any kind was used in Virginia Tech massacre.

More recently, AR-15s were used in the Colorado movie theater shooting, one last week in a Portland, Oregon, mall. But in Newtown, things were different, police said they found that Adam Lanza had left a rifle in his mother's car in the parking lot.

I believe that Lanza knew that he'd never get into the school with a rifle and that's why he didn't take it with him. Security worked in deterring him from taking in a rifle or shotgun, but I beleive he had an easier time getting into the school because he was known as a son of one of their teachers.

Legislation is not going to stop murderers. It never has. As I said in my piece the other day, it didn't stop Lanza just as hasn't stopped what's going on in China with men attacking kindergartners there with knives and kitchen cleavers.

There are those who don't care about the law. Laws mean nothing to them. They have no respect of what is right and wrong behavior. They do things like this because they feel they can.

For me, I believe that part of the problem is that America does not teach morality to children in schools. Because of this, I believe that kids are getting their value systems from Hollywood movie violence along with ultra-violent video games.

Former Arkansas GOP Gov. Mike Huckabee took it one step further when he told Fox News that any debate should focus on the lack of religious instruction in public schools.

“We ask why there is violence in our schools, but we have systematically removed God from our schools,” the former Republican presidential candidate told Fox. “Should we be so surprised that schools would become a place of carnage?

“We've made it a place where we don't want to talk about eternity, life, what responsibility means, accountability — that we're not just going to have be accountable to the police if they catch us, but one day we stand before, you know, a holy God in judgment,” Huckabee said. “If we don't believe that, then we don't fear that.”


Public Sentiment - Gun Sales Explode After Connecticut School Massacre

The prospect of a renewed assault weapons ban in the wake of the Connecticut school massacre has set of a round of buying, as thousands of Americans head to their local gun store to secure the popular AR-15 -- the model used by the school gunman -- before potential government prohibitions on their purchase.

They are also buying the .223 ammunition used by the AR-15 and the type of high-capacity magazines covered under the last federal assault weapons ban, which Congress let expire without renewing.

The Colorado Bureau of Investigation says it set a new record for single-day background check submittals this past weekend.

In San Diego, Northwest Armory gun store owner Karl Durkheimer said Saturday "was the biggest day we've seen in 20 years. Sunday will probably eclipse that."

In southwest Ohio, from dawn to dusk a Cincinnati gun show had a line of 400 waiting to get in, said Joe Eaton of the Buckeye Firearms Association.

"Sales were through the roof on Saturday," said Eaton. "People were buying everything they could out of fear the president would try to ban certain guns and high-capacity magazines."

The deluge of buyers had officials working overtime. Background checks that normally took 15 minutes in California took more than four hours, Durkheimer said. In Colorado, background checks that normally take minutes turned into wait times of more than 12 hours, said CBI spokeswoman Susan Medina.

"We had to call in extra staff," Medina said. "The wait times were high."

The CBI says it processed more than 4,200 background checks on Saturday, the day after the Newtown, Conn., shooting. That surpassed the previous high of 4,028. Nationwide, FBI data shows 16.4 million background checks were run in 2011. An agency spokesman said Monday it did not keep daily numbers and would not have figures for December until early January.

The Connecticut gunman, 20-year-old Adam Lanza, killed his mother before taking her car and her rifle and two handguns and driving to the Sandy Hook Elementary School. There he killed 20 children and six adults before taking his own life.

In the aftermath of the tragedy, Democratic lawmakers have argued there is a need for new gun measures, and President Obama has seemed to move in that direction without voicing support for specific legislation.

Gun owners aren't just afraid of losing their right to buy certain guns. Jeff Serdy, owner of AJI Sporting Goods in Apache Junction, Ariz., said his buyers were buying ammunition.

"I am selling a ton of ammunition," Serdy said. "My people figure it is easier for the president to ban ammunition sales than to get a gun bill through Congress."

Other countries have tried limiting the sale of ammunition as an easier alternative to banning guns. Mexico for example, bans any "military cartridge." In the U.S., the AR-15 and M-16 ammunition use the same bullet, the .223 and NATO 5.56 mm round.

Serdy said he was out of the cheaper $700 to $800 versions of the AR-15 but still had some priced at $1100 and up. The AR-15 is the civilian semi-automatic version of the military's M-16 and M-4.

In surveys, about 50 percent of buyers say they own AR-15s for target practice; 30 percent for hunting and the rest for personal protection.

Despite often being called a fringe gun by critics, the AR-15 is the most popular gun sold in the US today, according to gun dealers. Roughly 220,000 were sold in 2010, after peaking at more than 300,000 immediately following Obama's election.

Gun owners know that Obama and the Democrats in Washington will use this senseless tragedy to ban guns.

As Rahm Emanuel, present Chicago Mayor and former White House Chief of Staff to President Barack Obama from 2009 to 2010, once said, "You never let a serious crisis go to waste. And what I mean by that it's an opportunity to do things you think you could not do before."

Gun owners understand the way the left thinks. We understand the nature of our enemy. And don't kid yourself, the left is our enemy - especially when it comes to trying to take away our Constitutional Rights.

By buying guns and ammo now while they still can, and getting behind Gun Rights Advocates, gun owners are trying to preempt the attack on their gun rights before Obama and the Left can act.


Story by Tom Correa