On Guns: Time for Training & Accountability

Nothing screams lack of training and accountability like the recent video showing Mark and Patricia McCloskey, two attorneys living in St. Louis, Missouri, brandishing a pistol and AR-15 outside their home as group of citizens on a Black Lives Matter march passed in front of their mansion.

With their fingers on the trigger and pointing their weapons at passersby and, at several moments, at each other, they are the poster children for the need for mandatory training and accountability for those who desire to own firearms.

This type of instruction must be mandated, along with the purchase and registration of the firearm before more Americans die as a result of lack of training and accountability.  I would call it the Americans for Life Act.  And, I think it should be the first item for business of the 117th Congress due to meet on January 3, 2021.

I propose the House version look and read something like this:

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117^th Congress

   1^st Session

H.R. 1

To amend Title 18, United States Code, to provide American citizens protection for life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.  To be known as the Americans for Life Act.

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In the House of Representatives

January 3, 2021 

Ms. Jane Doe introduced the following bill which was referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

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A.  This bill does not, and shall not be construed to, limit the rights of any citizen regarding the ownership of a pistol, rifle, or shotgun (hereinafter referred to as arms and defined below) guaranteed under the 2^nd Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America.

B.   The United States of America declared in its formal Declaration of Independence, and declares by its very existence, that every citizen has a right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

C.    In order to assure that both the right to bear arms and the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness coexist, the following shall be the law:

1.   All arms sold, traded, bartered, or gifted within the borders of the United States; imported into the United States; or exported from the United States, shall bear a stamped registration number.  No two registration numbers may be the same for any type of arm (defined below).  These registration marks may be a combination of numbers and capital letters as required, similar to that of Vehicle Identification Numbers utilized for the identification of individual motor vehicles, for example 123456VIN78USA90F.  No arm may exist without a registration number unless said arm was built without a number prior to the year 1789.

2.    For purposes of this bill an arm includes: Pistol, which shall be defined as a small firearm designed to be held with one hand whether one single round or multiple round, revolver or automatic.  Rifle, which shall be defined as a long firearm, especially one fired from shoulder level, having a long spirally grooved barrel intended to make a bullet spin and thereby have greater accuracy over a long distance either one shot at a time, semi-automatic or fully automatic.  Shotgun, which shall be defined as a smooth bore firearm for firing small shot at short distance.

3.  Any person residing or traveling within the United States must register each arm in possession by providing their legal name, address, social security or tax information number, and the registration number of each individual arm owned or used by the individual.  These records shall be kept electronically by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (hereinafter referred to as the ATF). 

4.   It shall be the sole responsibility of the owner of the arm(s) to update their individual registration file regarding registration numbers, and/or current address.  The ATF shall make this registration capable of being initiated and/or updated electronically. Included in the information on file shall be the exact location where the registered arm is housed daily.  Failure to update the ATF regarding arms, registration numbers, and locations on an annual basis may result in forfeiture of said arms to the ATF for destruction.

5.    Any person residing within the United States who owns or uses any type or size of arm shall be required to receive no less than four hours per month of instruction on the use and storage of said arms.  This instruction shall include at least four hours per annum of live classroom and firing range instruction on the proper use of arms with at least two of those hours consisting of target shooting during which the owner must show proficiency of at least 80% of shots piercing the bullseye of the target provided.  A certified copy of these targets shall be filed with the ATF as proof of instruction and proficiency. 

6.     Instruction may be provided by any person licensed and/or trained by any branch of the United States military (hereinafter referred to as Military) or under the auspices of the ATF.  Said instructors shall be licensed for this purpose only.  Said license shall be renewed on a regular basis in order to maintain proficiency.  The cost of said license shall be $250 and renewed every 2 years.  These persons shall be known as United States Firearms Instructors (hereinafter referred to as USFI).  Only a qualified and licensed USFI may provide the necessary training for persons owning or using arms in the United States.  In order to qualify as a USFI a person must have received a minimum of 100 hours of firearms instruction and must possess a record clear of any criminal or civil complaints or convictions.  USFI shall be required to undergo 4 hours of instruction on a monthly basis to maintain their license at renewal.

7.    Any person within the borders of the United States, who cannot prove they have received training from a licensed USFI, as noted above, shall be in violation of the law and, upon notice, shall transfer all arms in their possession to a United States Firearms Instructor.  If, within 30 days, the person whose arms have been confiscated does not mitigate the necessary training to own or possess or use arms, those arms shall be given by the USFI to the ATF for destruction of said arms within 30 days.  For purposes of this Bill destruction shall mean the complete dismantling and crushing or melting rendering the arm unusable and unrecognizable.

8.     Any person residing or traveling within the United States who legally possesses or uses arms with the borders of the United States is responsible for the security of said arms.  Unless the arms are in active use, for example being used to practice on a firing range, the arms must be stored in a locked safe along with any ammunition for said arms.  These safes shall be constructed of tamper proof metal and shall be in any location where arms are present, for example home, office, barns, outbuildings, apartments, automobile, truck, van, recreational vehicle, mobile home, aircraft, boat, or any other location of residence, work, or travel.

9.     No arm may be carried into any establishment that sells or distributes alcohol or drugs.  An exception shall exist for the owner of said establishment to possess a registered arm for self-protection provided there is a safe on site for the secure deposit of the arm and its ammunition at the location and it is utilized at all times.

10.  Ammunition shall be defined as any bullet, ball, or shell.  No arm shall be capable of carrying a magazine, clip, chamber or revolving cylinder that can hold more than 15 individual rounds of ammunition.  All magazines, clips, revolving cylinders, or chambers allowing more than 15 individual rounds of ammunition to be carried in a single arm shall be illegal to possess, sell, distribute, or manufacture.   No device may be attached to any arm allowing the attachment of more than one magazine, clip, revolving cylinder, or chamber that would allow more than 15 rounds of ammunition to be fired without reloading the arm.  No device may be added to the arm to change the arm from user being required to fully pull the trigger one time to fire each single round of ammunition.  No fully automatic arm or device added to the arm to allow or imitate an automatic arm shall be allowed under this Bill.

11.  No arm designed to emulate or appear to be a military weapon, either past or present, shall be manufactured or distributed within the United States of America.

12.  No toy arm may be manufactured or distributed within the United States of America that emulates or appears to be a legitimate arm of any type.  All toy arms manufactured or distributed in the United States shall be bright safety orange in color to assure they are not mistaken for a real arm.

13. Violations of any section of this law shall be a violation of the entire law.  A first-time violation of this law shall require the ATF to confiscate the firearms owned or used by the violator.  If the violation is not mitigated within 30 days of notice and confiscation, the ATF may destroy said arms.  If the violation is mitigated, for example the arms are registered with the ATF in the electronic data system, the arms may be returned to the person in violation.  A second violation of this law, if not mitigated within 30 days, shall require the ATF to confiscate the weapons and collect a fine of $1,000 for each arm in violation.  If the violation is mitigated, the arms may be returned to the violator.  The fine shall remain.  A third violation of this law shall not be mitigated for any reason.  A fine of $2,500 shall be required for each arm in violation and all arms in the possession of the violator shall be confiscated and destroyed by the ATF.

14. Any person residing in the United States who owns or is in possession of arms that are without existing registration numbers may provide those weapons to a licensed USFI who shall have the means necessary to stamp the weapon with a registration number acceptable to the ATF.  This task must be completed within six months after the effective date of this Bill. 

15.  Any person residing in the United States who owns or is in possession of arms that the person does not wish to register may give that weapon to a licensed USFI who shall give that arm to the ATF for destruction.  For each working arm provided to the USFI under this program, the person giving up possession shall receive $500 per arm in U.S. currency delivered on a pre-paid debit card.  This task must be completed within six months after the effective date of this Bill. 

16.  Any person who fails to register any arm in their possession within six months of the effective date of this Bill shall be found to be in violation of the Americans for Life Act with the penalty that all arms in their possession shall be forfeited to the ATF for destruction and a $1,000 fine per arm shall be rendered.

17.  Any person violating the storage requirements of this Bill shall be found to be in violation of the Americans for Life Act with the penalty that all arms in their possession shall be forfeited to the ATF for destruction and a $1,000 fine per arm shall be rendered.

On a New President: Joe Biden's First Executive Orders

If Joe Biden is elected the 46th President of the United States his job, day one, is to heal the nation, heal the tears in the fabric of our nation's relationship with other world nations, and to lead the USA back to being a beacon of humanity in a world often not very humane.

To that end, and dealing only with beginning to heal the fabric of the United States and its people, it is suggested the new President issue two immediate Executive Orders dated January 21, 2021.  The numbers of the orders may change.  The 45th President has already issued 24 Executive Orders in 2020, his last Number 13926.

Executive Order No. 14000 of January 21, 2021

Rescission of Selected Prior Executive Orders and Executive Department Regulation Changes and Orders

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered as follows:

Sec. 1.  Order

All Executive Orders and Executive Department Regulation Changes and Orders made between January 20, 2017, and January 20, 2021 are hereby rescinded without prejudice or bias.  These shall include all signed orders during those dates as well as any orders awaiting comment before implementation provided that comment was requested during the dates as outlined above.

 Sec. 2.  Definitions. For purposes of this order:

(a) ‘‘Executive Orders’’ is defined as any order signed by the President of the United States during the period January 20, 2017 through January 20, 2021;

(b) ‘‘Executive Department Regulation Changes and Orders’’ is defined as any change of language or rescission of any regulation guiding observance of any law or order by any department of the Executive, i.e. the Office of President of the United States, made or ordered during the period January 20, 2017, and January 20, 2021;

(c) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.

(d) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.

Executive Order No. 14001 of January 21, 2021

Regarding Continued Employment of Personnel Hired by the U.S. Government 

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered as follows:

Sec. 1.  Order

All personnel employed by the United States government, excluding military personnel, between January 20, 2017, and January 20, 2021 are hereby ordered, without prejudice or bias, to resign effective within five working days from the date of this order.  In lieu of resignation, said personnel may sign a document stating the words shown below, which will become part of their permanent personnel file.  

 Sec. 2.  Definitions. For purposes of this order:

(a) ‘‘Personnel’’ shall mean any person who joined the United States government as an employee during the period January 20, 2017, through January 20, 2021;

(b) ‘‘Military Personnel’’ is defined as any person enlisting in the military as an enlisted  member or commissioned  officer during the period January 20, 2017, and January 20, 2021;

(c) "Document" shall mean the following:

"I, (name of person), shall faithfully, and to the best of my ability, complete my tasks as assigned in agreement with the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America."

(c) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.

(d) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.

On Chaos: It Must Create a New and Better Nation

With all of the bad news in the USA and the world…from a pandemic that has killed hundreds of thousands of people, including tens of thousands of Americans, to police in the United States shooting and killing the same citizens it is supposed to be protecting…most people have probably missed the news that a new nation is arising from amongst this turmoil.

The newest country has already written its Constitution and is now preparing to have elections for President and its Congress, both upper and lower houses.  It appears that when it is finished it will have a Congress of predominantly like-minded men and women who are preparing to change both their country and the world.

Among the many things to be considered once the elections are held, and the different elected officials are sworn into their offices in January, is a budget.  A country of very wealthy citizens, the budget as planned will provide primarily for the common welfare and good of its people, with the remainder aimed to help those less fortunate in the world.  This new nation will eschew a large standing Army, preferring to spend money to help other nations rather than destroy or threaten them. 

To aid it’s own people, and to avoid the welfare schemes that so often befuddle other nations, the country will provide each citizen over the age of 18 with a minimum monthly stipend of $2,000 to be used by individuals to pay for basics…housing, clothing, and food.  A jobs program, including a minimum of two years of national service in some capacity, will be established to assure businesses have trained and motivated staffing and government has the people it needs to assure the citizens are granted life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

Healthcare will be included in that mix of programs for citizens.  Called “Medicine for All,” the program will be available to every citizen at no additional cost outside of tax on income in excess of $2,000 per month.  Men, women, and children will have access to a nationwide network of clinics and hospitals served by highly skilled doctors, nurses and other healthcare practitioners. 

On the international side, the founding members have decided to not fund a large standing military, save for perhaps a small lethal force similar to the Marines.  Instead the leaders have decided to use additional funds to help other nations through loans or direct support.  Amongst these plans is helping other nations build infrastructure, for example dams, seaports, airports and roads.  This assures other nations can less expensively create more goods and move them easily to the rest of the world. 

Money would also be used to help countries that want to remove bureaucratic hindrances keeping the nation from prospering.  These programs would work directly with citizen groups, versus single despotic leaders. The new leaders believe that helping other nations, much like the Marshall Plan helped Europe after WWII, is a much saner approach to foreign relations in the 21^st Century.

The founding leaders understand that by creating such a society, people from other nations may want to participate in the new nation’s rise and emigrate there.  To this end a system of regulations to assure those who want to come and take part in this new experiment may do so easily.  There will no visa requirements for anyone to visit this land.  Bio-metrics will be required from those who wish to visit, however, so that no one can enter to do harm. 

If someone wants to stay and work they must apply for permits to work and, over a five or ten year program, they could use this hard work to prove they would be good citizens.  According to records, the new nation will be especially open to those who are bringing needed skills or those persons who are coming from nations under duress.  No one will be turned away unless it can be proven they come to harm or hinder, not to make the new nation a better place.

This, of course, brings up the issue of how this new nation will pay for all of these programs once elections are held in November 2020.  According to records made available a graduated tax structure will be established, requiring each citizen and corporation working within the country to pay according to their earnings and the success of their business.  No citizen or corporation will be allowed to keep earnings in excess one hundred million dollars per year.  All businesses will be welcome to grow provided they do nothing to hinder the enjoyment of the citizenry. 

The new country has plans to deliver a robust economy based on a capitalist model.  The most important element, of course, is their plan to assure its citizens have money for basics.  With approximately 257 million people over the age of 18, the economy will have billions of dollars each month available to local, regional, and national businesses to count on.  Add to that the income earned from supporting those businesses and this new economy will rival any in the world.   A nation investing in its citizens, versus wasting money on war, will be the idol of the world.

The name of this new nation, springing up out of chaos?

The United States of America