Please Pray

He was out serving the City of Indianapolis so the Citizens and Visitors could enjoy a Sunday. The Citizens and Visitors were heading to Church, going to Brunch, Running to the Store, heading to a Meeting, Heading to an Event carrying on their everyday life without thought or worry.
He was doing his job. He was making a traffic stop. He took two bullets in the neck, two in the vest, and two in his leg.
Why would he be willing to take those bullets? Because it is his job. His job is to make sure that the Citizens and Visitors to Indianapolis are safe, and thus he places himself in harms way without fear, or regret so the Citizens and Visitors can be safe.


From the Indianapolis Star:

"An Indianapolis Metropolitan Police officer was shot and critically wounded about 9 a.m. today while making a traffic stop in the 3400 block of North Temple Avenue.

IMPD spokeswoman Linda Jackson said the officer was taken to Wishard Memorial Hospital in critical condition. As of 11:30 a.m. Jackson said the officer was still being treated.

"He's holding his own," said Jackson. "He's breathing on his own."

No information on his name was available but Jackson said the officer had been with the department for several years.

Police are looking for a 1998 gold Toyota Camry with the Indiana license plate 319LOT. Jackson said the car, which had previously been reported stolen, might have damage to the front end driver's side.

Jackson said the description of the vehicle was being broadcast about every five minutes and that IMPD was coordinating with Indiana State Police to also have the vehicle description included on electronic highway message signs.

Anyone who sees the vehicle is urged to call 911.

The officer was shot when he got out of his squad car and was approaching the vehicle he had stopped.

Jackson said she did not yet know what the original traffic stop was for.

Police emergency command vehicles and many other police cars are gathered at George Washington Park at the intersection of 34th Street and North Temple Avenue. Officers from all over the city were being called in for the search."



Please Pray for the Officer's recovery, and Pray for all his Brothers and Sisters in Blue as they search for the Evil that has done this to him.

Remember the next time you go to the store, go to work, carry on with your normal life that a Police Officer is putting their-self in harms way so you can do so safely.

Why I am no longer a Republican?

I am sick of the Republican parties double standards.

When the Health Care Bill was being debated and voted on, you heard Republicans saying that it was un-Constitutional, which I believe it is un-Constitutional.

When the case of Proposition 8 was ruled on by Judge Vaughn Walker they come out against the Constitution. Judge Walker found that Proposition 8 did not meet the Due Process Clause of the US Constitution.

Taken from Wikipedia.com:
"The Due Process Clause prohibits state and local governments from depriving people (individual and corporate) of life, liberty, or property without certain steps being taken. This clause has been used to make most of the Bill of Rights applicable to the states, as well as to recognize substantive rights and procedural rights."

Seeing that Proposition 8 would deprive homosexuals the same rights granted to a heterosexual married couple it does violate the due process clause in my opinion.

My Republican friends use the argument that no Judge should have the right to over-turn what the voters wanted.

Judge Walker was first nominated by President Ronald Reagan in 1987. He did not pass confirmation from Congress based on him representing the US Olympic Committee in a suit against a group wanting to use the name "Gay Olympics." Representive Nancy Pelosi was among those whom opposed Judge Walker to be confirmation.
In 1989 he was again nominated to become a Federal Judge by then President George H.W. Bush. He was confirmed by unanimous consent, and was made a Federal Judge.


One must now look at the role of a Judge. A Judge's job it to make sure that law is applied. Judge Walker is being bashed by Republicans for doing his job, making sure that the law is applied to everything.


My problem with this whole argument is that a lot of Republicans are forgetting that Judge Walker was nominated by two Republican Presidents, he was confirmed as proscribed by the Constitution to do a job, but now is being criticized for doing such. We as Citizens of The United States can not pick and choose when we want the Constitution to apply.

One argument I have heard that the voters spoke, and Judge Walker simply tossed out their vote. Yes, Judge Walker tossed out their vote. I have this argument for those whom say that: If a State voted on to in-act Slavery again by a 50.1% margin should it be challenged in Federal Court? Yes it should. The Constitution prohibits slavery, just as it guarantees Due Process.

Republicans need to get back to the basics, but since the Republican Party seems to just want to pick and choose when the Constitution applies I will call myself a Libertarian, and I will use my vote to speak for my beliefs in the Constitution.

References:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vaughn_R._Walker

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fourteenth_Amendment_to_the_United_States_Constitution

Redneck

I am proud to be from Redneck blood lines. Some think the term Redneck is a demeaning term, it isn't to me. Some use the term to belittle someone, but when they do they are only belittling the men who fought, and stood up for what they believed to be right.
The term first came around in 1921 in West Virginia. During the early 1900's Coal Companies owned everything, whole towns, stores, even printed their own money. Living conditions were horrid. Miners began organizing, and the Coal Companies began hiring Private Detectives, and also Local Law Men to keep the Miners from Organizing.
The Miners finally determined rallied in Charleston West Virginia and began a long march to Logan County West Virginia to the final stop at Blair Mountain Along the way Miners to identify each other tied red bandannas around their necks which is where the term redneck comes from.

The Battle of Blair Mountain is an interesting part of sometimes forgotten U.S. History.

My Grand Father on my Father's side was a Redneck, and I am proud of it.

Info on this time in U.S. History can be found at the links below.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matewan_Massacre

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Blair_Mountain

http://www.wvculture.org/history/minewars.html

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/ops/coal-mine.htm

Why would the President need this power? To me it encroaches on what makes the United States Military so strong, volunteer service members. Maybe I'm just a dumb Hoosier and do not understand everything in the bill, but mandating service isn't what Freedom is about. This Bill is currently in the House Committee on Armed Services.

"111th CONGRESS 2d Session

H. R. 5741

To require all persons in the United States between the ages of 18 and 42 to perform national service, either as a member of the uniformed services or in civilian service in furtherance of the national defense and homeland security, to authorize the induction of persons in the uniformed services during wartime to meet end-strength requirements of the uniformed services, and for other purposes.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

July 15, 2010

Mr. RANGEL introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services

---

A BILL

To require all persons in the United States between the ages of 18 and 42 to perform national service, either as a member of the uniformed services or in civilian service in furtherance of the national defense and homeland security, to authorize the induction of persons in the uniformed services during wartime to meet end-strength requirements of the uniformed services, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

(a) Short Title- This Act may be cited as the `Universal National Service Act'.

(b) Table of Contents- The table of contents for this Act is as follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.

TITLE I--NATIONAL SERVICE

Sec. 101. Definitions.

Sec. 102. National service obligation.

Sec. 103. Induction to perform national service.

Sec. 104. Two-year period of national service.

Sec. 105. Implementation by the President.

Sec. 106. Examination and classification of persons.

Sec. 107. Deferments and postponements.

Sec. 108. Induction exemptions.

Sec. 109. Conscientious objection.

Sec. 110. Discharge following national service.

TITLE II--AMENDMENTS TO MILITARY SELECTIVE SERVICE ACT

Sec. 201. Registration of females.

Sec. 202. Registration and induction authority.

TITLE I--NATIONAL SERVICE

SEC. 101. DEFINITIONS.

In this title:

(1) The term `contingency operation' has the meaning given that term in section 101(a)(13) of title 10, United States Code.

(2) The term `military service' means service performed as a member of an active or reserve component of the uniformed services.

(3) The term `national service' means military service or service in a civilian capacity that, as determined by the President, promotes the national defense, including national or community service and service related to homeland security.

(4) The term `Secretary concerned' means the Secretary of Defense with respect to the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps, the Secretary of Homeland Security with respect to the Coast Guard, the Secretary of Commerce, with respect to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the Secretary of Health and Human Services, with respect to the Public Health Service.

(5) The term `United States', when used in a geographical sense, means the several States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and Guam.

(6) The term `uniformed services' means the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, commissioned corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and commissioned corps of the Public Health Service.

SEC. 102. NATIONAL SERVICE OBLIGATION.

(a) Obligation for Service- It is the obligation of every citizen of the United States, and every other person residing in the United States, who is between the ages of 18 and 42 to perform a period of national service as prescribed in this title unless exempted under the provisions of this title.

(b) Forms of National Service- The national service obligation under this title shall be performed either--

(1) as a member of an active or reserve component of the uniformed services; or

(2) in a civilian capacity that, as determined by the President, promotes the national defense, including national or community service and service related to homeland security.

(c) Age Limits- A person may be inducted under this title only if the person has attained the age of 18 and has not attained the age of 42.

SEC. 103. INDUCTION TO PERFORM NATIONAL SERVICE.

(a) Induction Requirements- The President shall provide for the induction of persons described in section 102(a) to perform their national service obligation.

(b) Limitation on Induction for Military Service- Persons described in section 102(a) may be inducted to perform military service only if--

(1) a declaration of war is in effect;

(2) the President declares a national emergency, which the President determines necessitates the induction of persons to perform military service, and immediately informs Congress of the reasons for the declaration and the need to induct persons for military service; or

(3) members of the Army, Navy, Air Force, or Marine Corps are engaged in a contingency operation pursuant to a congressional authorization for the use of military force.

(c) Limitation on Number of Persons Inducted for Military Service- When the induction of persons for military service is authorized by subsection (b), the President shall determine the number of persons described in section 102(a) whose national service obligation is to be satisfied through military service based on--

(1) the authorized end strengths of the uniformed services;

(2) the feasibility of the uniformed services to recruit sufficient volunteers to achieve such end-strength levels; and

(3) provide a mechanism for the random selection of persons to be inducted to perform military service.

(d) Selection for Induction-

(1) RANDOM SELECTION FOR MILITARY SERVICE- When the induction of persons for military service is authorized by subsection (b), the President shall utilize a mechanism for the random selection of persons to be inducted to perform military service.

(2) CIVILIAN SERVICE- Persons described in section 102(a) who do not volunteer to perform military service or are not inducted for military service shall perform their national service obligation in a civilian capacity pursuant to section 102(b)(2).

(e) Voluntary Service- A person subject to induction under this title may--

(1) volunteer to perform national service in lieu of being inducted; or

(2) request permission to be inducted at a time other than the time at which the person is otherwise called for induction.

SEC. 104. TWO-YEAR PERIOD OF NATIONAL SERVICE.

(a) General Rule- Except as otherwise provided in this section, the period of national service performed by a person under this title shall be two years.

(b) Grounds for Extension- At the discretion of the President, the period of military service for a member of the uniformed services under this title may be extended--

(1) with the consent of the member, for the purpose of furnishing hospitalization, medical, or surgical care for injury or illness incurred in line of duty; or

(2) for the purpose of requiring the member to compensate for any time lost to training for any cause.

(c) Early Termination- The period of national service for a person under this title shall be terminated before the end of such period under the following circumstances:

(1) The voluntary enlistment and active service of the person in an active or reserve component of the uniformed services for a period of at least two years, in which case the period of basic military training and education actually served by the person shall be counted toward the term of enlistment.

(2) The admission and service of the person as a cadet or midshipman at the United States Military Academy, the United States Naval Academy, the United States Air Force Academy, the Coast Guard Academy, or the United States Merchant Marine Academy.

(3) The enrollment and service of the person in an officer candidate program, if the person has signed an agreement to accept a Reserve commission in the appropriate service with an obligation to serve on active duty if such a commission is offered upon completion of the program.

(4) Such other grounds as the President may establish.

SEC. 105. IMPLEMENTATION BY THE PRESIDENT.

(a) In General- The President shall prescribe such regulations as are necessary to carry out this title.

(b) Matter To Be Covered by Regulations- Such regulations shall include specification of the following:

(1) The types of civilian service that may be performed in order for a person to satisfy the person's national service obligation under this title.

(2) Standards for satisfactory performance of civilian service and of penalties for failure to perform civilian service satisfactorily.

(3) The manner in which persons shall be selected for induction under this title, including the manner in which those selected will be notified of such selection.

(4) All other administrative matters in connection with the induction of persons under this title and the registration, examination, and classification of such persons.

(5) A means to determine questions or claims with respect to inclusion for, or exemption or deferment from induction under this title, including questions of conscientious objection.

(6) Standards for compensation and benefits for persons performing their national service obligation under this title through civilian service.

(7) Such other matters as the President determines necessary to carry out this title.

(c) Use of Prior Act- To the extent determined appropriate by the President, the President may use for purposes of this title the procedures provided in the Military Selective Service Act (50 U.S.C. App. 451 et seq.), including procedures for registration, selection, and induction.

SEC. 106. EXAMINATION AND CLASSIFICATION OF PERSONS.

(a) Examination- Every person subject to induction under this title shall, before induction, be physically and mentally examined and shall be classified as to fitness to perform national service.

(b) Different Classification Standards- The President may apply different classification standards for fitness for military service and fitness for civilian service.

SEC. 107. DEFERMENTS AND POSTPONEMENTS.

(a) High School Students- A person who is pursuing a standard course of study, on a full-time basis, in a secondary school or similar institution of learning shall be entitled to have induction under this title postponed until the person--

(1) obtains a high school diploma;

(2) ceases to pursue satisfactorily such course of study; or

(3) attains the age of 20.

(b) Hardship and Disability- Deferments from national service under this title may be made for--

(1) extreme hardship; or

(2) physical or mental disability.

(c) Training Capacity- The President may postpone or suspend the induction of persons for military service under this title as necessary to limit the number of persons receiving basic military training and education to the maximum number that can be adequately trained.

(d) Termination- No deferment or postponement of induction under this title shall continue after the cause of such deferment or postponement ceases.

SEC. 108. INDUCTION EXEMPTIONS.

(a) Qualifications- No person may be inducted for military service under this title unless the person is acceptable to the Secretary concerned for training and meets the same health and physical qualifications applicable under section 505 of title 10, United States Code, to persons seeking original enlistment in a regular component of the Armed Forces.

(b) Other Military Service- No person shall be liable for induction under this title who--

(1) is serving, or has served honorably for at least six months, in any component of the uniformed services on active duty; or

(2) is or becomes a cadet or midshipman at the United States Military Academy, the United States Naval Academy, the United States Air Force Academy, the Coast Guard Academy, the United States Merchant Marine Academy, a midshipman of a Navy accredited State maritime academy, a member of the Senior Reserve Officers' Training Corps, or the naval aviation college program, so long as that person satisfactorily continues in and completes at least two years training therein.

SEC. 109. CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTION.

(a) Claims as Conscientious Objector- Nothing in this title shall be construed to require a person to be subject to combatant training and service in the uniformed services, if that person, by reason of sincerely held moral, ethical, or religious beliefs, is conscientiously opposed to participation in war in any form.

(b) Alternative Noncombatant or Civilian Service- A person who claims exemption from combatant training and service under subsection (a) and whose claim is sustained by the local board shall--

(1) be assigned to noncombatant service (as defined by the President), if the person is inducted into the uniformed services; or

(2) be ordered by the local board, if found to be conscientiously opposed to participation in such noncombatant service, to perform national civilian service for the period specified in section 104(a) and subject to such regulations as the President may prescribe.

SEC. 110. DISCHARGE FOLLOWING NATIONAL SERVICE.

(a) Discharge- Upon completion or termination of the obligation to perform national service under this title, a person shall be discharged from the uniformed services or from civilian service, as the case may be, and shall not be subject to any further service under this title.

(b) Coordination With Other Authorities- Nothing in this section shall limit or prohibit the call to active service in the uniformed services of any person who is a member of a regular or reserve component of the uniformed services.

TITLE II--AMENDMENTS TO MILITARY SELECTIVE SERVICE ACT

SEC. 201. REGISTRATION OF FEMALES.

(a) Registration Required- Section 3(a) of the Military Selective Service Act (50 U.S.C. 453(a)) is amended--

(1) by striking `male' both places it appears;

(2) by inserting `or herself' after `himself'; and

(3) by striking `he' and inserting `the person'.

(b) Conforming Amendment- Section 16(a) of the Military Selective Service Act (50 U.S.C. App. 466(a)) is amended by striking `men' and inserting `persons'.

SEC. 202. REGISTRATION AND INDUCTION AUTHORITY.

(a) Registration- Section 4 of the Military Selective Service Act (50 U.S.C. App. 454) is amended by inserting after subsection (g) the following new subsection:

`(h) This section does not apply with respect to the induction of persons into the Armed Forces pursuant to the Universal National Service Act.'.

(b) Induction- Section 17(c) of the Military Selective Service Act (50 U.S.C. App. 467(c)) is amended by striking `now or hereafter' and all that follows through the period at the end and inserting `inducted pursuant to the Universal National Service Act.'. "

Welcome to The Bear Den

Hi and welcome to The Bear's Den. This blog will focus on issues concerning Indianapolis politics, State Politics, Federal Politics, and even a bit of Auto Racing.

About me. I was born and raised in Indiana. Raised by a single mother who worked her butt off and instilled values in me. She never once received child support, or State or Federal assistance in raising me. My father skipped out shortly after my mother became pregnant with me. I did not meet him until I was 8 years old. He has lived in West Virginia since I was born. I was raised in a neighborhood with values on the West-side of Indianapolis. A neighborhood that if you did something wrong, the neighbors would punish you, and let your mom know what you did, so she could punish you also.
I, like a lot of teenagers, thought I knew everything when I was growing up. I quit high school when I was sixteen years old. I worked odd jobs from construction, television production, and even was a member of a pit crew for a racing team until I realized how big of mistake I had made in quitting high school. At the age of twenty four I earn a G.E.D. and went to Vincennes University. I graduated with two Associates of Applied Sciences, Law Enforcement, and Conservation Law Enforcement.
Since graduating college in 1998 I have been working in Law Enforcement in different positions and different agencies here in the State of Indiana.
Through the mistakes I have made in my life I have learned, and strived to be a better person. I consider myself a Libertarian, and am a strong supporter of the Constitution. I look forward to expressing myself and learning through comments posted by you the reader.