Just down the road from me is the town of Lillooet. It’s a nice enough place to live except, that is, for the local politicians. They’re a nightmare; control freaks of the highest order. Back in 2010 Lillooet Mayor Dennis Bontron wanted to ban what he called “unauthorized meetings” in an effort to curb vandalism. The penalties proposed for holding an "unauthorized meeting" … [Read more...]
Nelson, Georgia, sued by the Perennial Gun-Haters at the Brady Center
On April 3, 2013 I wrote an article titled Why Government Despises Liberty… Thoughts on Bastiat’s classic “The Law” in which I discussed the principles Frederik Bastiat wrote about at length. I started off here: "Life, liberty, and property do not exist because men have made laws. On the contrary, it was the fact that life, liberty, and property existed beforehand that caused … [Read more...]
Is Every Phone Call You Make Recorded Without Your Knowledge or Consent?
Constitutions, Charters of Rights and Freedoms, and Bills of Rights mean something under one and only one condition: when those in power choose to follow them. There is not a government in the world that actually respects the documents created by those who founded those nations. Here in Canada, the ink wasn't dry on the Trudeaupian Nightmare, our Charter of Rights and … [Read more...]
Hollywood’s “Anti-Piracy” Hypocrisy
It’s one thing for a Hollywood film producer to do what it can to prevent its own commercial works from being “pirated” on the internet. It’s entirely another to prevent an independent filmmaker from producing a film and intentionally sharing his work on the internet for free, yet that is exactly what Hollywood film companies Viacom, Paramount, Fox and Lionsgate are doing … [Read more...]
US Department of Justice: We don’t need no stinking warrants
US Department of Justice says, “We don’t need no stinking warrants.” It’s always reassuring when the minions of the state do precisely the opposite of what they ought. Instead of protecting and defending the rights of we “mere citizens” they violate those rights instead. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) obtained a copy of an FBI investigation manual which The … [Read more...]
US State Department Gets Knickers In a Twist over 3D Printable Handgun
Earlier this week Cody Wilson, the founder of Defense Distributed, made history by creating a single-shot firearm using a 3D printer and then firing it. Personally, I find this absolutely fascinating and a marvel of human ingenuity. Wilson, often referred to in the press as “the radical libertarian and anarchist founder of Defense Distributed” successfully designed a .380 … [Read more...]
Australian Town Gets Lesson in Privacy Rights
It’s astounding to see the Australian town of Nowra’s network of CCTV cameras shut off because they violated the privacy rights of its citizens. Shoalhaven City Council violated several parts of the Privacy and Personal Information Act and as a result, they were ordered to shut down their CCTV network. Oddly, all it took was a single complaint from a citizen to spark the … [Read more...]
Aurora City Council Issues Formal Apology to Bloggers
In a truly astounding gesture, Aurora City Council formally voted to apologize for its role in the SLAPP lawsuit filed by former Aurora Mayor Phyllis Morris. I’ve written about this case many times before, so I was thrilled to see this announcement land in my mailbox this week. A Resounding SLAPP in the face for Politicians Wishing to Stifle our Freedom of Speech Former … [Read more...]
Arthur Topham’s Legal Woes Continue for Daring to use his Right to Freedom of Speech
From the beginning Arthur Topham’s case puzzled me. Charging Mr. Topham with “wilfully promoting hatred” under Section 319(2) of the Criminal Code of Canada seemed excessive given he already faces charges under Section 13(1) of the Canadian Human Rights Act. What makes Arthur Topham so scary? In today’s world, where we value “hurt feelings” over our Charter Rights and … [Read more...]
Canadian Constitution Foundation comes to Montague Family’s aid
The Canadian Constitution Foundation (CCF) will take on Bruce & Donna Montague’s case after Doug Christie’s death left them without counsel to fight property forfeiture under Ontario's Civil Forfeiture Law. The Canadian Constitution Foundation (http://www.theccf.ca) announced today that it would provide legal counsel to Bruce and Donna Montague of Dryden, Ontario in … [Read more...]
CCLA Applies for Intervener Status in Marc Lemire’s Constitutional Challenge of Sec. 13 Internet Censorship
The Canadian Civil Liberties Association has filed an intervention application at the Federal Court of Appeals. They are seeking to rid Canada of Section 13 of the Canadian Human Rights Act, which is Canada’s shameful Internet censorship legislation. The CCLA recently described their intervention in the Lemire case thus: “The CCLA will be intervening to support the … [Read more...]
Even the Rich and Famous must suffer the Fools of Airport Security
In the realm of human stupidity it's hard to do worse than the intrepid fools who inhabit the ranks of airport security. There common sense is verboten and the ability to think rationally... well, let's just say it's not welcome there either. The latest entry into the stupidest airport security blunder ever this week goes to the Swiss... a prize that actually surprised me. … [Read more...]
Facebook – The Best Friend Minions of the State Ever Had
Everyone loves Facebook, but nobody loves Facebook more than governments and police agencies. It’s made their job so much easier. And, should actual criminals be too hard to catch, a few hours trolling Facebook photos is sure to net dozens of possibilities. Case in point: Certified Firearms Instructor Shawn Moore. New Jersey Police and the Department of Child and Family … [Read more...]
French “Perennial Victims” Seek $50 Million Payday from Twitter
Who “owns” your Twitter posts? The answer might just surprise you. It’s not you. So says a court in New York State. Judge Matthew Sciarrino Jr. ruled that Twitter user Malcom Harris has “no proprietary interests” in his own Twitter posts and ordered the social media giant to hand over all of Harris’ past tweets including those he had deleted. Not only is anything … [Read more...]
Guntersville Mayor Leigh Dollar is just another jackbooted thug, albeit with perfume…
Is there no end to the raft of elected officials who cannot comprehend the oath of office they swear? You know, those pesky little section where they affirm they will “support and defend the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic”? It’s a simple phrase and an even simpler concept, yet time and time again we hear of duly elected officials doing the exact … [Read more...]
Can the government really steal your bank account without notice?
Can the government really steal your bank account without notice? Virtually overnight and with no warning of any kind, the emergency tax deal was imposed on the people of Cyprus without vote or debate. People ran to ATM machines today only to discover that the taxed amount of their cash had already been frozen. Monday in Cyprus is a national holiday, the first day of Greek … [Read more...]
Oscar Pistorius and Home Security by Frank Hilliard
Whatever else you can say for Oscar Pistorius, his explanation of how he killed Reeva Steenkamp is bizarre and illogical. No responsible gun owner would shoot through a door at an unknown target. That, however, is not what Canadian homeowners needs to take away from this tragedy. Have a look at the living arrangements in the National Post diagram I've linked to. You can … [Read more...]
The Lesson of Doug Christie – A Tribute to One Man and his Commitment to Freedom of Speech
On March 11, 2013, the day I learned of Doug Christie’s death, I was both shocked and saddened by the news even though I knew it was coming. More than that, however, I felt drained and empty knowing we had lost one of the greatest Freedom Fighters in a generation. Anger burned deep inside me as I the saw the enemies of Freedom and Liberty dance with delight, knowing one of … [Read more...]
Freedom of Speech? No Thanks, We’re Canadian…
[powerpress] On Wednesday, February 27, 2013 the Supreme Court of Canada had the opportunity to stand up for Canadians’ Right to Freedom of Speech. To call their ruling in R. v. Whatcott an “Epic Fail” would be a gross understatement. When the Supreme Court starts out by explaining as it did in Whatcott, not that individual rights are the very foundation of our … [Read more...]
Illinois State Senator Ira Silverstein desperately needs a history lesson
Illinois State Senator Ira Silverstein desperately needs a history lesson This intellectual neanderthal believes anonymous commenters on the internet are a threat to Freedom and Liberty, forgetting that the Founding Fathers and framers of the Constitution of the United States of America wrote the Federalist and Anti-Federalist Papers using pseudonyms to protect … [Read more...]