The Patriot Post Digest 8-12-2019

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The Patriot Post Digest 8-12-2019
From The Federalist Patriot
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The Patriot Post® · Mid-Day Digest

Aug. 12, 2019

https://patriotpost.us/digests/64785-mid-day-digest

THE FOUNDATION

“Laws that forbid the carrying of arms … disarm only those who are neither inclined nor determined to commit crimes… Such laws make things worse for the assaulted and better for the assailants; they serve rather to encourage than to prevent homicides, for an unarmed man may be attacked with greater confidence than an armed man.” —Cesare Beccaria

IN TODAY’S EDITION

Two shootings yield quick calls for new firearm restrictions.1
Jeffrey Epstein’s apparent suicide induces a flurry of questions.2
Daily Features: More Analysis3, Columnists4, Headlines5, Opinion in Brief6, Short Cuts7, Memes8, and Cartoons9.

IN BRIEF

Dems and Trump Press for Gun Control10

Immediately following recent attacks wherein psychopaths in El Paso, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio, murdered over 30 people, Democrat politicians and much of the mainstream media were quick to call for new restrictions on firearms. Even President Donald Trump, facing a massive Leftmedia campaign blaming his rhetoric for supposedly motivating the attackers while he emphatically condemned the “barbaric” attacks, also called for the strengthening of the nation’s background-check laws.

Democrat presidential candidates clearly see these latest atrocities as an opportunity to further constrain the Second Amendment. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (MA) on Saturday released her latest gun-grabbing scheme, in which she calls for a new “federal assault weapons ban,” banning “high-capacity ammunition magazines,” increased taxes on firearms and ammunition, longer waiting periods for firearm purchases, and holding “the manufacturer of the weapon [used in shootings] strictly liable for compensatory damages to the victim or their family.” Warren’s plan would also require “individuals already in possession of assault weapons to register them under the National Firearms Act.”

Once again, rather than focusing the blame for these crimes on those individuals responsible for committing these mass murders, Warren seeks to hold the firearms and their manufacturers as criminally liable for their negligent use. Notice that Warren and her leftist ilk don’t hold the same nonsensical standard for other companies. Where are the calls for “common sense” knife-control laws following last week’s mass murder via stabbing of four individuals by a criminal in California? Where are the calls for automaker Dodge to be held “seriously liable” for the Charger that was used by a white supremacist to run over and murder a woman in the Charlottesville protest two years ago today? Obviously, Warren’s intent here is to effectively eviscerate the Second Amendment.

However, what is even more troubling is how effective the Democrats’ leverage of these two atrocities has been, as Trump is looking to find some legislative fix to a problem that finds its root in the hearts and minds of seriously disturbed individuals. Neither of these latest mass murders were Christians. In fact, one was an avowed Satanist, who wrote of his motivation, “I am the servant of the serpent evil incarnate, flesh consumer, light destroyer, fueled by hate, rage my strength, distrust my shield.” In other words, what an individual believes about life and how they see themselves and the world around them is where the problem truly lies.

The availability of firearms is not the root “problem,” yet that appears to be what Congress and Trump are focused on. While the desire to prevent seriously disturbed individuals from obtaining firearms is a sensible concept, the effective implementation of such a proposal is sure to run roughshod over numerous civil liberties such as due process. Secondly, these “red flag” laws, as they are called, have not proven to be effective in reducing gun violence. For example, authorities had been warned repeatedly about the threat posed by the school attacker in Parkland, Florida, but to no avail. In this latest atrocity, it was reported11 that the El Paso perpetrator’s mother had contacted the police weeks ago after he first purchased his AR-15 to express her concern about him owning it.

Due to the effectiveness of the anti-gun lobby and public pressure, it appears that Trump and other Republicans will seek to produce some form of new gun-control legislation that compromises with some of what Democrats are calling for. In this instance, the pragmatic approach may be to produce legislation that tightens potential gun-purchasing loopholes while preventing any banning of firearms.

https://patriotpost.us/articles/64781-dems-and-trump-press-for-gun-control

Questions Surround Epstein’s Untimely Death12

Jeffrey Epstein’s apparent suicide while in jail on Saturday has sparked a flurry of questions and conspiracy theories surrounding the high-profile sex-trafficking case against the multimillionaire financier and sex offender. What has fueled many of the questions and conspiracy theories were Epstein’s connections to famous and powerful individuals, the most notable being Bill Clinton. The suspicious circumstances surrounding Epstein’s death certainly have not helped matters.

Why, for example, was Epstein seemingly suddenly taken off suicide watch? As The Wall Street Journal reported, “Nebraska Sen. Ben Sasse said in a letter to [Attorney General William] Barr: ‘Every single person in the Justice Department — from your Main Justice headquarters staff all the way to the night-shift jailer — knew that this man was a suicide risk, and that his dark secrets couldn’t be allowed to die with him.’” Who ordered the change, and why? Why was his cellmate transferred out shortly before Epstein’s death? And the biggest question of all: Who benefits now that Epstein will not be tried?

Clearly, Barr was not happy to learn of Epstein’s death, as he immediately ordered the inspector general to investigate the incident in addition to the FBI’s inquiry that is currently underway. Epstein’s accusers are also not happy, as they have now been robbed of their day in court to prove their claims against him.

It will be interesting going forward to see what the investigations turn up and if any others who were implicated are charged as party to Epstein’s sex-trafficking crimes.

https://patriotpost.us/articles/64784-questions-surround-epsteins-untimely-death

ON OUR WEBSITE TODAY

Featured Analysis: Hollywood Kowtows to Communist China13 — When it comes down to money and morality in Hollywood, there’s no contest.
When Culture Wins Hearts and Minds14 — Joshua Harris announced to the world that he had not only decided to abandon his pulpit but also his family and even his faith.
Grassroots Perspective: Pride or Pity? White Supremacy and Parenting15 — A critical childrearing mistake desperately needs addressing, and that is teaching a child to embrace victimhood.
Video: Trump Not to Blame for Mass Shootings16 — Larry Elder refutes the Left’s “Trump is responsible for criminals’ behavior” narrative.
Video: The Black Community Destroys Trump’s Racism17 — Brandon Tatum and a number of other black thinkers reject the Left’s racist narrative about Trump.

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The Patriot Post Digest 8-12-2019
From The Federalist Patriot
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TOP NEWS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

‘THE HUNT’ CANCELED: “Universal Pictures on Saturday canceled plans to release ‘The Hunt’ — a thriller about a group of ‘globalist elites’ killing people for sport — after two recent mass shootings that left a total of 31 people dead in El Paso and in Dayton, Ohio,” The New York Times reports19. According to Todd Starnes20, the “grotesque film … depicted elitists hunting and slaughtering supporters of President Trump. … The script also explains that one of the characters was stalked and hunted like prey for being pro-life.”

DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD: “As California Democrats try to keep President Trump off the state’s Republican primary ballot next year, Republicans in other states are pondering plans to cancel or modify their own 2020 presidential nominating contests and essentially affirm the party’s support for Mr. Trump before voters head to the polls.” (The Washington Times21)

YEARNING FOR A RECESSION: “Comedian Bill Maher on Friday said he ‘really’ wished there was another economic recession, arguing such an event would ruin President Trump’s chances of winning reelection,” according to The Hill22. Last December, our own Mark Alexander warned23, “Caught in the Democrats’ political crossfire are tens of millions of American workers and their families whose jobs and income prospects will fall victim to the Demos’ politically induced recession — the direct result of having thrown economic confidence under the bus in order to attack Trump.”

STRAIGHT PRIDE DENIED: “A Northern California city has denied a request to hold a so-called Straight Pride rally at a park. … City spokesman Thomas Reeves says the permit request was denied over safety concerns, because the group lost its liability insurance and the parks department determined the event wasn’t consistent with park use. However, Reeves says the city would allow the rally at a downtown plaza if the group proves it has insurance by Tuesday.” (Associated Press24)

RAINBOW MAFIA: “A federal judge in Virginia ruled Friday in favor of a transgender former student, concluding that a school board’s transgender restroom ban was discriminatory. … [The former student] was forced to use the girl’s restroom or a private restroom and was prohibited from using the men’s room as a result of the school’s policy, despite the fact that he underwent chest reconstruction surgery and hormone therapy as part of his transition.” (Fox News25)

VILLAGE ACADEMIC CURRICULUM: “A proposed ethnic-studies curriculum developed for California public high schools has ignited outrage over its shabby treatment of Jewish Americans and Israel, leading to fears that students could soon receive a crash course in anti-Semitism.” (The Washington Times26)

ATTACK THWARTED: “A Las Vegas man who reportedly wanted to shoot up area synagogues and a gay bar has been charged in federal court for possessing bomb-making materials. Conor Climo, 23, a security guard, had allegedly been communicating with a violent white supremacist group called the Atomwaffen Division. According to the criminal complaint, Atomwaffen Division ‘encourages attacks on the federal government, including critical infrastructure, minorities, homosexuals, and Jews.’” (Washington Examiner27)

POLICY: Ten questions parents should ask before school starts (Forbes28)

POLICY: Seven reasons to oppose red-flag gun laws (Foundation for Economic Education29)

SATIRE: To show support for gun control, Matt Damon remakes Jason Bourne series with bananas instead of firearms (The Babylon Bee30)

For more of today’s editors’ choice headlines, visit In Our Sights31.

The Patriot Post is a certified ad-free news service, unlike third-party commercial news sites linked on this page, which may also require a paid subscription.

OPINION IN BRIEF

Todd Starnes20: “Hollywood may be racist and it may even be anti-conservative, but it isn’t stupid. I have no doubt that the entertainment industry hates President Trump and loathes Deplorables. But there’s one thing it hates even more — empty seats at the box office. And that’s why Universal Pictures canceled its plans to release ‘The Hunt,’ a grotesque film that depicted elitists hunting and slaughtering supporters of President Trump. … The Hollywood Reporter obtained an exclusive copy of the screenplay and noted that ‘red state’ characters wore trucker hats and cowboy shirts and owned guns. The script also explains that one of the characters was stalked and hunted like prey for being pro-life. ‘Did anyone see what our rat—er-in-chief just did?’ one character asks in the script obtained by The Hollywood Reporter. Another responds: ‘At least The Hunt’s coming up. Nothing better than going out to the Manor and slaughtering a dozen deplorables.’ It’s almost as if the screenplay was ripped from the pages of the Democrat Party’s playbook.”

SHORT CUTS

The Gipper: “Cures were developed for which there were no known diseases.”

The BIG Lie: “We choose truth over facts!” —Joe Biden

Non Compos Mentis: “There are at least three [genders].” —Joe Biden

Grand delusions: “This administration has directed DHS to conduct these [immigration] raids as part of what I believe is this administration’s campaign of terror, which is to make whole populations of people afraid to go to work. … When that census taker comes knocking at that door, they’re not going to answer the door. And I know this administration knows that.” —Sen. Kamala Harris

Race bait: “I think it’s really hard.” —Beto O'Rourke when asked by CNN’s Jake Tapper, “Do you think it is racist to vote for President Trump in 2020?”

Braying Jackass: “Bigotry was written into our founding documents. … White supremacy has always been a problem in our America story. If not always at the surface, then looking not so far beneath it.” —Sen. Cory Booker

Blame game I: “We have somebody … who is contributing to this kind of divisiveness and these kind of dark forces in our nation through his own rhetoric, through the way he talks about Americans, through the bigotry that passes through his lips that incites white supremacists to literally use his language in their chat rooms to further activate this kind of hate.” —Cory Booker

Blame game II: “[Trump] creates a climate where we are seeing a significant increase in hate crimes in this country, hate crimes against Muslims, against Mexicans, against Jews. He is creating the kind of divisiveness in this nation that is the last thing that we should be doing.” —Sen. Bernie Sanders

And last… “The president is no more responsible for [the El Paso] shooting as … Bernie Sanders is for my shooting. The shooter is responsible.” —House Minority Whip Steve Scalise

https://patriotpost.us/articles/64780-monday-short-cuts

Join our editors and staff in daily prayer for our Patriots in uniform — Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen — standing in harm’s way in defense of Liberty, and for their families. We also humbly ask prayer for your Patriot team, that our mission would seed and encourage the spirit of Liberty in the hearts and minds of our countrymen.

Semper Vigilans Fortis Paratus et Fidelis