2020 census participation ‘critical’ for Alabama
With a congressional seat on the line 2020 census participation is “critical.”
Debunking a myth: NRA and bill sponsors weigh in on fear of “gun registry” in pending legislation
Several weeks ago, legislation was filed in both the house and senate to change the way that the state of Alabama handles concealed carry permit licenses. The bill allows the state department of law enforcement rather than each of the 67 sheriffs offices to process concealed carry permits and allows for the creation of a lifetime permit. Senator Randy Price and Representative Proncey Robertson filed HB 39 and SB 47 in their respective chambers. According to their press release at the time of the bills filing their legislation “will establish a cohesive and statewide management level process for administering and managing concealed weapons permits in the state of Alabama.” When the bill was filed, Art Thomm the Alabama State Director of the NRA told Alabama Today, “The NRA strongly supports this streamlined permitting process. Not only would it bring much-needed 21st century technology to Alabama’s antiquated system, but it would be the first time law-abiding Alabamians were given the option for a lifetime concealed carry permit.” Since then gun owners have raised questions about the law creating what gun owners call a defacto gun registry. A concern that both the House bill sponsor and NRA addressed. In an emphatic statement Robertson said, “This bill WILL NOT collect or share any additional personal information than is currently collected or can be shared when you purchase a concealed carry permit. There is absolutely NO information collected about what weapons you have or what weapon you plan to carry with the permit. If someone is trying to call this a gun registration they should be calling the current system a gun registration because the process and information you will provide does not change. The only thing this bill does differently is put the information in one system rather than 67 different systems. This brings consistency to the information and process across the state and allows Law Enforcement Officers to see if a person has a “Valid Concealed Carry permit” or if the court has reported to the system that they are “prohibited to purchase a concealed carry permit“. As far as the permit holders information being share that is done now. But the officers have to call from county to county and asked for the information over the phone or radio. What they can’t do is know who the prohibited persons are. Because that information is not being collected or shared from the current 67 different systems.” Todd Adkins, the Director of NRA’s state and local division echoed that sentiment saying, “The bill doesn’t change current law — the personal information of permittees is protected from public disclosure.” A look at the statute confirms that this is, in fact, the case. Here is the language as found on Page 22 of the proposed bill: In the House the bill has been read once and referred to the House Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee. In the Senate the bill has been referred to the Judiciary Committee. Adkins of the NRA said, “The NRA fully supports the Lifetime Carry Bill and will continue to activate our members and supporters to help win passage of this critical legislation.”
Kay Ivey seeks pause on gambling debate, says facts needed
Kay Ivey said she wants to hear findings from a new work group before the gambling issue moves forward.
What Kay Ivey has right and wrong about Amendment 1
I’ve held a strong opinion about Amendment 1 since the first day I heard about it. Let’s make no mistake about what this is – a power grab. This amendment would take away the voters right to elect their own member to the state board of education and instead make each commissioner a gubernatorial appointment. Now the language is nice, fluffy and misleading as hell as it doesn’t come out and say that’s what they’re doing. They sell it as a way to get better-diversified representation, add term-limits, and rename the board, but truly I’m going to say it again. This my friends is a what? Oh yeah, a power grab. The vote should truly be a no brainer for everyone. The answer is no. I mean, not just no, but heck no. What in the world are you people thinking? NO. Are you kidding me? For real? NO. What are you trying to say? Your constituents are too stupid to pick a good candidate themselves? Still, NO. I’ll come back to that though. We, the voters, may be partially to blame for our state’s education problems, but that’s not quite the end of the story. The buck doesn’t stop there. Imagine my surprise when during the State of the State speech last night Governor Kay Ivey made this point for me. Thanks, gov. No really. Thank you. Here’s the line from her speech: Ask yourself this question: Is there any high school in Alabama, much less any college or university, that would continue to keep a head coach who produced teams that were consistently dead last? Would Auburn or Alabama? Well no, Governor. I don’t believe they would. We love our football like we love our, wait for it, kids. Which is why we should get rid of the “head coach” of the Alabama Board of Education. Let’s see, who that would be? Wait, I have an image from their website. Looking at the titles, looking at the titles, wait, who’s “President?” Oh, yeah. Hmm. So about that head coach analogy, it doesn’t really work the way you intended it to, does it, Ivey? After all, there’s no way you would have called us voters, your constituents, the proverbial head coach or insinuated that we needed to be fired. No! You would not have dared to put it that way. Would you? But the more I think about it, it seems clear that’s exactly you’re saying there. So allow me to address that. What the governor and the legislators who support this amendment have said, repeatedly, is that it’s necessary to pass Amendment 1 because we have failed. In her state of the union, Ivey all but blamed us voters for the failures of our current education system and to some extent she’s right. They’re right. Let me explain. To be honest, up until the time this amendment came up in the last six years I’ve lived in Alabama, I haven’t spent a lot of time worrying about the SBOE. I was guilty of not recognizing the importance of the board. I think it’s because my three children are still so young, only one is of grade school age and she attends a private school. The reason for that is because the school we are zoned for is failing. Not only is it failing academically, but it is also failing in every other imaginable way, including failing in providing a safe, nurturing and engaging environment and there is no continuity in administration. So, yeah, that’s a no go. No one should be forced to send their child to a school like I’m zoned for, which is why we need school choice but I digress. I wasn’t paying attention to the system quite yet because I was overwhelmed by it’s failing results in my own world. Let’s take a second to read what the governor had to say in her speech: But first, I want to, once again, level with you, the Members of the Legislature, and perhaps more importantly, with the people of Alabama. During last year’s session, the Legislature gave the voters of Alabama an opportunity to help move our education system in a bold, new direction, by having an opportunity to vote on AMENDMENT ONE, which will be on the March 3rd primary ballot. Unfortunately, we’ve gotten all-too-complacent to being at or near the bottom of national education rankings. Ask yourself this question: Is there any high school in Alabama, much less any college or university, that would continue to keep a head coach who produced teams that were consistently dead last? Would Auburn or Alabama? Sadly, too many of our third graders are not proficient in reading. In fact, according to the Nation’s Report Card, we are 49th in the nation in reading and we are 52nd in the nation in math! And it only gets worse as they get older… too many of our high school graduates simply aren’t ready for college or a career. Let me be abundantly clear… this isn’t the fault of our hard-working teachers, principals or local superintendents…Folks, it starts at the top. Alabama is one of only six states that still has an elected state school board and this board has selected 5 State Superintendents in the past 5 years. Very simply, Amendment One will create term limits for the State Board and no member will serve more than two six-year terms, thus bringing fresh new ideas to the commission every few years. Equally important, the newly constituted board will reflect the racial, gender and geographic diversity to reflect the make-up of students in our public school system. There’s no other way to say it but our current system isn’t working. Page 5 of 10 For us to prepare today’s students for tomorrow’s opportunities, it is time we get serious: It’s time for creativity. It’s time for accountability. It’s time for stability. It’s time to vote YES for Amendment One on March 3rd! She lost me when she gave the coach analogy because SHE
The case beyond his commentary for giving Rush Limbaugh the Medal of Freedom
It was a gut-wrenching surprise for fans across the nation when Rush Limbaugh announced on-air his cancer diagnosis. That wasn’t the only surprise in store for them and the nation though, during the State of the Union when President Donald Trump singled out radio host Rush Limbaugh and awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom (full video at the end of this article). Rush is well known as a conservative radio commentator who oftentimes pushes the envelope and has said some pretty controversial things but truly he is so much more. Especially to me, as I have started doing more and more conservative talk radio appearances over the last several years. NPR did a story after Rush’s announcement that notes how he paved the way for talk radio as we know it and while that alone wasn’t necessarily worthy of recognition as Trump said in his brief remarks it is Rush’s philanthropic giving that sets him apart from being just another commentator. In 2008 Forbes named Rush one of the nations top philanthropic celebrity givers saying, “Conservative talk show host Rush Limbaugh ranked fourth on the Most Generous Celebrities List by donating $4.2 million, or approximately 13% of the $33 million he earned last year, to the Marine Corps-Law Enforcement Foundation, a charity that helps support the children of Marines or federal law enforcement officers who died in the line of duty.” Here are some key donations to note: As of April 2016: Over the past 26 years, Mr. Limbaugh and his audience have collectively raised more than $47 million for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, helping provide much-needed research and support for individuals and families affected by blood cancer diseases. “Every year I think it’s going to be the year that we finally have topped out and we’re not going to be able to beat the previous year. And I’ve never been right,” shared Limbaugh. “I and everybody at the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of America thank you from the bottom of our sizable beating hearts.” As of Dec. 2019: Raised over $5 million for the Tunnel to Towers Foundation which supports the loved ones of first responders killed in the line of duty. In July of 2019, the foundation paid off the mortgage of the house belonging to the family of a slain Auburn law enforcement officer for his wife and two children. On Oct. 19, 2007: Rush auctioned off a letter he received from congressional Democrats who were upset with him for statements he made about soldiers who opposed the war and matched the winning bid. He gave the profits to The Marine Corps-Law Enforcement Foundation at the time he said, “it’s now official, is going to get in excess of $4.2 million because I am matching Betty Casey’s bid on eBay — $4.2 million.” In July 2018, Limbaugh and his wife donated $500,000 to the Dana Farber Cancer Clinic in Boston. Additional contributions can be found here.
Judge says Alabama judicial elections don’t discriminate
The ruling came from a lawsuit brought against the state in 2016.
Pete Buttigieg clings to narrow lead as Iowa results trickle in
The race is still too close to call with 92% of precincts reporting.
Donald Trump barrels into reelect fight, emboldened after acquittal
One advisor said the Senate impeachment trial strengthened Donald Trump’s hand within the party.
