Last week I reported on statements given our school board by a Fillmore Middle School student’s mother. She claimed that both her daughter and son were physically assaulted (bloodied), repeatedly threatened on and off campus, including a threat to her life. The mother also alleged that her daughter was being “cyber bullied” by other girls. She also alleges that classroom discipline was almost absent at times and that she has been unable to get assistance or protection for her children after several attempts.

The mother of the victim children moved here from Alaska in January. They thought Fillmore was a small, friendly place. I intend to find out what I can about this violent situation on the Middle School campus, where fighting among students is apparently becoming commonplace.

I wish I had a larger staff which would permit me to make a true investigation of these serious allegations, but I don’t. I will do the best I can.

I invite anyone with information on the bullying, fighting and threats, to contact this office. I would be glad to meet with you and discuss the situation.

I have not requested a meeting with school officials as yet but will attempt to do so this week. The administration has always been cooperative in the past and I am anxious to hear its side of the story as insofar as the law permits the release of information.

* * * *

If the world has gone off its rails, and I think it has, America is certainly the Pied Piper of crapulous travels.

I keep hunting, in vain, for some encouraging news. In my traditional world I search for evidence of normalcy, morality, frugality (low taxes), common sense, Judeo-Christian integrity, courage, justice and freedom; those kinds of things. I mean America as it was until the radical-Leftist infestation of about 1960. We had conquered our enemies and secured the blessings of liberty for our posterity.

Back then America was the undisputed powerhouse of freedom. As a nation we took things seriously, our religion, our Constitution, our schools, our military, our American way of life. It has never been perfect, that’s certain, but there was never a better nation on earth – and we were confident of that fact.

I have witnessed the most glorious points of our history, and have lived long enough to see the most infamous.

Today America is in latter stages of societal freefall; moral, financial, military, judicial, and religious collapse. A corrupt government (all three branches) has facilitated our demise. We have killed more than 50 million unborn children at every stage of development (including newborn). We have printed and speculated our currency into sums beyond imagination with hedge funds and sophisticated new financial creations. Christian churches are splintered into the thousands. Moral conscience has disintegrated into previously unimaginable depravity, abandoning most traditional Christian teaching. Government is suffocating business with confiscatory taxes and complex regulation. Political correctness has infected all of our thinking. The only standards remaining are fundamentally anti-religious. We have become ignorant and naïve.

On the other hand, our enemies have become strong and intimidating. We bow to communist China; we weaken our military forces and strengthen the enemy.

We are fearful of identifying our most deadly and active enemy, Jihadist Islam. It is not so-called “radical” Islam that is the enemy. According to Islam, the Quran cannot be interpreted in any way but literally. To do otherwise, by Islamic law, is blasphemy and subjects those who do so to a death sentence.

America’s prime enemy is fundamental, Jihadist Islam. The believers (hundreds of millions) tell us so, and demonstrate this repeatedly. It’s passed time to wake up and smell the gunpowder.

Our country has been struck once again by a terrorist attack. So far it has caused three deaths, including an 8-year-old boy, and nearly 200 serious injuries. These innocent people have lost limbs and suffered many other horrible injuries because someone with a diseased mind or soul carefully planned to cause maximum mayhem and suffering.

The sorts of criminals that create these killing fields have been a plague on humanity for just about all of human history. Those of us who follow the Judeo-Christian religious tradition know that such crimes against humanity never go unpunished. Ultimately, justice is always done. When we pass from time into eternity with unrepentant murder on our conscience scripture and justice demand eternal Hell.

As we seek to learn who is responsible for these horrific killings we also seek reasons. This was either a rational act by another evil person or persons, or an irrational act by someone criminally insane. I think the day, the time, and the place of this bombing points to a terrorist. However, since the word terrorist focuses reasonable suspicion on certain ethno-religious people I’m going to reserve my judgment awaiting more details. It was either foreign-planed or domestic, politically or socially motivated. But it was undoubtedly a terrorist attack and we should call it like it is.

Like it or not, it’s virtually impossible to prevent attacks like this. It would be much easier to defend a school full of students by training and arming school personnel in firearm defense techniques - and publishing the fact that the campus is ready to respond to any lethal attack. That option is not available in any comprehensive way dealing with such a huge public forum. Evil will out. All we can do is anticipate and cover as best we can.

We all send our prayers to the victims of the Boston attack and their families, and hope for justice. Those hoards of leftist lawyers, who stubbornly oppose the death penalty, frustrating the law by consciously delaying (for decades) the execution of the sentence on frivolous grounds, dishonor the innocent victims. They deny justice. If the killer or killers in this case are found, tried, convicted, and sentenced to death, let’s execute them without undue delay. The maxim “Justice delayed is justice denied” (Pirkei Avot 5:8, Ethics of Our Fathers , 100 B.C. - "Our Rabbis taught:...The sword comes into the world, because of justice delayed and justice denied....", Magna Carta, etc.) applies to the people as well as the criminal defendant. And let’s not “put them to sleep” as you would a rabid pet. Justice in such outrageously violent cases deserves a demonstrably violent execution, by rope or firing squad, preferably in public view. Liberals could be correct in their belief that the death penalty does not deter heinous criminal activity (I disagree) – but it sure eliminates recidivism.

***

I had only a short time to inquire into the following allegations since Tuesday’s board meeting. I am waiting for written statements from the victims and victim’s families. I did speak to another witness for the victim’s in this case and will publish a full report next week. If these allegations are true, Fillmore Middle School is dangerously out of control. The victim’s mother addressed the board Tuesday and passionately demanded protection for her children who she said are in serious physical danger. She asked that her issue be agenized for the following meeting. The board agreed to look at the matter but did not vote to do so, which I believe is required for action.

Schools for Scoundrels?

I’ve never been able to tolerate bullies.

During Tuesday’s School District meeting I was startled to hear a mother report on a series of violent bullying incidents against her Middle School daughter and son. The family arrived in Fillmore from Alaska where her husband is a member of our Coast Guard.

Her report to the board was prompted by fear for her children’s safety and frustration after her alarming reports to Middle School teachers and administration have been repeatedly brushed aside or ignored altogether.
In short, her children have both been threatened and assaulted on school grounds. Her daughter, after repeated physical threats, was slapped, punched and bloodied on two occasions outside the school gate, first by one girl then by two. One of the girl assailants is alleged to have threatened to cut her throat as she was returning home. This, of course, would be a felony, making a terrorist threat.

Repeated complaints and requests for protection for her children have been unavailing.

Similarly, her son was beaten following numerous physical threats, and continues to be bullied. Threats continue after school.

Oddly, this mother’s daughter (the victim) was finally required to attend bullying classes – again, she was the repeated victim not the bully.

The battered victim is the constant object of cyber-bullying, with the alleged bullies congratulating themselves about the “beatdown”, saying “She deserved it.”

One of the alleged leaders of these assaults was, it’s alleged, suspended for a short while. Upon her return to classes she immediately resumed the attacks and was subsequently suspended a second time. I’m told, it’s alleged, that that girl was finally expelled. After threatening to murder the victim by cutting her throat, as alleged, I would question the wisdom of a mere double suspension.

Complaints have been reported about alleged ineffective supervision, during class, at recess, and after school on school grounds, in the face of numerous fights between students, seven recently alleged in a single day.
In another alleged event, a girl brought a gun to school for the purpose of “killing” another girl. The gun was discovered and confiscated. The girl was, allegedly, expelled and charged with a drug violation – with nothing being said of the firearm violation.

The Middle School appears to be out of control. I will research this allegation, but I have been told that the school has had 7 principals in 7 years.

The complainant mother’s attempts to see the superintendent were, allegedly, brushed aside. According to the mother the administration does nothing to correct this arguably lethal situation.

Utter lack of control allegedly goes uncorrected in the classroom, with students seriously disrupting class by doing such things as unplugging electronic devices and disrupting attempts at teaching. Some teachers allegedly can do nothing about the out of control classroom condition. If so, who is learning?

This corroborated report makes me livid. Should there be any mystery why so much deadly violence has infected our school system? Many public schools have become breeding grounds for future career criminals who have no respect for human life. In this case I suspect the heavy influence from a small number of gang-associated suspects. Are we looking at future thieves, robbers, rapists, and killers, maybe even racists? It’s time to correct any such criminal conduct in criminal institutions, not by ruining the entire school environment for the good kids. What incredible fear must be infecting our Middle School grounds if these allegations prove true? Who can learn anything in such a dangerous, threatening environment?

Let’s get these questions answered – now, for the sake of all those wonderful, normal, good-natured, innocent kids trying to educate themselves!

Virtually every American public school seems to be lacking student discipline these days. How can we wonder where all those murderous monsters are hatched? The incubators can be found in the amoral, anti Christian system of public education carefully nurtured by greedy, anti-religious, anti freedom teacher’s unions, incompetent and overpaid administrations (not signaling-out Fillmore) and a largely indifferent and distracted populous.

A partial answer – home schooling, voucher schools, and a good dose of Christian ethics.

Unprecedented efforts at every level are being made by state and federal governments to neuter America’s Second Amendment, and disarm American citizens, depriving them of the ability to defend against tyrannical governments and criminals. The clear intent of the liberal Left is to diminish gun ownership to a point as close as possible to confiscation without triggering an armed rebellion.

Not wishing to waste what they see as an opportunity flowing from the horrific tragedy of Sandy Hook, the usual ill-informed firearms-phobic politicians seek to impose draconian restrictions not only on so-called “assault weapons” and high capacity magazines, but on many handguns and ammunition as well. These gun-grabbers have one thing in common (aside from an irrational fear and loathing of firearms), and that is a psychological impediment to logical thinking. Typically, they reject obvious facts and refuse to apply logical thinking.

These people cannot understand that there is no silver bullet for defending against this world’s evil actors and the criminally insane. They can’t grasp that simple truth so often repeated, that is, guns do not kill people - people kill people. For example, Scientists can observe a firearm placed on a table for years without ever witnessing a threatening motion of any kind. This is because it is an inanimate object; it cannot think or move. This is true of every inanimate object in the world. This seems simple enough, yet members of the liberal Left can’t manage to understand this fact – which leads me to believe that members of the liberal Left should be watched carefully for other signs of instability. They should not be trusted with law-making.

Further efforts should be made by normal people to penetrate what appears to be a sort of invincible ignorance in liberals. They need to understand that the only thing capable of stopping an evil, deranged person from perpetrating a heinous act of murder with a firearm is a good person with equal firepower.

The Sandy Hook elementary school had in place every reasonable measure to avoid such an attack, except a human trained in defensive firearms tactics to react when the usual defensive measures have been defeated. Since even the quickest response by the police couldn’t have helped here, an armed guard, teacher or custodian would have been a quicker defense, lessening the carnage. Had the perpetrator known that he would confront armed resistance he would likely not have attempted this attack. Prohibiting large magazines would have solved nothing. Semi-automatic pistol magazines can be quickly and easily changed-out, and fire just as fast. To eliminate semi-automatic firearms would mean taking away the vast majority of firearms in American hands.

About 90 percent of firearms crime is committed by criminal gangs (more than a million members) and they will always have guns. With the huge drug cartels raking-in $35 billion in Mexico alone, they can buy anything they want in a worldwide market. If the war on drugs, after decades of strong effort, catches only 15 percent of the trade (liberal estimate) a nationwide ban on all guns would be fruitless. Gun bans are a mere inconvenience for criminals, but they devastate the 99 percent of honest, law-abiding, God-fearing American citizens in their attempts to defend themselves from criminals and tyranny.

Another fact seldom voiced: Up to three million crimes are deterred and criminals defeated in America by firearms every year. (John R. Lott, Jr. PhD, More Guns Less Crime, 3rd edition).

Infringing on our Second Amendment right to “keep and bear arms” by restricting ammunition, magazines, and particular firearms for foolish reasons and by unreasonable means (taxation) will spark a serious reaction from the 250 million holders of these guns. This would not bode well for domestic tranquility.

It’s great to see so many kids at the pool complex. Our city council is doing a great job of balancing the pool’s budget and making it possible to keep the kids swimming through the summer.

* * *

After so many years of aimless leadership from the former city council, it’s encouraging to see so much enthusiasm expressed during the recent Goals-Setting meeting. Clearly, Fillmore is back on track.

* * *

The constitutionality of California’s Proposition 8 is being argued in our Supreme Court as I write these words. Let’s hope that the court will not toss-out 4,000 years of moral common sense and biblical dogma. I wish I had more time for this issue this week. I have some fear that perhaps a justice of that court might imitate that Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals judge who refused to recuse himself before finding Prop 8 unconstitutional. He happened to be homosexual himself, wanting to destroy the people’s decision in order to “marry” his long-time boyfriend. So much for blind justice. My faith in our judicial system is quickly disappearing.

As conservatives continue to battle liberals and leftists to assure that our Second Amendment rights remain intact, it’s reassuring to hear that our sheriff stands with us.

The Gazette is pleased to have received a short letter from Ventura County Sheriff Geoff Dean which restates his sworn commitment to upholding our Constitution with its Second Amendment.

Our Constitution is under attack by liberal-radical revisionists who view that document as something soft and flexible rather than a thing chiseled in granite.

As the Founders continually emphasized, we receive our rights from God, not the government.

The Obama administration seeks to “infringe” on our Second Amendment rights as never before in American history. American citizens should defend against this force as never before.

One of the best summaries I’ve seen concerning the issue of gun violence and our Second Amendment has been set out in a video to be found on front page at www.fillmoregazette.com. The information is absolutely true and heavily documented. It clearly sets out the facts, which demonstrates that the rationale behind all of the so-called “reasonable” gun control bills being foisted on America is pure rubbish. As all credible studies and recent experience shows, gun control laws do absolutely nothing to diminish criminal conduct of any kind. To the contrary, the largest and most respected studies clearly show that more guns mean less crime. Removing guns from the law-abiding populace simply facilitates violent criminal activity. Criminals will always have guns and good citizens will always need an equal method of defending against criminal activity.

The most respected studies by the world’s most eminent scholars show, indisputably, the meaning of “More Guns Less Crime” (John R. Lott Jr., PhD).

The whole problem of violent criminal activity relates directly to criminals themselves and to criminal insanity. And, these two social problems continue to grow, fast. Here are some statistics from two years ago. “According to the Justice Department’s National Youth Gang Center, since 1980 the growth of gangs in the United States has been incredibly rapid, from an estimated 286 jurisdictions, which reported the presence of
Texas Border Security: A Strategic Military Assessment, 09/20/11 Colgen LP 23

Approximately 2,000 gangs made up of nearly 100,000 members in 1980 to over 30,000 gangs with more than 1 million members in 2011.” And, they all have guns, not purchased through legal transactions.

Does any sane person believe “gun control” will lessen this threat? Gun control makes criminal activity easier.

Sheriff Geoff Dean's Comments on Gun Control:
In recent months, there has been a great deal of discussion and debate about gun control, which was brought into sharp focus by the tragic shooting of elementary school children in Connecticut. As the nationwide debate continues, I have received many phone calls and e-mails asking about my position on the Second Amendment.

As a peace officer, I have ...sworn to uphold the Constitution of the United States and of the State of California. I believe in and support all aspects of our Constitution, including the Second Amendment. California already has some of the most restrictive gun laws in the country.

There are several new gun control measures being discussed at both the state and federal level. It is a complex issue, and I have been involved in discussions with various elected officials on some of the proposals. I will continue to be involved in the discussion and evaluate each proposal on its merits.
-Geoff

As I write these words the Catholic Church has just elected a new Pope. He is from Argentina and has taken the name of Francis. He is conservative and is expected to accomplish some much needed house cleaning within the Vatican bureaucracy. The church rejoices and I wish him well.

* * *

The residents of Fillmore should also be happy to hear that our new children’s park (the Tot Lot at Two Rivers) will be completed next month. The long awaited facility will be located south of the baseball field. Instead of grass, the park will have a rubberized flooring about three inches thick. I’m waiting for a press release which will detail the costs and grants which made the facility come to life. Some details were mentioned at the photo op but I wasn’t taking notes. You will all be very pleased with the design and location.

* * *

Our interim City Manager, Rigo Landeros, and the entire council are making great progress concerning the swimming pool complex opening as soon as possible. The deficit has been reduced from $76,000 to $41,000, and usage is up. The American Water company (designers and builders of our treatment plant, and much maligned by previous council members) is due thanks for covering the cost of swimming pool chemicals.
These are the first really positive developments brought to fruition by our new city council. Fillmore seems to be back on track.

* * *

Congratulations to Myrna Taylor (awarded Lifetime Citizen of the Year by our Fillmore Chamber of Commerce) and Citizen of the Year, R. J. Stump. It’s great to see that Fillmore continues to value our small town traditions.

When I first heard the story it sounded like a re-run from the 1960s.

The received reports about a Fillmore High School teacher who grossly disrespected the American flag in her classroom. When a student asked why the flag was folded on her desk, she is alleged to have picked it up in front of the class, waved it around disdainfully, then stated that it was just a piece of cloth.

After that, it is further alleged that she tossed it on the floor and stomped on it. To her shocked students it is reported that her actions were all lawful and that she would win in a court of law – which is true.

She was alluding to our great First Amendment, which is frequently abused.

* * *

Hugo Chavez is dead, finally. His supporters in Venezuela are sad; Venezuelans living outside the country are cheering. He was a close friend of the enemies of America like Iran and Cuba, and a socialist dictator.
Good riddance.

* * *

I regret I haven’t more time to comment on Obama’s Dept. of Homeland Security, ironically becoming a major threat to American freedom. It’s now reported that this department has ordered 2,700 light armored “tanks”. This, on top of the billions of bullets it has recently obtained, should cause reasonable, law-abiding American citizens pause. With the unprecedented push by the Obama administration to outlaw high capacity magazines and AR-type semi-automatic rifles, pistols, and shotguns, our concern should reflect some urgency to resist.

Keep in mind that Americans have a RIGHT (Second Amendment to our Constitution) to “keep and bear arms” which “shall not be infringed”. This is not a privilege to be granted by the government.

In my opinion, Obama and his henchman attorney general are spoiling for a fight to justify their unconstitutional restrictions on our rights.

Next? Watch what happens when Obama appoints one more Leftist to the Supreme Court. At that time (soon) our Second Amendment will be gutted. All the arms he is accumulating for the new Homeland Security forces, I speculate, are there to defend against outraged Americans who believe in traditional American freedom.

I’m guessing the spark will ignite the confrontation soon – well within two years.

For those who think I'm just an alarmist, read Dr. John R. Lott Jr.’s latest book, “At The Brink”. He had many conversations with then law instructor Obama at Columbia University back in the 90s. Obama hates guns. In conversation with Dr. Lott, he stated, “I don’t believe people should be able to own guns”. This, from a guy who was teaching constitutional law!

Mayor Rick Neal will be delivering a State of the City presentation Thursday, February 21, 6pm, at Wm L Morris Chevrolet showroom. It will be sponsored by the Fillmore Chamber of Commerce. Everyone is invited.

There are a lot of hopeful, positive things in the works since the new city council took over, and it was a pleasure discussing some of them with our interim City Manager/Fire Chief, Rigo Landero and Management Consultant Mike Sedell at lunch Tuesday. Mike is a very distinguished former City Manager of the City of Simi Valley and was Chief-of-Staff to Congressman Elton Gallegly in Washington, D.C., with many other credits to his service. He has generously volunteered to help Fillmore with its financial and budgetary challenges. You can learn a great deal by listening to Mike’s advice.

Fillmore’s future seems bright as we slowly climb out of the financial doldrums we’ve experienced these past several years. We’re not there yet, but we’re getting close. We discussed ideas for funding our swimming pool/tennis complex, alternatives for the Towne Theatre and much more. Our Film Commission is having great success this year, approaching the $100,000 mark in revenue. Maybe some of that money could be spent on reactivating our graffiti removal service. Fillmore is being seriously damaged by graffiti again. Solutions for these issues are being actively pursued and I’m sure the mayor will have encouraging reports for us tomorrow evening. Hope to see you all there.

* * *

I was going to say a few words about what our federal government is doing to us these days, but it’s too depressing and alarming. The insane debt, deficit, attacks on our Second Amendment, hollowing-out of our defenses, bleeding us with new taxes, attacks on our churches, in general, an all-out attack on our freedoms deserves more space than I have this week. Fifty two percent of the electorate has voted into office a president intent on destroying the freedom and dynamics which created this great nation. Obama is a clear and present threat to our republic’s constitutional government. And, the people he has appointed to our highest offices are sycophants, thugs, incompetents, and fellow socialists. I expect a complete financial, military, and moral breakdown before the end of his last term.

I almost began another rant, so I’ll sign off now while I recall my reasons for believing in Fillmore’s bright future.

Our prayers go out for the families of those police officers who were slain in the line of duty recently by a rogue ex-officer. The pain that the perpetrator of these horrendous murders may have suffered perishing as he did in a burning cabin are nothing compared to the eternal flames he chose for himself.

May all of the officers and other innocent victims of this evil man rest in peace.

***

My thanks to School Superintendent Alan Nishino for providing a rebuttal statement to (last week’s) former Assistant Superintendent Michael Bush’s criticism of Dr. Nishino’s contract. It’s important to hear both sides of the issue before coming to conclusions.

***

Just when I thought I could relax and enjoy the quiet, orderly, and productive city council meetings being conducted by our new council, under the mayorship of Rick Neal, a perplexing gadfly has landed in the ointment. Former Mayor Gayle Washburn has begun to haunt the proceedings, offering advice and urging the council to pursue her old agenda. It’s rather pitiful.

Gayle, you lost the election, by a substantial margin, together with all your minions. You’re still in command as the Home Owner’s Association President. Can’t you be content with that?

As the song goes, it’s Time To Say Goodbye – please.

***

The Gazette has posted two informative videos on fillmoregazette.com, concerning the Second Amendment threat launched by firearms phobic gun grabbers. They are well worth viewing. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HoV7TgAXKO8

The fact that always seems to go unmentioned in the numerous media anti-gun campaigns is this: In America the vast majority of firearms deaths are due to criminal conduct. Of the 11,000 annual deaths, almost all are due to gang activity, especially concerning drugs.

The most accurate professional studies (by professors John Lott, David Kopel, and Gary Kleck) show beyond question that approximately 3 MILLION Americans, every year, are saved from criminal violence by the use of their personal firearms. The vast majority of incidents do not involve firing a gun – merely showing the gun is often sufficient to halt the intended attack.

Again – 3 MILLION saved from violent criminal attack by the defensive use of firearms. Compare this to deaths by criminal firearms activity and remember that the great majority of those criminal actions are caused by gang activity. Rather than have the media continue to show only the victims of criminal firearm attack, it’s time to start interviewing some of the millions who have successfully defended against such attacks by the use of their private firearms.

Statistics tell us that gun bans, magazine restrictions, ammunition restrictions HAVE NEVER succeeded in reducing violent crime. Why? Because criminals, by definition, always ignore the law. That’s why they are called OUTLAWS. The effort to remove firearms from the hands of criminals must continue, but no final, complete success is possible, without getting rid of all the world’s firearms – which is completely impossible.

So, the government move to restrict and remove firearms from the 99 percent of law-abiding citizens can have no effect on the one percent of violent criminals. But such bans and severe restrictions do seriously diminish the ability of law-abiding citicens to protect themselves. Firearms bans are promoted by ignorant, paranoid legislators who are largely firearms phobic, and who have no understanding of American Constitutional rights. We are talking about RIGHTS, not privileges. In a constitutional republic like America, where the Constitution is the highest law, attempting to take away enumerated rights is itself unlawful, and should be resisted with all rational means.

One of the videos I mentioned above shows how two nations (Australia and England) can be quickly and completely deprived of civilian firearms and that violent crime rose dramatically as a reslult. They lost their rights because they were too slow to recognize what was happening. Make no mistake; the ultimate goal of anti-gun politicians is to deprive us of all firearms, regardless of what they say to the contrary. The Second Amendment has never had anything to do with hunting or sports. Its primary purpose has always been to provide a means to defend ourselves and our property against a tyrannical government and lawless civilians.

The other video is from a brilliant, articulate woman (Judge Jeanine). I would like to see her run for president. Judge Jeanine: "Owning a Gun, is my God-Given Right!" Opening Statement - 2-2-13.

Fight against those who seek to take our Second Amendment rights from us!

I picked the wrong time to withdraw video coverage of Tuesday’s school board meeting. Two issues of great importance were addressed, one involving the health and safety of students and teachers (badly leaking classroom roofs and resulting mold); the other pertaining to salary and pension compensation for Dr. Alan Nishino, as “interim superintendent” on a full three-year contract.

I regret I left the meeting before former Fillmore Assistant Superintendent (Business) Mike Bush addressed the Board. The complete text of his statement can be found on page one of this week’s paper. Mr. Bush had sharp criticism for the Board’s handling of Dr. Nishino’s 2012-2013 contract. I met with Interim Superintendent (Business) Earl Davis Monday. He explained some of the confusion in the contract’s form, but we have not yet received the letter of explanation that was promised for this week. The Gazette has received several letters of concern regarding these issues and I hope this matter can be cleared-up as soon as possible.

Five speakers addressed the issue of serious structural problems with many classrooms and the middle school gym. Photos of water damage and buckets needed to catch the leakage in many rooms and in the gym were displayed. Ceiling tiles in all affected areas have been falling and a mold problem has developed. These problems require immediate correction. Repairs, because of the extent of structural damage (admittedly due to shoddy design) is expected to be very expensive. The board has stated that a survey of the damage and estimates of repair costs have begun. The Gazette will follow-up with this story as details develop.

* * *

We have had two serious structure fires in the past two days. One involved a backyard trailer attached to a shed-like structure on Olive Street; the other was near the Senior Center. The fire near the Center was apparently ignited by someone walking on the path near the railroad tracks. It appeared someone tossed a cigarette or other burning material onto a leafy area beneath a palm tree. The tree ignited and spread to a storage shed. Sparks then spread westward igniting a boat on a trailer, which nearly burned down a small adjacent travel trailer.
Rest assured, Fillmore has the best volunteer fire department in the state! Our guys act quickly and they really know what they are doing.

Thanks to Rigo, Bill, Al and the whole crew.

Luke visiting the Gazette office with his eggs
Enlarge Photo

Three-year-old Luke Kraft, his mother Spring, and his dad Brian paid a visit to the Gazette this week. Luke has an unusual pet, a banty hen he has named “Girl”. They are inseparable friends and Luke carries Girl around with him, in and out of the house.

Luke’s most recent visit to the Gazette was occasioned by a special event; Girl had laid a tiny egg on Luke’s lap as a token of her affection. Luke showed up with a small wicker basket containing three normal sized eggs and one very small, special egg about the size of a wren’s egg – Girl’s gift.

Photos of Luke, his banty hen, Girl, and the special small egg can be seen on page 9 of the Gazette and on the Community page of fillmoregazette.com. We appreciate Luke sharing his pet with us and hope he visits again soon.
It’s great to have a warm, fuzzy story once in a while.

Due to illness, our loyal city hall reporter was unable to cover Tuesday’s Town Hall Meeting. Though the agenda stated that the event was to be a council meeting, it was in fact a town hall meeting, and well run at that.

Four members of the old régime attended, and three of them even provided comment. But it pains me to even mention their names. I’m gradually acclimating myself to the new, peaceful, respectful, businesslike, and highly productive meetings produced by our new city council, and don’t want to remember the bad old days. Our new staff, council members, clerk, and interim city manager are doing a terrific job.

Things are really looking up. The agenda set up four issues for discussion: the treatment of businesses at city hall, economic development, attracting new business and support for current businesses, the sewer treatment plant and new ways to generate revenues and reduce rates, and the swimming pool complex cash flow.

The filming commission reported that we have taken in more than $90,000 in the past five months. Shirley Spitler has volunteered to assist in seeking new businesses for the downtown area. Rigo Landeros praised Patrick Maynard for his great assistance with filming contracts and permits. Mayor Rick Neal kept the discussions on topic and the meeting ended promptly at 9:00 p.m.

* * *

After viewing Hillary Clinton’s performance during the Benghazi committee inquiry into the attack on our embassy I became so nauseated I thought I would skip this column. What a piece of work this first lady leftover is. For someone directly responsible for the death of four heroic Americans, including our ambassador, I would expect a little humility and contrition. Instead we get the usual Clinton lies, stonewalling, and arrogance. When I look at the sorry feminist stable at the state department these days I have to abandon hope for the security of our nation. One question posed to Hillary today: “Why weren’t you the one to go on the Sunday shows after the Benghazi attack, in place of UN Ambassador Susan Rice?” Answer, Hillary: “I have to confess here in public, going on the Sunday shows is not my favorite thing to do. There are other things I prefer to do on Sunday mornings, and I haven’t been on a Sunday show in over a year.” Any president with a normal sense of moral values would have booted her out of that office for such a casual attitude towards such a grave matter.

President Obama has not only panicked some 150 million American citizens who own, use, and value their firearms, his expressed intent to personally dictate weapons restrictions by executive order has caused a massive stampede. With the federal government announcing its determination to reinstate another “assault weapons ban” gun stores, shooting ranges, suppliers and manufactures of guns and munitions have been swamped by equally determined gun owners.

What is almost completely lacking in this point blank confrontation between gun haters and gun lovers, are facts and logic. The media has for the most part been utterly dishonest, with a blatant anti-gun bias.

Everyone wants to protect the citizenry from evil criminal attack. We especially want to protect the most innocent and vulnerable (our children) from deadly assault. However, none of the restrictions and regulations demanded by various government institutions will do anything to prevent the horror of mass shootings. Government studies show clearly that the last, ten year, ban did absolutely nothing to diminish the threat. I have cited professors John Lott and Gary Kleck on this issue before. David Kopel is another expert on the issue of firearms and violence. The facts and statistics are there for any honest person to access. Some of the undisputed facts are:

“American culture is a gun culture – not merely in the sense that in 2009 about 124 million people lived in households that owned a total of about 270 million guns, but in the broader sense that guns pervade our debates on crime and are constantly present in movies and the news.” (John Lott, More Guns Less Crime, Understanding Crime and Gun Control Laws, 3rd edition).

“The more-guns-less-crime thesis will be examined by looking at what happens to crime rates when cities or counties ban guns. The evidence should make gun-control advocates pause, as all the gun bans that I have studied show that murder rates increase after the ban is enacted.” (Ibid). “Despite many studies of bans on so-called assault weapons, economists and criminologists have yet to find any benefit from either state or federal bans” (Ibid).

Again, these are conclusions drawn from 30-plus years of research by world-class scholars. Read this book alone to become educated on the issue of guns, gun violence, and why this rush to ban and further restrict guns and gun ownership is foolish and counter-productive. The anti-gun attack is purely emotion-based, not factual.

***

This week’s school board meeting exposed a sensitive issue concerning three $100,000 payments to “Interim superintendent PerContract.” This was explained as a “PI” or purchase item. It was removed from this week’s agenda. More on this after the next meeting.

Congratulations are due to Richard Gonzalez (former owner of Richard’s Meat Market in Fillmore) for subduing a violent man in Taco Bell this week. The man was under the influence of drugs and acting in a threatening way.
I recall, about 20 years ago, Richard also helped catch another felon near his market.
I haven’t seen Richard in a long time but it’s good to know he is still around taking care of business.
Thanks, Richard.

* * *

On a less salubrious event, DRUDGE reports that:
WHITE HOUSE THREATENS 'EXECUTIVE ORDERS' ON GUNS
Barack Obama just made another 150 million enemies, which shouldn’t be surprising since 47 percent of voting Americans didn’t want him to be president.
This attack on the Second Amendment to the American Constitution is the most serious in our nation’s history. I will let Stanislav Mishin express my opinion.
“Americans, never give up your guns
28.12.2012
By Stanislav Mishin
These days, there are few things to admire about the socialist, bankrupt and culturally degenerating USA, but at least so far, one thing remains: the right to bear arms and use deadly force to defend one's self and possessions.
This will probably come as a total shock to most of my Western readers, but at one point, Russia was one of the most heavily armed societies on earth. This was, of course, when we were free under the Tsar. Weapons, from swords and spears to pistols, rifles and shotguns were everywhere, common items. People carried them concealed, they carried them holstered. Fighting knives were a prominent part of many traditional attires and those little tubes criss crossing on the costumes of Cossacks and various Caucasian peoples? Well those are bullet holders for rifles.
Various armies, such as the Poles, during the Смута (Times of Troubles), or Napoleon, or the Germans even as the Tsarist state collapsed under the weight of WW1 and Wall Street monies, found that holding Russian lands was much much harder than taking them and taking was no easy walk in the park but a blood bath all its own. In holding, one faced an extremely well armed and aggressive population Hell bent on exterminating or driving out the aggressor.
This well armed population was what allowed the various White factions to rise up, no matter how disorganized politically and militarily they were in 1918 and wage a savage civil war against the Reds. It should be noted that many of these armies were armed peasants, villagers, farmers and merchants, protecting their own. If it had not been for Washington's clandestine support of and for the Reds, history would have gone quite differently.
Moscow fell, for example, not from a lack of weapons to defend it, but from the lying guile of the Reds. Ten thousand Reds took Moscow and were opposed only by some few hundreds of officer cadets and their instructors. Even then the battle was fierce and losses high. However, in the city alone, at that time, lived over 30,000 military officers (both active and retired), all with their own issued weapons and ammunition, plus tens of thousands of other citizens who were armed. The Soviets promised to leave them all alone if they did not intervene. They did not and for that were asked afterwards to come register themselves and their weapons: where they were promptly shot.
Of course being savages, murderers and liars does not mean being stupid and the Reds learned from their Civil War experience. One of the first things they did was to disarm the population. From that point, mass repression, mass arrests, mass deportations, mass murder, mass starvation were all a safe game for the powers that were. The worst they had to fear was a pitchfork in the guts or a knife in the back or the occasional hunting rifle. Not much for soldiers.
To this day, with the Soviet Union now dead 21 years, with a whole generation born and raised to adulthood without the SU, we are still denied our basic and traditional rights to self defense. Why? We are told that everyone would just start shooting each other and crime would be everywhere....but criminals are still armed and still murdering and too often, especially in the far regions, those criminals wear the uniforms of the police. The fact that everyone would start shooting is also laughable when statistics are examined.
While President Putin pushes through reforms, the local authorities, especially in our vast hinterland, do not feel they need to act like they work for the people. They do as they please, a tyrannical class who knows they have absolutely nothing to fear from a relatively unarmed population. This in turn breeds not respect but absolute contempt and often enough, criminal abuse.
For those of us fighting for our traditional rights, the US 2nd Amendment is a rare light in an ever darkening room. Governments will use the excuse of trying to protect the people from maniacs and crime, but are in reality, it is the bureaucrats protecting their power and position. In all cases where guns are banned, gun crime continues and often increases. As for maniacs, be it nuts with cars (NYC, Chapel Hill NC), swords (Japan), knives (China) or home made bombs (everywhere), insane people strike. They throw acid (Pakistan, UK), they throw fire bombs (France), they attack. What is worse, is, that the best way to stop a maniac is not psychology or jail or "talking to them", it is a bullet in the head, that is why they are a maniac, because they are incapable of living in reality or stopping themselves.
The excuse that people will start shooting each other is also plain and silly. So it is our politicians saying that our society is full of incapable adolescents who can never be trusted? Then, please explain how we can trust them or the police, who themselves grew up and came from the same culture?
No it is about power and a total power over the people. There is a lot of desire to bad mouth the Tsar, particularly by the Communists, who claim he was a tyrant, and yet under him we were armed and under the progressives disarmed. Do not be fooled by a belief that progressives, leftists hate guns. Oh, no, they do not. What they hate is guns in the hands of those who are not marching in lock step of their ideology. They hate guns in the hands of those who think for themselves and do not obey without question. They hate guns in those whom they have slated for a barrel to the back of the ear.
So, do not fall for the false promises and do not extinguish the light that is left to allow humanity a measure of self respect.”
Stanislav Mishin
The hysteria being fanned by the media, and funded by the far Left, advocates senseless, illogical, false “solutions” to violent crime. Americans must educate themselves on this issue by consulting the most thorough and trustworthy studies by scholars such as John Lott, David Kopel, and Gary Kleck. Before throwing away our Second Amendment rights in a media-induced panic, we should all understand the problem – which is not gun ownership by sane, law-abiding, citizens demanding their right and ability to defend themselves, family, friends, and others from criminals and the criminally insane.

I’ve been under the weather these past several days, so I’m not going to say much today.

I hope you all had a Merry Christmas and will enjoy a Happy New Year.

With all of America’s most important moral, fiscal, military, and social issues in jeopardy of being wrongfully decided by the Obama administration, a happy new year is doubtful. So I have a few modest proposals for fixing some problems.

Obama is attempting to force the Catholic Church to pay for drugs designed to kill newly fertilized human eggs, embryos, (abortifacients) which is contrary to fundamental church teaching. The church cannot comply.

The government has become an active enemy of Christianity. The Catholic Church should close all hospitals, orphanages, and its numerous other charitable outreach facilities, sell the infrastructure, and use the resulting billions to construct thousands of new parochial schools, kindergarten through high school.

Reestablishing normal funding for essential defense programs may have to wait for the next catastrophe, which we may not survive.

The inability of our spendthrift congress to stop spending more than it takes in, may, again, need an economic collapse to make the point.

As I hope all of our readers enjoyed a happy and peaceful Christmas, I can’t forget the nightmare of grief the families of the little children slaughtered in Newtown, Connecticut must experience for the rest of their lives.
This most horrific event is preceded by several other mass killings by evil, mentally disturbed people. Sadly, they have been followed by other mass killings, most recently by an ex-convict in Webster, New York. This chain of murders has split America once again along the lines of the last presidential election. The burning issue is guns and gun control; how to at least curtail these mass murders. Evil itself will exist for all time; our only hope is to control and limit it.

Opinion here can be seen as liberals against conservatives, liberals demanding more gun control legislation, conservatives demanding better enforcement and mental health augmentation. Our Second Amendment rights loom large here. One of the few big mistakes that my hero Ronald Reagan made during his presidency was to listen to liberals such as the ACLU telling him to stop hospitalizing the mentally ill. As governor of California he directed the deconstruction of our once great mental health system. Every president since that time has contributed to this disaster, setting mentally troubled citizens on the streets to fend for themselves, often endangering others.

Returning to some of the classic studies of guns and violence in America, by authors such as John Lott, David Kopel, and Gary Kleck, the answer to the question of how to deter these terrible crimes emphatically does not lie in more gun control legislation. As these experts tell us after 20-plus years of examination, guns themselves are not the problem; evil criminals and insane people who use them to deliberately inflict mayhem are the problem. Even dyed-in-the-wool liberals are beginning to admit the truth of this fact. Reviewing David Kopel’s book “Guns, Who Should Have Them” ACLU stalwart Gene Guerrero has concluded “Regardless of your views on the issue, this book forces you to think about how much of a difference gun control will make in reducing crime in America. Kopel offers a number of common-sense alternatives which may offer far greater promise of reducing crime and violence.”

These authors are world-renowned experts on the issue of guns and crime and the history of so-called gun controls. They, as do most other experts on the problem, agree that, in John Lott’s words, “More Guns [mean] Less Crime.” This conclusion is now incontrovertible. Only emotionally obtuse liberals such as Senators Dianne Feinstein, Chuck Schumer, and New York Mayor Bloomberg continue to believe in this so-called assault weapons ban clap trap.

Threats by President Obama to push for more gun-control legislation have alarmed the hundreds of millions of firearms-owning Americans. Obama’s threat has stirred a panic in firearms and ammunition markets throughout the nation. The president is now deemed to be the greatest gun salesman in American history, with literally millions of “extra” firearms being sold to avoid another threatened “assault rifle ban.”

I hope to provide more factual information on this issue in coming weeks. America, through the liberal-left media, is being grossly misinformed.

I could only look at the first of the photos of the children killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut. It was just too much. Only prayer for strength can begin to heal the hearts of family members who lost their beautiful children in that maniacal slaughter. Every effort will continue to help comfort and protect the parents, children, families, and friends of those who were killed by this evil young man.

But the usual frantic effort immediately launched by anti-firearms zealots to solve the alarming repetition of incidents of mass murder will be in vain. The problem lies not with mechanical devices but with evil, violent people who use them to kill and maim others.

All of the previous efforts to deprive the 99 percent of law-abiding American citizens of firearms for self defense against the evil one percent have been miserable failures which have aggravated the danger instead of abating it.

Many of the most recent acts of mass murder have been perpetrated by insane individuals. This is a problem of identifying and treating mentally defective persons, not attempting to remove weapons from the hands of normal, law-abiding citizens, which are necessary for self defense.

“Insanity” played no part in Adam Lanza’s, cold blooded murder of 20 children and six adults. Experts tell us that violence has no part in Asperger’s syndrome, which is the condition he suffered from. He learned that, despite years of caring for him, his mother was planning to commit him to a mental institution because she could no longer handle his behavior.

It is now alleged that Adam had an “online devil worshiping page”, according to a former classmate, which stated that “I am the devil”. He was apparently fearful of being committed to a hospital,and furious over the thought that his mother might care more for the children at the school than he himself. This was a conscious evil act despite his obvious mental problems. Adam should have been given clinical help years before this atrocious crime was perpetrated, and the firearms secured.

As for firearms and crime, anyone truly interested in understanding the problems should consult the scholarly works of John R. Lott, Jr. (More Guns, Less Crime, U. of Chicago Press, and Gary Kleck (Point Blank: Guns and violence in America”). They are both world renowned scholars, true experts on these subjects.

These works are absolutely necessary for anyone truly interested in taking effective measures to curb this sort of violence. As John Lott concludes: “The horror with which people react to guns is inversely related to how accessible they are. It would appear that, at the very least, gun-control advocates face something of a dilemma. If guns are the problem, why was it that when guns were really accessible, even inside schools by students, we didn't have the problems that plague us now including the mass school shootings?”

“Rules that are passed to solve a problem can make the problem worse, which in turn generates calls for yet more regulations. The biggest problem with gun-control laws is that those who are intent on harming others, and especially those who plan to commit suicide, are least likely to obey them. The issue is often disparagingly phrased as whether hunters are willing to be “inconvenienced,” but this misses the real question: Will well-intended laws disarm potential victims and thus make it easier for criminals?”

The media are largely uninformed on the true issues here. CNN, with panicked ideologues like CNN's Piers Morgan ranting, things will no doubt grow much more dangerous as alarmed, Constitution-believing citizens will refuse to give up their means of self defense to government. I believe such a scenario could usher in something approaching civil war. Responsible people will defend their families, friends, and possessions with deadly force when necessary, as has always been a primary American constitutional right.

God bless those suffering from the horrendous slaughter in Connecticut, a state with some of the most stringent gun regulations in the nation.

God help America to maintain all necessary and traditional means for self defense when an uninformed, emotional majority seeks to give up fundamental constitutional rights.

"Those who will give up some of their freedom for security soon will have neither freedom nor security."
Benjamin Franklin

For the first time in four years I enjoyed attending a city council meeting.

Our newly elected council members, Rick Neal, Doug Tucker, and Manny Minjares, were sworn-in to their new offices, as well as our new City Clerk, Nancy Blendermann-Meyer, and new City Treasurer Shannon Godfrey. The atmosphere was festive and filled with fresh hope for the city’s future.

The only remnant of ill will came from Councilman Sipes, a close political friend of the two defeated incumbent council members. Sipes chose a “No” vote when asked to participate in choosing a new mayor (Rick Neal) and mayor pro-tem (Manny Minjares). Sour grapes to the last.

Congratulations to all of our new office holders. We wish you success in guiding the future affairs of the City of Fillmore.

***

I am slowly recovering from the outcome of the November 6 federal election. I have to conclude that America is now a different place, headed rapidly to a radically different place, morally, economically, militarily, socially, and religiously. The political divide is about 52 percent (liberal-left) and 48 percent traditional-conservative. Absent a national catastrophe which would humble Americans, I don’t see this changing for generations to come.

Religion, Christianity in particular, and all of its commands, are under heavy attack. Innocent human life, to the liberal half, is no longer sacred, therefore no longer cherished and protected. The unborn child is seen is nothing more than human waste to be destroyed and discarded. This pro-death attitude is also seen in efforts to eliminate the “inconvenience” of the elderly and sickly.

Militarily, Obama is well on his way to destroying America’s preeminence in defensive capability. Our enemies grow ever stronger as we grow weaker. Obama is betraying our friends (Israel) while arming our enemies. Our numerous enemies no longer fear or respect us, which invites their aggression.

As I’ve said before, I no longer recognize America.

Pray for our nation and restore good people to our government.

Composer Dave Brubeck has died at age 91. His “Take Five” will live on as one of the greatest Jazz tunes ever.
Rest in peace, Dave.

***

For the first time in 8 years I’m looking forward to attending the next Fillmore city council meeting. With all three incumbents defeated in the last election I expect things will return to the civil, businesslike atmosphere the city enjoyed for most of the past 100 years. The new council has a very tough job ahead. I trust that with fresh vision, common sense, and positive support from the rest of us they will succeed.
Good luck to all of you.

***

If I ever needed more reason to despise unions I found it in the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach strike. As they were, even during WWII, most unions are enemies of this nation, especially government unions. They blackmail our country with threats of killing-off commerce and putting many more non-union workers and businesses out of business.

In this case the strike was costing the US economy $1 billion per day. This port handles 44 percent of all cargo arriving in the US by sea.

“Tens of thousands of truckers, railroad, warehouse and other support workers were also temporarily out of work because the strike has stopped the flow of goods they normally handle.” (see: Michelle Malkin). The strike is being brought by port clerks - not longshoremen. I understand they make about $190,000 per year and can retire at 55 (will verify this statement heard on radio news). I see little difference between this union activity and that of the Mafia – except for the fact that the Mafia is a formally criminal organization.

I attended a press conference Tuesday at the Sheriff’s Office in the county government Center.

Sheriff Geoff Dean and District Attorney Greg Totten both explained the purpose of the meeting, which was the arrests by the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department, and the indictment by the District Attorney, of 27 members of Ventura County gangs and members of the “Mexican Mafia” gang. According to Assistant Sheriff Gary Pentis, “We have incapacitated the organization from the top through its geographic managers.” Charges range from conspiring to commit assault likely to cause serious bodily injury, and extortion, to home invasion robbery and narcotics trafficking.

“All of the suspects are documented members of several local gangs in Ventura County. The unusual aspect of this case was that they were working in conjunction with and for the benefit of a highly organized prison gang hierarchy controlled by the Mexican Mafia or “La Eme.” Every one of Ventura County’s ten cities were in some way involved in this conspiracy.

“All of the criminal activity was organized and coordinated by one high ranking member of the Mexican Mafia from a prison outside California.” What is unusual here is that the Mexican Mafia, through intimidation and threats, has forced all rival Ventura County criminal gangs to comply with the taxing of criminal income from narcotics trading, through threats and violence. While gang activity in Ventura County is common, as elsewhere, cooperation among rival gangs is unprecedented.

Being a highly complex investigation, it required the cooperation of local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, including the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office, Ventura County District Attorney’s Office, Oxnard Police Department, Ventura County Probation Agency, California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, and the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives, for a period of seven months.

This case involved the activities of organized crime, purely and simply, not the more typical neighborhood gang. The Mexican Mafia has spread throughout the nation, based largely in prisons.

I see this case as a reminder that criminal gangs are as threatening to American freedom as Islamic terrorism, and should be treated as such. Over the last couple of decades criminal gangs have grown exponentially. Los Angeles County alone has more than 150,000 gang members, of virtually every ethnic composition. These people will become an immediate threat to all law-abiding citizens in the event of a major terrorist event. It will take a strong, sophisticated, multi-capable police force to cope with that threat when it happens, as it does now with the current threat.

It does not help the cause of freedom and security to have Barack Obama for another four years!