It’s one thing when your government forces you to give up your Second Amendment rights. Quite another when you do it willingly. Yet, that’s just what some of our fellow citizens recently did right here in good ole Broome County. The backdrop for my latest observation/rant comes from the Press & Sun-Bulletin (55 guns destroyed in collection program):

With a quick step on a pedal, the large metal jaws collapsed on the gun’s barrel, snapping the piece in two.

In less than a half-hour Friday, 55 handguns that were exchanged in June at the St. James Rectory parking lot in Johnson City for $150 Wegmans gift cards were destroyed at Ben Weitsman & Son in Binghamton.

The Broome County Sheriff’s Department, which has been in possession of the weapons since the St. James Peace and Justice team held the collection, had a deputy and detective stand by as even a World War II German Luger worth thousands of dollars was split.

Broome County Sheriff’s Detective Michael Clapp said the department brought an additional 70 to 80 guns for destruction. They were collected from criminals or were turned in because someone didn’t want them.

So people turned in their handguns–weapons they can use to protect themselves and their private property (yes Virginia, we still have some private property rights in the U.S.). And for what? Gift cards from Wegman’s grocery store. Honestly, I just don’t know what makes some people tick. You can bet your bottom dollar that the 55 people who turned in handguns at St. James were not criminals and the weapons they turned in had never been used illegally. And yet, they willingly disarmed themselves. Go figure. I call it the “easy way” to disarm the citizenry: Get them to do it themselves (idiots).

As for me and my house–well, let’s just say it’s time to take the hunter’s safety course, which I and my 13-year old are about to do this fall so we can go turkey hunting. I may even apply for a pistol permit!

Technorati Tags: Second Amendment, disarming citizens, Broome County, handguns

First, let’s set the record straight. For years, Sheriff Harder has gone hat-in-hand to the County Executive and County Legislature telling them he needed more manpower for the jail. And for years they have denied him. Since he operates a public institution that is regulated by strict state laws mandating how many officers must be on hand to run the place, he had no option but to use overtime. And a lot of it. The yearly budget has allowed some overtime, but often he would run over–way over the alloted budget. Fiala has been using this issue to try and smear Harder, I’m assuming because she’s a Democrat and he’s a Republican.

Harder finally had enough. He called in the big dogs (Commission of Corrections), and they have the full weight of New York State behind them. Apparently they can make Broome County hire these officers over an 18-month period to correct the situation. I’m a little concerned when the New York State comes in and orders us around, especially when they mandate we spend money, but if I were in Dave Harder’s shoes, I would have done the same thing. He had no choice.

So now, Ms. Fiala and the Legislators have to find some money. The P&SB incorrectly reports we will have to find the full $1.4 million extra. Actually, there’s already $1 million budgeted for overtime at the jail right now. If the overtime is eliminated, that means we only have to find another $400,000. True leaders would suck it up and find it without raising taxes. But then, we don’t seem to have true leaders in our county government. Broome taxpayers–be prepared for yet another tax increase by your Democrat county government.

Technorati Tags: Binghamton, Broome County, David Harder, Barbara Fiala, New York Commission of Corrections, Broome Legislature