China and dubious territorial claims.

China is attacking Japan for their possession of the Senkaku islands, claiming that the islands in question are actually part of Taiwan - which China also claims, but doesn't control.

In addition, China is trying to pressure Japan by also claiming Okinawa.

Rather than achieving their goals, this incredibly dubious claim over an island that has been a Japanese possession since 1879, is inhabited not by Chinese, but by Japanese, and which was not actually ever controlled by China - the kingdom of the Ryukyus, while a Chinese vassal, was an independent country, has just made the Japanese even firmer than before.

Given how numerous Chinese territorial disputes with other countries are, and how much tension is generated over its unjustified claims, I'm thinking that someone is going to go to war with the PRC before too long.

The Middle East and Southeast Asia are the two biggest world hot spots at the moment. The middle east because of Iran and Syria, Southeast Asia because of China and North Korea. The next war that the US gets involved in is going to be in one of those four countries, barring an unforeseen change in the situation.

Speaking as a Coloradoan...

I really hope that the recall efforts against multiple anti-gun politicians in Colorado succeed. They gave us gun control, now we need to express that we really didn't want gun control in the most obvious way possible -voting them out of office.

Pueblo Freedom and Rights, the group that is spearheading the recalls, is collecting signatures, money, and volunteer hours.

Look what I found...

All of these pages are worth checking out.

ITAR and bloody dafties

From The Lawdog Files

Homemade Glock

From Every Day No Days Off 

State Department Attacks First and Second Amendments

From Vox Popoli

Has Colorado just legalized voting fraud?

From Bayou Renaissance Man

"Game-Changing Weapons"

Hezbollah says that Syria is going to give it "Game-Changing weapons". I don't think that Hezbollah would enjoy changing the game in the way that I think they mean. While Israel likes to make it's possible possession of nuclear weapons ambiguous, it does most definitely have ICBMs, the Jericho III, and they must have something for the Jericho III to deliver.

On 3D Printed Firearms

At the order of the US Government, the design for the first completely 3D printed gun has been taken off of the internet, because it may violate arms-control regulations. Ignoring for the moment the sheer inanity of trying to get rid of something that has already been downloaded by more than 100,000 people, and which has already shown up on The Pirate Bay, let us consider:
Putting the design for a weapon on the internet, where anyone can download it, and can, with access to the right tools and materials make said weapon, is a violation of international arms-control regulations?
While those who buy The Handgun or The Do It Yourself Submachine Gun will need access to more expensive tools, a JACO Pistol can be made with tools that most Americans have in their garages.
While the tools are different, the 3D printer required for  the Liberator 3D printed gun is quite a bit more expensive than the tools required to make a JACO Pistol, which has pretty much the same function as the Liberator, being a single shot pistol.

The design for a firearm is not the same thing as a firearm - Defense Distributed wasn't making firearms, they were making firearms blueprints - and given how many other firearm designs exist on the internet, given that the Liberator is not an effective firearm (unless your goal is to get a reaction), and given that someone with a normal garage can build a firearm that is just as effective as the Liberator, and that someone with a well-equipped garage can make a fully or semi-automatic firearm with ease, the Federal Government's actions are just plain stupid.

Sources:
http://casualshooter.blogspot.com/2011/10/diy-firearms.html
http://www.everydaynodaysoff.com/2013/05/07/the-shot-heard-around-the-world-from-a-3d-printed-firearm/
http://defdist.tumblr.com/post/49768758853/the-liberator
http://defcad.org/liberator/
http://englishrussia.com/2007/06/04/chechen-self-made-weapons/
Google Search on "make a zip gun"

He means it this time... Maybe

POTUS has just announced that GITMO needs to be closed.
Lets see if he can deliver on this one. After all, the first time he talked about closing GITMO the only thing that happened was rhetoric.

The unfortunate array of terrorist attacks

We have had the Sandy Hook shooting (December 2012) and the Boston Bombing (April 2013) recently.

So, what did they have in common?

All of the attackers did not legally posess some type of firearm (shooter 2, bombers) which they used.

They Run Towards Fire

Firefighters risk their lives by charging into burning buildings to save lives. Sometimes, this ends up costing them their lives.
No one deserves honor more than those who give their lives for the safety or freedom of another.

The Family Business...

It seems like the Bush family's business is politics. I agree completely with Mrs. Barbara Bush that we've had enough Bushes. I probably take it a bit further, since I think that the family should find something else to do besides politics - at any level.

Also, I really don't want to see the Jeb Bush vs. Hillary Clinton match-up that Mrs. Laura Bush suggested for the next presidential election. I want to vote for a candidate because I want them in office and not because I really don't want their opponent to be elected.

ANZAC Day

On this day in 1915, the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps landed at Gallipoli.
May they, and all others who chose and continue to chose to risk life and limb in the service of their country never be forgotten.