Prison Wine

   The other night I was doing a little review on the method I used to make my "Get Jacked" wine.  It just wasn't wanting to start its fermentation process.  So, I went back to the video I had watched and used to make this wine.  No real cues, but through some other readings, realized the temperature of the room I use may have been a little cool and therefore stumped the working of the yeast a bit.  As of this blogging, "Get Jacked" is bubbling nicely with a strong fermentation process.

"Prison Wine"

   On the side of the page where the video was, there was a video for making blackberry wine in a mason jar.  Well, this looked pretty easy to me...and it was...very easy.  So, I got out a couple of my large, 2 quart mason jars and placed some Gala apples in them.  Then I took some blueberries I had and did a quart size with them.  We had some frozen mixed berries that were about to expire, so I used them in another.
   As you can see, the berries seemed to give off their colors and juices a bit more freely than the apples.  I have, since this photo was taken, added two more jars of the frozen mixed fruit.  In four to five months we will see if we got anything worth keeping.
   This type of wine is called prison wine because it can readily be made with very few items.  All you need is the jar with ring and lid, some fruit, and sugar water.  The hardest part would be finding somewhere to keep it where the guards wouldn't find it.

Time to "Get Jacked"!

   About this time last year I ventured into the world of wine making.  I watched a You Tube video of a guy making a rhubarb wine and I though to myself, "I can do that".  I was talking to a friend about it at work and he told me he had some equipment his father had used, before he died, and was willing to let me have it.  I took him up on the offer and with some added gear and some help from a friend, I made my first batch of wine.  It was a delicious rhubarb/raspberry wine.

First glass of "Get Jacked"

   This is a photo of a glass from bottling night.  I must say that it turned out a bit nicer than I had expected for my first go.  We had to decide what to name it.  We decided to call our little wine endeavor "Northern Lights Wine", but we needed a name for the individual wine.  My wife, Selena, has become the one to go to for most of our names.  This one we called "Get Jacked", in honor of my alma mater, South Dakota State University.  That is one of their sayings during sporting events.
   Here is the label I ended up creating.  The batch produced 23 bottles plus a little to enjoy after bottling.  We have shared it recently and it has gotten even better as it has aged.  This was bottled in December of 2016.
   When my friend gave me the equipment, I promised him I would go to the State Cemetery where his father is buried, and have a glass of wine with his father.  It was far too cold this past winter, so on Memorial Day, after the ceremony had ended, I took a bottle from the first batch of wine I made and had a glass with Mr. Peter Herda.  His glass is in my left hand and I stuck it into the grass in front of his marker.  His son, my friend, showed up as I was finishing and my friends daughter was an onlooker.  It was cool to be able to share a glass with a fellow service member.

A promise kept

   I have now begun the 2017 wine making season and just started this year's batch of "Get Jacked".  I hope this one turns out as good as last year's.

Secondary Can Be a Good Thing

Rhubarb pulp after squeezing

My rhubarb wine that had started out a bit of a challenge due to my primary bucket being a tad on the small side, has now moved into its secondary stage and is looking very yummy already. It is hard to believe that such a delicious looking wine can come from a substance that looks as unappetizing as what you see in the bowl.

Rhubarb wine in secondary

After transferring all the lovely pink rhubarb juice into one of my Big Mouth Bubblers, I think I should have a pretty good batch of wine.  Unlike my "Get Jacked" rhubarb wine, this one is straight rhubarb, no raspberries or blackberries.  That wine will be getting started once I get home from vacation.

I was thinking of a good name for this one and decided on one that speaks to the method I used to get the rhubarb.  On my way to work I drive along the backyards of some very nice homes over  by Bismarck State University.  Last year I noticed this very healthy, large rhubarb patch, so this year, I determined I would stop and ask for some to use for wine making.  One day as I was leaving work, the lady of the house was in her garden by the rhubarb patch, so I stopped and asked her.  She say I could have as much as I wanted but please let her know when I stopped.  Just knock on her door.

The first time I stopped with Anna and we picked 19 pounds of rhubarb.  I wanted to start anoterh batch, so Anna and I picked 15 more pounds.  I need 18 for a batch.  For this batch I wanted to use the rhubarb from one single patch.

Get Jacked uses wines from about 4 other souces, but it is exclusive.  It too is ready to go after getting the last two pounds I needed.

The Best Orange Dreamsicle EVER!

About three weeks ago Selena sent me a recipe for another adult beverage.  I swear she must think I am a lush!  The recipe was for Orange Dreamsicle Moonshine.  The first thing that went through my mind was the failed attempt at Apple Pie Moonshine or my batch of Lemoncello.  Neither of those was especially tasty.

This wasn't the cheapest beverage to make and the recipe was a bit labor intensive, but the result was awfully darn good.  No, it doesn't taste too much like a Dreamsicle, but it sure isn't too hard to drink.

We got five quarts out of the batch with the first one disappearing quickly once I opened it.  The directions tell you to wait two weeks before drinking, which I reluctantly did.  We definitely plan to make more of this fruity drink once this batch is gone.

This Year's Winemaking Woes

This year's winemaking started with a batch of straight rhubarb.  I found a beautiful rhubarb patch near my work and stopped and asked if I could raid it.  The lady was more than happy to let me thin her plants out.  By the time my daughter, Anna, and I finished, we had 19 pounds of rhubarb (I needed 18 for the batch of wine).  For my "Get Jacked" rhubarb wine, I use rhubarb from three different patches.   For this one, I wanted to use rhubarb from one patch to see how it tasted.


I started the batch and quickly realized my 6.5 gallon primary bucket was not going to be big enough

to hold 18lbs of rhubarb, 10lbs of sugar, and the water necessary to make a 5 gallon batch.  But, I drove on with the process with only about an inch and a half of space left on top after snapping the lid on top.


The following day I added the yeast and after 24 hours, nothing had happened.  Not being the first time this happened, I added another package of yeast and waited.  By the next morning I had juice all over the lid and on the floor!!! After adding yeast, the must needs room to bubble and allow the yeast to do its thing.

I am anxiously waiting for the specific gravity to get to the point where I can transfer into a bubbler to finish fermenting. I think this will be a very interesting wine.  It is 100% rhubarb with no other fruits to add color or body.  I am going to take Anna to pick more to start another batch at a later date.  This time, I will have a 7.9 gallon bucket I plan to purchase.


Wish me luck!  I am hoping it goes well over the next few days.

Gun Control - Tougher Than We Think

    Another mass shooting by a criminal has once again sparked debate about gun control in the United States.  What is gun control and how would we go about doing it?  Would it do any good?  Is it really what we need to focus on?
   A friend of my wife's, normally a pretty conservative fellow, is a pretty big fan of gun control  I saw his comments on her Facebook page, most of them the same calls you hear after such a horrible attack as happened in Orlando this past weekend.
   I would like to look at a few of these and show where gun control is most likely not the answer.  But first, let's discuss briefly, the "shall not be infringed" portion of the 2nd Amendment.
   Donald Trump likes to claim Hillary Clinton will abolish the 2nd Amendment.  As much as she may like to, if the Constitution is followed at all, that would be difficult to do, if not impossible.  Personally, I do believe she will do everything in her power to make it as hard to buy certain guns, ammunition, parts, etc.  She will push so many punishing laws upon gun owners as to "infringe" on their rights to have a gun.  You see, if you can't afford the ammunition, you won't shoot it.  This is how I see government infringing on that right and a way to take away the right without actually doing so.
   OK, now looking at my wife's friends demands for gun control:


1.  Ban "assault weapons", i.e. semi-automatic weapons


   I'm still not sure what an assault weapon is, but for the sake of this argument and in this writing, I am sure he means the AR-15 style rifles.  First of all, let me point out that a statistic I saw showed that a very small number of gun shootings in the United States are done with an AR-15 style rifle.  Mass shootings,  yes perhaps, more are done with this rifle, but not all mass killings are.  AR-15 style rifles were banned in the early 1990s with no appreciable drop in the number of shootings.  It just isn't used that often.  Most of these rifles are purchased for sport shooting or even for coyote hunting.  Banning them would only cause someone determined to kill people to find another way... and they will.  The last list I saw of proposed guns to ban was pretty long and did not stop with the AR-15 style rifles.


2.   # of boxes of ammunition


   Her friend stated that he saw no reason anyone should be allowed to have 100 boxes of ammunition.   My initial response was, "And who do you think you are to decide how much I do need"?  On an average day at the range, if my wife and I both go out and shoot, even just our pistols, we can easily use three or four boxes.  If we are having a lot of fun and want to shoot more, that number goes up.  A competitive shooter, on a practice day, could go through a lot more than that.  One thing to consider, what constitutes a box?  When the stores were regulating the amount of .22 Long Rifle bullets you could buy, they said two boxes.  It didn't matter if the box was 50, 100, or 250 rounds.  It was two boxes.  So how many is in the box? 
   I would also add that it would be impossible to know how many boxes of ammunition a person had, unless it were somehow registered.  Then, how do you know if I fired it?  It is another impossible attempt to "control guns".


3.  Capacity of magazine

   I see this one as another feel-good idea that has no basis in reality.  I normally carry a gun that holds 7 rounds.  I feel woefully unprepared in the event I must protect myself.  Seven rounds allows me no room for error.  A policewoman friend of ours, who is an expert shot, once had to fire her weapon at a criminal.  She fired five times and never hit him.  Adrenaline, noise, environment, all affect Whether or not you will hit what you shoot at.  I would rather have another 8 rounds to fire.  Also consider the number of assailants.  If my home is getting broken into and I find myself facing two armed robbers, I better have enough to handle two people, not just one.

   The capacity of a magazine or clip is irrelevant in the case of a mass shooting.  Magazines can be taped together so you simply flip them over to fire another full magazine.  A determined shooter will get off a lot of shots whether or not the magazine/clip is 10 rounds or 30.  The only person affected by a law like this will be the defender.

4. Gun show loophole/background checks

   I think this is one of those issues spoken about that is the most misunderstood and reported, whether intentionally or not.  The "gun show loophole" is NOT where you can go to a gun show and buy a gun without a background check.  That is an absolute lie told by the gun control crowd.  I purchased two guns at gun shows and had to be checked.  I bought one from a FFL (Federal Firearms License) dealer from his house and he did one on me from his kitchen table.  Any gun seller holding an FFL MUST and will do a background check on a buyer.  The "loophole" comes when a private seller, outside of the gun show, sells a gun to another private citizen.  I have seen those.  They cannot, however, do the purchase and exchange inside the gun show. 

   I am a member of the NRA...proudly...and I am not, and I don't believe the NRA is against universal background checks for all sales.  Perhaps the two individuals need to go to a FFL dealer and have them run a check for them for a nominal fee.

   Where the real problem rises is when I want to give one of my guns to a relative or a child, or I want to buy my daughter her first gun.  I should be able to do that without need for any background checks between us.  If a "heritage/gifting" clause existed, then I believe pushback by the NRA would cease.  Remember, the NRA is about tradition too.

5. No need for them

   This friend, and others, believe there is no need for these rifles to exist.  That is because they have never fired them.  They are fun to shoot, plain and simple.  They are easy to operate, easy to maintain, and easy to build.  Don't forget, they are sexy!!!  And yes, they look military, so it lets some people live out a dream.  They do not do a very good job of hunting.  Believe it or not, they are under powered.  They are good for coyotes and small game, but not a good deer rifle.  They really are good for a sporting rifle and yes, home defense.  If there is civil chaos in my city, you can bet your behind you will find me with my AR-15 and as many rounds as possible protecting my family and home.  And with that AR-15 I can reach out and touch you before you are too big of a threat.

6.  No need for .50 Cal rifle or automatic


   He brought up the fact that anyone can purchase a Barret .50 Caliber Sniper Rifle like the military uses.  That is almost true.  I am not sure it is the same one, but you can purchase that .50 Caliber rifle...at a pretty hefty cost for the rifle and the ammunition.  Not to mention it is pretty hard to find a range that can handle it.  No one is going to simply walk into a gun store and purchase that rifle without a very specific reason.   Usually that reason is long range rifle competition.  Otherwise, the cost of it alone would stop most people bent on using it nefariously.  In that case, they would probably get it illegally somehow.
   This friend also mentioned that fully automatic weapons didn't need to exist.  Now, he mentioned these as if you could buy them off the shelf.  You cannot.  It takes a lot more paperwork, you must actually register it with the ATF, and you must pay a tax to own it.  Again, not just something your everyday shooter has.  He said you could purchase a modification kit on the internet and then modify your weapon so it was fully automatic.  That may be, but now you have an illegal weapon, so you have broken the law already.  So perhaps we make those modification kits illegal.  I think they most likely already are, at least in most states.



7.  Closed ranges


  One of his strangest arguments was that these weapons must only be allowed to be fired on closed ranges.  How is that going to stop someone from using one for evil?  Also, I live in North Dakota.  Lots of open land.  Does that mean I cannot fire my AR-15 on a friends land?  That is dumb.  How am I supposed to hunt prairie dogs or coyotes with it?


   His arguments all sounded good to him, but in reality are extremely difficult or impossible to implement.  They are nothing more than costly and burdensome regulations that would infringe on our rights and add a little "feel good" to a politician.
   I am mostly amused by how most gun control advocates usually reference laws being broken in order to ban something.  Fully automatic weapons are illegal to own without proper licensing...but they claim they are all over.  Purchasing an automatic weapon through an illegal means is ILLEGAL!!!  Straw sales, the purchasing of a weapon for another person who many not be able to, is ILLEGAL!  So illegal actions done by criminals means that law abiding gun owners must pay the price?  That is crazy!
   We do not have a gun problem in America.  Well, we do, but it is in the places the politicians don't want to talk about.  You see, we have a huge gun problem in the cities where there are the most strict gun laws:  Washington, D.C., New York, Chicago, and Detroit.  But see, those are hand guns, not as scary as that big bad AR-15.  Those are also ILLEGAL guns.  We can't bother ourselves with keeping illegal guns off the streets.  It is much easier to go after those folks who own their weapons legally and responsibly.  And let's not forget, those are criminals shooting criminals...mostly.  They aren't a bunch of innocent people out at a night club who were massacred.  Just a few innocent children hit by stray bullets, or victims of robberies, etc.
   No, what we have is a country who takes God out of the public square and locks Him in a church and then wonders why its people have no values or morals.  We have public officials who, instead of looking at the shooter and his background and what is around him, blames his weapon of choice.  It doesn't matter if the killer uses a truck bomb, a rifle, a shotgun, or a pressure cooker...people died and we need to figure out how to keep it from happening again.  Going after the weapon solves nothing and does nothing but direct our attention away from the real problems.

And the Three Shall Become One

   When my wife and I were dating, and early in our married life, we tended to pray together each night.  It was a special time for us and it helped us grow closer together.  During our wedding, we chose a Bible reading that centered on praying together.  Our priest said in his Homily that our marriage would be a strong one because we believed that a marriage was a trinity much like the Trinity of God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.  Without God, our marriage cannot stand.

   The other day, my wife shared this picture on Facebook and tagged me in it.  I lamented that this was no longer so with us.  We had stopped our regular prayer time together and, in my case at least, were not praying regularly on our own.  I texted her and asked her to begin our evening prayer again and she responded with an emphatic "YES"!!
   Now this priest, had spoken about trying to combine oil and water.  We all know that it cannot be done.  If you take oil (husband) and water (wife) and pour them into a bottle they will separate.  You can shake them up and they will mix together, but they will never fully combine and will eventually separate again.  However, if you add some glycerin (God), those two liquids will combine and become one liquid.  So it is for a marriage.  You can shake the marriage up a bit to keep things together, but you can never fully be one until you add God.  He is the glycerin that keeps a marriage together.  Unfortunately, too many marriages do not include God and didn't from the start.
   I hope that my wife and I continue to make the effort, no matter how busy we become, to include God in everything we do.  You see, Satan doesn't have to do much to win us, he only needs to make us too busy to find time for God.  We can be our own worst enemies.
   If you are married, make the time to pray for...and with...your spouse.  If you are not, make it a goal when you decide to marry, to make your marriage a trinity.

The Loss of Civility

I am currently reading Dana Perino's book, "And the Good News Is...".  It is a really easy read, full of good advice, fun stories of her life, and interesting bits about President George W. Bush.


I just read a section that spoke on the loss of civility in society, in general, and in politics, particularly.  Imagine if she had written her book after the fiasco that is the presidential race today!

I cannot remember a race during my lifetime where name calling and insulting speech was so rampant.  It is quite embarrassing to tell you the truth.  It pains me to hear candidates calling each other liars, especially when they are probably doing it themselves.


Personally, I am getting pretty tired of hearing Donald Trump speak.  In the beginning I wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt and look at the possibility that perhaps he could be good for the country.  Unfortunately, he failed to notice he was no longer on his reality show and act like an adult.  The man has acted like a schoolyard bully.  The way he called Senators Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz, "Little Marco" and "Lyin Ted" came across as the bully on the playground trying to intimidate them.  He lost and benefit of the doubt I was giving him.


Unfortunately, no one is going to bow out to allow a good fight against Trump and he will most likely be the Republican nominee.


Then we end up with the Democratic Party who has placed a Socialist and a possibly soon-to-be indicted former Secretary of State up for election.  So far, the name calling between the two has been minimal, but the names against the Republicans are flying.


We seem to have gone from a civil electoral process to bully tactics and name calling.  Now, we pick a person because of skin color, gender, or who can best capitalize on the anger of the people.  It seems like the actual issues are unimportant.  The American people are so tired of the lack of action in Washington, D.C. that they are willing to overlook lacking qualifications and childish behavior and vote for anyone.


Donald Trump wants to "Make America Great Again" and Hillary Clinton wants to "Make America Whole Again".  I would settle for respected again.  Right now, I think the world is laughing at us.

A Rough Day

As this September 11th winds down, I am very thankful the day was quiet.  Nothing  horrific happened as we remember the events of this day in 2001.

SGT Tamara Thurman

It was a rough day, very mellow and a bit sad.  I lost a former Soldier when the plane that hit the Pentagon struck the office she worked in.  SGT Tamara Thurman had been my administrative clerk when I was a company commander in Germany.  She had a beaming smile everyday and was loved by everyone.  The world lost a beautiful soul when she died at the age of 25.


All day long I read comments about that horrible day.  People posting pictures, commenting, telling where they had been.  It was nice to see how people were remembering and thanking those who serve.  It was nice to see patriotism again.  At the same time, it brought more sadness.

Tomorrow, many of those same people will go back to their regular lives and the memory of 9/11 will fade away.  Many of those same people who posted patriotic comments will demand that we shrink our defense budget, even though our very livelihoods are threatened by ISIS and other terrorists that hate us.  They will accept the fact that our country is poorly defended along our borders and nothing is being done about it.  They will go about their comfortable lives going through each day blissfully ignoring the threats around them.

It will take another attack along the lines of 9/11 to wake Americans up again.  I fear it is not too far away and we are making it too easy for our enemies to get into America to strike when and where they want to.

Don't get me wrong.  I am happy people posted and said the things they did.  Now if they will only truly follow the words they said, "We will never forget".  Make sure that means forever and not just for today.

Shopping...At the YMCA

Ask any guy how he shops and he will most likely say he enters the store where he can find what he wants, immediately finds it, goes to the register to pay for it and leaves...mission accomplished.

Ask most women how they shop and they will tell you that they go to a store they hope has what they might be looking for (need is irrelevant) look at a whole bunch of things that aren't even close to what they are looking for, pick up a few things and after an extended amount of time, head to the register and pay for said collection, most likely not even buying the item they had intended to purchase.  After my workout at the Y today, I believe a lot of women work out like they shop.

When I go the the Y in the morning, I see some guys in there working with weights and other machines, doing a genuine workout.  They are working out...which means they are sweating.  They do their workout and leave.

Women...seem to work out, like they shop.  Not all women, mind you, but those who want people to know that they "work out" without actually putting in the sweat equity.  Let me explain...

I was an infrequent visitor to the Y until Selena and I started to watch what we eat with the goal of trimming a few pounds.  Because of this, I have become an almost daily visitor.  These types of observations go back the whole year I have been a member, but the examples I give here are from the past two weeks.

Now, I will be honest.  Most normal guys are going to notice an attractive woman at the gym.  As abnormal as some people may think I am...I am no exception.  The older ladies and those in not so good of shape tend to get to business and work out with a purpose.  This young lady...not so much.
As I worked out on the elliptical, I saw this young lady on the reclined bicycle.  She had on all the right work out gear but she could have been wearing a business suit.  She was so busy on her phone, texting, that her legs were barely moving and she had not even reached a warm-up by the time I was finished.

Last week, I noticed a lady about my age who, in my opinion, was not dressed to work out...but to advertise her physique.  She had on a very tight top to show the "curves" and short shorts that made running shorts look like they belonged on a basketball court.  She pranced through the machines, making sure she was seen and then settled on a stationary bike where she did pretty much nothing.  I am sure I saw her today, in her tight clothing again, on a stair climber that could not have moved enough times to equate a walk up a flight of stairs.

Two machines down from me (I am an elliptical type of guy), was a tall lady who seemed to be in fairly good form.  She was not overweight by any means, though it was due in no part to her workout routine.  She had walked in the building ahead of me and had started her elliptical just before I did.  As I was moving along at a good pace, heart rate rising, and breaking a sweat; I looked over to the tall blond and saw she was barely moving and definitely not exerting much energy.  She was on that machine as long as me but not one sign that it had been any kind of a workout for her.

I left the Y wondering why anyone would waste time doing something to gain nothing?  Are these women going to the Y to tell their friends, "Oh yeah, I work out every morning"?  Is it just to show off what they have done in the past?


In true honesty, there are also a few young ladies that are there regularly when I am who make me envious that I don't work out as well or as hard as they do.  They are getting their money's worth!

Next time you are at the gym and see a lady on a machine gaining nothing from the workout, be thankful that you aren't shopping with her.

Remembering Superman

This is the first year I won’t be able to wish my dad a Happy Father’s Day in person.  I didn’t realize it growing up, but began to as I grew older, that my dad really was Superman!

My dad was always there, for everything I ever did in school.  I can’t remember him ever missing a baseball game, from little league through high school.  Band concerts, vocal concerts, plays in grade school, he was always there.

I attribute much of what I learned playing baseball to my brother, Dean.  But the heart, the never-quit attitude came from my dad.  He would hit or throw me grounders in the backyard...not the lazy, easy to field ones.  Oh no!  Every one of them was off to the side and with zip!  Dad wanted it to be practice as well as fun.

Dad told me once that I was his best gopher.  I would gopher this tool, or gopher that tool, whenever he was working on something around the house or yard.  He was so patient with me when I got him the wrong tool or needed more guidance.  Wish I could have half of his patience.  I learned how to fix things, build things, and maintain things just by watching what he did.  One time, I asked him how he could build anything he wanted to.  (He built a fish house, barrel stove, smoker, room for the wood stove in the house, etc).  He simply said, “You draw a plan and you build it”.  Easy for him to say!  He actually had the skills. 

When we were using wood to heat our house, I was the only kid around to help cut and haul wood with him.  This was the early 1980’s and I was only in grade school.  We were going to go to Colorado one year  for vacation and he told me that he would pay me 50 cents/load so I could earn money for the trip.  He had a notebook in the truck for me to keep track of my number of loads.  He even apologized for not being able to pay me more, but in the end, he gave me a $20 bill, more than the notebook showed I had earned.  I loved going wood cutting with Dad.  Mom would pack us lunch and we would head out.  It was hard work, but he did most of it.  He told me it was important I was there in case something happened to him operating the saw.  The work was easier after hearing that.  Often, when we headed home with a load of wood, we would stop at the Big Stone Legion for some popcorn and a pop.

And then, there was Kenny’s Mobil Station on Main Street.  Dad would stop in sometimes when I was with him just to talk to Kenny.  The station had one of those old pop machines that had the bottles of pop for a dime or a quarter, I can’t remember, I just thought it was cool.  Dad would buy me a bottle of pop to “share”, and then maybe take one drink as a technicality.  I don’t think he really liked the grape pop I usually got, he just had to make sure I shared.

I remember showing up for Army Basic Training already knowing how to spit shine shoes.  I had already done it for a few years.  The pay wasn’t very good when I shined Dad’s boots for Guards, but the praise was!

The lessons I learned from Dad were more from observation than by him telling me.  I seldom saw him and my mom raise their voices at each other or bicker, he always had time for us, and he was proud of a job well done.  After he died, I witnessed firsthand the fact that many of these lessons were truly lived by him every day.  Such an unselfish man and loved by so many.  He took in three of my mother’s siblings and raised them with not one complaint.  This past summer, while my family was moving from Virginia to North Dakota, he opened the house up to us for almost two months.  Not the easiest of circumstances, but he was there to help, just as he always was.

Until the day he died, I still called him and sought his advice on any number of things.  From kids, to marriage, to fixing something around the house, Dad was often the first one I called.  I always knew I would get his honest, straight opinion. 

The greatest life lesson my dad passed down to me is that family is everything.  As a father, I am to be unselfish, a leader, a good example, and a teacher.  Family comes first, then everything else will fall into place.

Superman finally fell to his kryptonite and there will never be another superhero like him.  I love you Dad and miss you terribly!

Not All Freedoms Are Treated Equally

Today I saw this picture on Facebook and thought it to be a very good depiction of the moral decay in our country.

On one hand, we have a young woman who has had a very successful career, albeit as more of a child star than as an adult.  In the interest of rebranding herself, Miley took a path of what some would consider a more immoral approach.  Raunchy dancing, sexual depictions and innuendos, and prancing around half naked.  She used the shock approach to get more publicity and become someone different than the person people knew.  Society, though shocked and in very few cases, outraged, accepted what she did since she is a performer.  It was fine for her to do what she did, and continues to do, because society has lowered its standards for what is considered acceptable behavior. 

On the other hand, we have a gentleman who was interviewed by a magazine.  He was asked specific questions which he answered honestly and in complete line with his character.  He did not pretend to be someone he isn't or give answers he considered "safe" or "politically correct".  This is a man who is quite religious and has not hidden that fact from anyone during personal appearances, his book, or during their show.  His life revolves around his relationship with God and his answers reflected that.  Why then, does he get raked over the coals when a group doesn't like his comments, but Miley got a pass for offending parents and some religious groups?

It seems to me that we have become a nation of double standards.  As long as what you are doing is not religious in nature, you may feel free to do whatever you want.  Unless, of course, those activities are anti-Christian, then they can be religious in nature.  It also seems that if the activities  or the person, are less wholesome, they get a pass.  But if you are genuinely a good person, maybe even religious, and offend a group you don't agree with, it's  open season. 

I believe the words bigot and homophobe get thrown around way too often for the wrong reasons.  Let's look at those two words using Merriam Webster:

Bigot: a person who strongly and unfairly dislikes other people, ideas.  This definition, in my opinion, could have everyone labeled a bigot, unless you make "strongly and unfairly" both necessary to the definition.  But who defines "unfairly"?  Even then, just about everyone could be a bigot.  It definitely means all Democrats and Republicans are bigots!!  Phil not agreeing with homosexual behavior labels him a bigot because he holds that belief "strongly".  His belief is his and I don't see it anymore as bigotry than the gay person who calls me names as a Catholic because I don't believe in gay marriage.  Is a person a bigot because they accuse me, a Catholic, of worshipping Mary because we pray to her?  Many of the statements made by liberals and gays could also be taken as bigotry.  Let us also remember that Mr. Robertson said he did not agree with homosexuality but does not have anything against gays as people.  Much like people may not like that he hunts, but may have nothing against him personally.

Homophobe:  a person who hates or is afraid of homosexuals or treats them badly.  This word gets unfairly thrown at anyone and everyone who has anything to say that does not agree with the LGBT agenda.  Mr. Robertson said he doesn't see why a man would choose another man over a woman.  I do not see that as showing hat or being afraid of homosexuals.  I do not believe there is a record of him treating them badly.  Simply disagreeing with someone does not automatically make you hateful of that person.  It is as ridiculous as saying that I have a phobia against Harley Davidson motorcycles because I don't like how loud they are and wouldn't get one.

Those two words are quickly thrown out there to cause fear and obedience to what liberals want you to believe or do.  I, for one, hope the Roberson family rallies around Phil, as I expect they will, and force A&E to withdraw their dismissal of Phil, or leave the network.

A Letter to My Congressmen

The following letter was mailed to my two state senators and state representative.  I have called them all on numerous occassions about this and other matters.  I visited both of my state senators in their Washington, DC offices while stattioned in Virginia.  I AM an active participant in the politics of our Nation, by voting and by telling my elected representatives what I think.  I encourage you all to do the same, regardless of your party affiliation.  My letter...

                                                                                                                                                                October 29, 2013

 

RE: The Affordable Care Act

Dear Senator Thune, Senator Johnson, and Rep. Noem,

I am writing to you as a concerned and fearful constituent of yours.  I have chosen to include you all on the greeting so you all understand that I place this blame on you, my elected representatives, as a whole, not as Republican or Democrat.  As a Congress, you have all failed the American people miserably.

Our Congress has shown us, over the past few months, that the needs of America are trumped by the needs of politicians to get what they want, by selfishness, and by political grandstanding, the American people be damned.  A budget that is non-existent (No Sen. Johnson, an actual budget has NOT been passed since President Obama took office as you told me during my visit to you last February, continuing resolutions are your excuse for incompetency), a debt that is way out of control, and a Constitution that is simply a piece of paper with no protections for the people.

Now to the purpose of this letter.  Have the three of you not been reading the newspapers or listening to your constituents?  Time and time again, I read the stories and hear from my friends how they are either losing their insurance or it is going to go way up.  I know you cannot be so callous as to not care, but if it is not that, then you should not be in office because you simply don’t get it.  I have a neighbor from back home who owns his own landscaping business and he doesn’t know what he will do.  Here is our chat message from earlier today:

I just can't believe people believe his healthcare is so good. Mine is going way up next year and now I got a letter on Saturday that it is being cancelled, it doesn't meet the standards of Obamacare. I had good insurance. Soon I will have nothing.

Is this what you want for the people of South Dakota?  His insurance was going to triple before it got cancelled.  Our economy is in trouble, mostly caused by you, and yet you will allow a faulty law destroy families.  You should be ashamed, all three of you.

Senator Pelosi said that the Affordable Care Act had to be passed in order for people to know what is in it.  Are you kidding me?  Most of your peers didn’t even read this thing before you voted it into law.  On top of that, it was done so in a sneaky way.  What happened to the President’s promise that all laws would be online for five days to review before his signature?  Another lie by our President.  And if your name isn’t in the “yea” column on this law, then you better be doing everything you can to rescind this law.  It is going to bankrupt the country.  But then, that is the plan, now isn’t it?

I firmly believe that Obamacare is nothing more than a government, drunk with power, that wants to force all Americans into some sort of government-run/owned/controlled insurance.  Look at how many companies have dropped people due to the costs associated with the law.  This law invented coverages that are unnecessary and unwanted by many people.  If a person doesn’t want to pay for mental health care or OB/GYN care as a man, they why should we be forced to pay for it or to even have it?  Our President LIED to us!!!  There is no other way to put it, he lied.  He told people they could keep their insurance, knowing they wouldn’t be able to.  This law is filled with clauses and loopholes which work against the average American.  I worry about my mother who may be told she cannot have certain medical care because she is too old.  When the government gets control of the medical plans, then it is easier to control what care is given.

This law was NOT a way to get healthcare to people who had none.  It was a way to hamstring the insurance companies and force Americans into the exchanges.  NBC News has uncovered that the President knew three years ago that people were going to be forced out of their insurance.  When will you get serious about this guy and impeach him?  Stop being afraid of those who will bring race into the mix.  His color is irrelevant, but his character is not!!

I have seven children, ranging from 3-months to 27 years old, and I have to tell you that I am petrified at the country you are leaving them.  I have fought you all on issues that I have not liked, and yet you still spend money we don’t have and pass laws like Obamacare.  Our Constitution, which I have defended for over 27 years, is under attack by the very government that established it.  I have seen different Amendments twisted and violated in ways to make this administration get what it wants.  And you, as accomplices to its abuse, have stood by and allowed it to happen.  I spoke to my 75-year-old mother on Sunday and told her that I envied her.  Before I could say anything, she stated, “I won’t be around to see what happens, but I am scared for my Grandchildren and Great-Grandchildren”.  Does that say anything to your hearts?  If it does, do something about it.  If it doesn’t, then resign now!

I am a vocal, voting constituent of yours and would like to know what each of you is going to do about the affects this law is having on the American people.  Please do not give me some canned answer that smacks of political jargon.  I want to know how YOU feel and how YOU will act for South Dakota and the Nation, not what your party says.  I apologize for the length of this letter, but this is an issue I am passionate about and I will be watching to see if the Congressional Delegation from my State has my best interests in mind.

 

                                                                                                                                                Serving my country proudly,

 

                                                                                                                                                Mark D. Van Hout

Better Than Sex? Not quite...but a good try.

I said last week that since I love pretty much any food made with pumpkin, I was going to try the recipe that was traveling around my Facebook page.  Specifically, the recipe was called "Pumpkin Better Than Sex Cake". 

Luckily, it was time to get groceries anyway, so I picked up the few things I didn't already have in the kitchen.  Namely, EVERYTHING!  But, I had to try this!



Mix-n-Masher

So, late Sunday night, I put everything together, just as the recipe states.  Now for a shameless plug for Pampered Chef (you're welcome Selena!)  As I was wondering how best to mix a can of pumpkin pure' with a dry cake mix, my local Pampered Chef consultant appeared with the new "Mix-n-Masher" ($11.50).  With this shameless plugging of products, maybe I can put the recipe name to the test!!!  Anyway, the gizmo worked like a charm!

I placed the very doughy mixture into a stoneware dish.  I would not recommend using this dish.  Stay with a basic, glassware baking dish.  The stoneware retains heat for too long and caused me to wait FOREVER to place the dish into the refrigerator.  After all, I wanted to eat this thing!!  I also used the caramel syrup from a squeeze bottle, but recommend sticking to the stuff from a jar.  It was very thin and runny.

When all was said and done, it turned out as good as I had hoped.  I believe it must be about 4,000 calories per piece, but well worth it.  Maybe that is where the sex comes in...you have to burn off the calories!

Although I posted it on my FB page, here is the recipe once again:

Pumpkin Better Than Sex Cake

 •1 box yellow cake mix
•1 – 15 oz. can pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie mix)
•1 – 14 oz. can sweetened condensed milk
•1 – 8 oz. tub cool whip...
•½ bag Heath Bits (I used a chopped up Heath bar, next time will use two)
•Caramel Sundae Sauce

Instructions:
1. In a large bowl, mix together the cake mix and pumpkin puree until a smooth batter forms.
2. Pour batter into a greased 9×13 baking dish, and bake at 350º, according to the directions on the cake mix box (approx 23-28 mins).  (Who are we kidding, you don't "pour" anything, you will have to spread this around the bottom of the pan)
3. Remove cake from oven and let cool for about 10 minutes after baking.
4. Using the end of a wooden spoon to poke holes all over the top of the cake.
5. Pour the sweetened condensed milk over the cake. This should fill in the holes and soak into the cake.
6. Refrigerate for 30 minutes.
7. Remove cake from refrigerator and spread cool whip over top of cake. Sprinkle on the heath bits, and drizzle caramel over top. (I didn’t think the cake needed a lot of caramel at this point so I only used about ¼ of the jar. I thinned it out first by heating it in the microwave.)
8. Refrigerate for 3-4 hours, or overnightSee more

And a final shout out to my brother, Dean, who shared the recipe to begin with!!!

The Next Chapter...

In just under two weeks, Selena and I will pack Anna in the truck, hook up the trailer carrying our mini-van and head north.  Lucky for the boys, they will be visiting their grandpa and will miss the joy of traveling halfway across the country in a truck.

It has been ten years since my last move.  I have sunk some pretty good roots here and it will be hard to leave.  But, an opportunity arose that will allow me to get back to the Plains, back to God's country.  I would have been crazy not to take it, and Selena was more than supportive.

With that being said, have you seen the weather in Bismarck the past couple of days?  What was I thinking?  Seventeen inches of snow!  Yeah Baby!!!!  I am so excited to be going there.  I miss real winters.

In addition to getting back to snow, I will also now be much closer to my parents, who are not getting any younger.  It will be nice to let them see Anna and Anton grow a little.

There is a huge downside to this though.  I will be leaving my three kids here in Virginia.  It is a difficult thing to do.  Usually, it is the child who moves away from home.  This time...it is the parent leaving the children.  I know I will miss them terribly.  I hope they can visit once in awhile.  And if you are ever in Bismarck...stop on in!

We will keep everyone up to date on our new life.  Anton will be born in July and our life will get crazier still.  But, we thank God for what he has given us and remember daily that He is good...all the time.

When Did I Become the Problem?

Somewhere along the line, the government began to see me as part of the criminal element.

I am a gun owner...and according to the government, or at least the anti-gun elements of the government, I cannot be trusted with my guns, nor do I know how to use them responsibly.

Let me explain.  The majority of the current gun control legislation that is being proposed is addressed at the legal gun owners of this country.  None of the proposals address the criminals, save a couple that address trafficking and such.  They look to take certain guns away, ban certain magazines, or tax the dickens out of ammunition to make it impossible to afford it.  Not one of the proposals is actually addressing the problem of attacks on our children in school.

If you look at just three of the worst, Columbine, Sandy Hook, and Virginia Tech, all were in gun-free zones, two with little to no security.  Suggest putting armed guards in our schools to protect our nation's most prized treasures, and the anti-gun crowd goes crazy.  I bet the parents of the children who go to school with the President's children sure feel confident that their children are safe with all those armed guards there to protect his children.  Personally, I don't think his children are any more special than mine are...but there is not one security guard in my son's school...NOT ONE!  The only way to stop a shooter is with another gun.

But who needs 15-round clips in a handgun, you ask?  How about the woman who, upon hearing thugs attempting to get into her house, grabs her pistol and she and her children hurry into the attic.  When the criminals find them, she shoots at them, striking one and they both flee.  Two criminals, one very frightened, protective mother who may or may not be a good shot.  If she has only 7 rounds, as proposed by many lawmakers, she better hope she is a really good shot, extremely calm, the robbers aren't armed, and that there is only one.  It is common in a police shooting that the policeman will fire several times and not even hit the criminal.  Keep in mind, the policeman is a trained marksman and should be better able to remain calm.  If I have to deal with a criminal at my door, I do not want to be left wishing I had one more bullet.

Even if you don't like guns, or think they are the cause for all the problems with gun violence, don't let emotions blur out the facts.  Chicago, New York, and Washington, DC are the most violent cities in the nation...and have the strictest gun laws.  Why?  Because the criminals know they are attacking an unarmed populous.  Easy victims.

The worst part of this whole gun control fiasco is that no one is really looking at how to stop the violence on our children.  We aren't looking at how to protect them, but how to take the guns away from their parents.  We are allowing the government to destroy our Constitution under the lie of security, just like we did after 9/11.  The 2nd Amendment says our right to bear arms "shall not be infringed".  Well folks, that is exactly what ALL of this legislation is doing.  Today, Connecticut signed into law some of the "toughest" gun control laws in the nation...and did NOTHING to make anyone safer...nothing!  The bad guys will still have a gun-free killing zone at every school in the nation because our cowardly lawmakers are too scared to address the real problems.

So before you jump on your anti-gun platform, look at what you are wanting the government to take away.  A Constitutional right.  The only right that directly exists to allow us to protect ourselves from the very government that claims they are trying to protect us by disarming us. Tell that to the Germans, Russians, Chinese, and Cambodians.

The guns are not the problem...the problem is our government trying to put a band aid on a knee when it is the elbow that was skinned.

Upon Further Review...

I might be wrong.  There, I said it.  There is a possibility that I may be wrong in my boycott of the Girl Scouts and their cookie sales.  Just a possibility, mind you, but still a possibility.

As the father of a little girl and of one former Girl Scout, this has bothered me a bit.  Just as my boys have been and are in Boy Scouts, I would like my daughter to be able to participate in some sort of scouting organization.

By my nature, I am someone who believes in following issues and supporting my beliefs on an issue to the best of my ability.  Therefore, when I found out that the Girl Scouts of America were partners with Planned Parenthood, I did a little research and boycotted their cookies and anything else to do with them.

Now, if I am going to go so far as to boycott something, I want to make sure that I am standing on solid ground.  So this year, as I saw a young girl selling her cookies in the back of the church this past weekend, I decided to dig a little more.  What I found has loosened the ground a little bit.

Most of the data I found was at least two years old and much of it was thin, at best.  It would seem that most of the items brought up is focused more on the organization called the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts.  It is the international body, so to speak, of Girl Scout-type groups to which the Girl Scouts of America is a member.  Much of the problem people have is with the things WAGGGS does.  They are very heavy into the United Nations and very involved with bringing about international abortion rights, sex education in all it's forms, as well as LGBT issues.  This organization also has close ties with International Planned Parenthood who provided it with much of its sexual education materials.  I do know that the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops looked into the alleged connection between GSA and Planned Parenthood in the Spring of 2012.  I have not been able to find out the results of that inquiry.

GSA is also accused of pushing a very liberal agenda and not providing neutral materials in the books and resources available for earning badges.  I am also adamantly against them allowing young boys into the organization just because they "identify" themselves as a girl.  Sorry, but to me, you belong to the group that your parts say you belong to.  At the ages I have seen this happening too, in my opinion, it is the parents trying to push their Liberal agenda.

What I have found, is that unlike the Boy Scouts, GSA does not control the lower echelons of the Girl Scouts as much as BSA does.  Each Regional Council is allowed to do pretty much what it wants (like partner with a local Planned Parenthood), and each local troop operates pretty much on its own.  It would appear to me, then, that the main issue is up above and not with the local troops.  Many of the issues seem to arise when Girl Scouts participate in different conferences and such and they sponsor them.  Unfortnately, this often places the Girl Scouts on the same advertisements as Planned Parenthood and other organizations that are not acceptable to many peoples' ideas of what young girls need to be involved in.  It makes the Girl Scouts a de facto "co-sponsor" of an event with those other, less favorable organizations, even if the Girl Scouts have nothing to do with them.

How does someone like me allow my daughter to join Girl Scouts without completely laying waste to my principles?  One way is to ensure that the local troop is teaching the lessons and earning badges with methods that are in keeping with my values.  From what I have researched, that should not be difficult to do.  Another way to hit the national GSA and WAGGGS organizations is to look at where the money is going from my local troop.  One method is by subscribing to the method called "Just One Box", a means of Girl Scout Troops who do not like some of the policies of the national organization to still stay in "good standing" with GSA without filling the coffers with money.  You can find more information here:  http://www.honestgirlscouts.com/action_justonebox.html

I did come across one very helpful site that is called HonestGirlScouts.com.  This is their mission statement:  "Americans wanting explanations for how Girl Scouts spends the money we give, why it permits the promotion of explicit sexual education for children, and its presentation of Progressive radical ideas and curricula for our youth."  They have some ideas for how girls can be a member of the Girl Scouts and not feel like they are supporting something they don't believe in.

 

I am not sure, yet, if my daughter will be a Girl Scout, but I do know I will stop promoting the boycott of the organization.  I may, however, encourage people to be mindful of the involvement of their Regional Council as to whether it is in line with their own values and beliefs.  And don't hold your breath waiting for me to purchase those cookies...I don't think I see that happening anytime soon.

A Catch 22

The latest shooting at a Connecticut elementary school has once again caused the debate on guns and gun ownership to flare up.  This time, it seems to be much worse because those murdered were very young children.  That does not lessen the deaths of those killed in previous mass murders, it simply makes it more painful.

I am a member of the NRA, but it does not mean that I am unwavering or unwilling to regulate my ownership and use of my weapons.  I was horrified by what happened in Connecticut, as I have been every time this has happened.  I have choked up and prayed for the victims as well as the shooters.  Still, it has not caused me to want to give up mine or take away anyone elses right to have a weapon.

I think there are several ways to better secure our children and even the general public without trampling the rights of gun owners or doing nothing.  The president has created a commission to look at what can be done to stem gun violence and end these mass shootings.  Personally, I believe they will happen no matter what is done.  Criminals will always find a way to do what they want to do.  But, I am with the president in seeing what can be done, but he needs to make a sincere effort to involve both sides of the argument in order to give legitimacy to what the commission finds.  Make sure the panel includes people from both sides and make sure the NRA has a seat at the table.  By doing that, you come up with a plan that is acceptable to the nation's largest gun-lobbying organization and its members will more readily accept the decisions made.

Ban vs. Regulate

As soon as the word "ban" is uttered by the anti-gun folks, red flags and loud bells go off in the offices of the NRA and in the homes of gun enthusiasts.  No one wants to be told they can't have something.  That has been true since childhood.  The main weapon that is mentioned to be banned is the assault rifle.  There are varying definitions of what an assault rifle is, but for simplicity, we will use the very basic definition that it looks like a military rifle, such as an M-16.  These weapons usually have a high capacity magazine of at least 20 rounds and fire one round with every pull of the trigger, without further actions of the shooter (a pump or bolt action).  It must be stated here that fully automatic rifles (the weapon will fire rounds as long as you keep the trigger pulled) have been illegal to own without special permission for many years.

Many people own these rifles simply for the "cool" factor.  They look cool and are really fun to shoot.  They take them to the rifle ranges and may use them for hunting as well.  Many people get them for home defense.  The anti-gun lobby often likes to state that anyone who owns one of these weapons has it only to kill people.  By owning one, a person is automatically going to become a mass murderer.  This is why the word "ban" scares the gun enthusiast.

Proper regulation is where the answer lies.  Do gun enthusiasts need to have high capacity magazines?  I would argue that they do not.  Yes, it is a nuisance to have to constantly reload at the gun range.  But if the gun regulation proponents will feel better with smaller magazines, then I can live with that inconvenience to keep my access to semi-automatic rifles.  Do I need to have a handgun with a 15-round capacity magazine?  My current handgun holds 7 rounds.  If I cannot defend myself with 7 rounds, 15 probably won't do any good either.  I don't plan on being in any gunfights where I need to fire that many times.  Banning handguns will not solve the problem.  The criminals will have them.  They banned handguns in New York, Chicago, and Washington, DC.  How's that working out for them?

We already have some pretty good laws on the books, but those laws need to be better enforced and may need to be stiffened a bit.  Guns shows are often blamed for making it too easy to get guns.  Stiffening gun show laws while still allowing someone to purchase and walk away with a gun in hand is important.  I had to have a background check when I purchased my AR-15 at the gun show.  I have heard that for others it was less so.

Right to Privacy vs. Right to Know

Mental health has been discussed a lot the past few days.  People often say, "you have to be crazy to do what that person did.  Only a crazy person kills that many people".  That may be true, but how do we know?  Every concealed carry permit application and every weapons purchase requires a person to answer whether or not they have any mental health issues.  And, of course, everyone answers "no" or they will be denied the purchase.

A person can be seen by a mental health doctor and be on no one's radar due to ridiculously restrictive (sometimes) privacy laws.  I propose this to assist us in keeping guns out of the hands of those whose mental health may be such as to making gun ownership a bad idea.  It would be a National Database that every mental health provider would have to annotate certain information on a potentially dangerous client.  The data base would only have name, SSN...nothing more.  Just the flag.

For those who are being treated with medicines for illnesses where mood swings, anger issues and other potentially dangerous symptoms, a "red flag" is checked in their medical record which would state that this client should not be allowed to purchase a weapon or be allowed to have a concealed carry permit.  I am not an expert, but such diseases as Bi-polar, Borderline Personality Disorder, multiple personality disorders, etc., would be on a list for automatic flags.

Those conditions being treated that are not necessarily dangerous, would get a "yellow flag".  A child being seen for anger issues stemming from abuse, a divorce of parents, etc., may get a yellow flag.  Perhaps a Soldier who has been discharged from the military being seen for PTSD would need a yellow flag if the doctor determines it is necessary.  Maybe he even needs a red flag.  A yellow flag could be removed by a subsequent visit to a doctor to make sure the issues are no longer there.  A youngster would be able to purchase in adulthood by having the flag removed.

Those who seek counseling for family issues, marital issues, etc., and are seen as being of no danger would have no flag entered.

To me, a mental health professional should have the responsibility and the ability to flag a person's record to keep them from being able to purchase a weapon.  Whenever a background check is done on a person, this database would be searched and a flag of either color would block the purchase of a weapon. 

We need to strike a balance between a person's right to privacy and society's safety.

Gun Free Zones

Gun free zones are a criminal's dream.  If you notice, the common thread between all of the recent mass shootings, they have all been in gun free zones.  By law:  Schools and partially places of worship; by Choice:  Malls, theaters.  When I see a sign such as that shown here, I ignore it if it isn't on the prohibited list by law.  If I walk into a theater displaying the sign,
and I have my concealed weapon, and my gun is noticed and they ask me to leave, I must.  If I do not leave, it is a trespassing violation, not a gun violation.  Therefore, until told otherwise, I will exercise my right to carry.  Someone like me could have stopped the shooter in Aurora, contrary to all the complaints that it would have caused more killing.  Everyone was on the ground!

I think the schools should not be gun free zones, at least for the teachers and administrators.  Here is how I see it.  If a teacher wants to be one of those who is armed, the teacher must be trained on his/her weapon and attend training on how and when to use it.  That gun, when it arrives at school, goes in a lock box on the teachers desk, or under it.  It stays there until necessary to use or the teacher goes home at night.  This teacher would be able to receive an extra incentive pay each month for being a "security teacher", and could also put that on a resume.  This would not be a requirement, but open to volunteers.

Another option would be to take some of the military members during this draw down and create a Department of Education owned security force.  Two former military (only open to them) who understand weapons and rules of engagement and how to follow orders, per school.  Arm them with a handgun and a rifle they can keep slung on their backs.  Right now, the policeman at the school isn't prepared or able to provide security for our kids.  When we create gun free zones, this is what we are telling criminals:

Obviously, arming anyone around our children should include extensive assessments to insure they are fit to be given such a responsibility.

School Construction & Access

School construction should also be looked at.  Currently, my middle-school child attends a school where I enter a door and can either turn left or right.  I turn left to go to the door to the office.  Turning right will take me into the heart of the school with no one noticing.  At my other son's high school, the front door is watched by a man in a wheel chair or a very large woman who tells you to sign in and take a sticker.  Once I have that I am free to roam about the school, the office is a long ways from that table.  The school is accessible from other, uncontrolled points of entry.

Most prisons are now constructed with the administration building completely separated from the inmates by a long corridor with locking doors.  Not to make our children feel like prisoners, but the school administration offices should be completely separated from where our children are attending classes.  Access to our children should cause us to have to get through that secure area controlled by someone whose job it is to control that access.  Schools could be retrofit with access blocking gates where hallways would allow easy access to our children in classes.

All this costs money, but if our President is serious about protecting our children, he will make it available.

Responsibility

Let's not beat around the bush here.  Responsibility must be placed where it belongs.  A responsible gun owner should not have his weapons used by his kid in a heinous shooting spree.  Hold that gun owner responsible too.  More education to people who buy guns is necessary so that they understand what they just purchased.  Everyone who purchases a weapon should be mandated to attend a gun class that shows them how to use it properly and how to take care of it, to include storage.

We had  a grade schooler take a .22 pistol to school just a few days after the Connecticut shooting.  He was arrested and will be expelled from school.  Nothing was said about what will happen to the parents.  If the gun was theirs, they too should be arrested and charged with child endangerment and/or other charges.  We need to stop blaming the responsible gun owners and crush the ones who are not.


The answer is not to crush a bug with a sledgehammer.  An honest assessment about many different issues at hand, when it comes to gun ownership, is necessary to strike a balance between what both sides think the 2nd Amendment says.  Responsible gun owners do not have a problem with regulation, if that regulation does not end up becoming banishment or make it impossible to own their guns.