The Nativity, AD 2023

 

As we celebrate Christmas 2023, the Nativity display reminds us of who it is about; and the calendar points to the fact that the Nativity was such an event historically that nothing else can compare. Sure, there are other calendars; the Japanese, Chinese, Indians, Israelis, and others have calendars, but the calendar based on Jesus' life is used almost universally around the world.

When you look at the manger scene above, you see Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. Gathered near are a shepherd, a donkey, a sheep, and three wise men. Similar scenes are displayed all over during the Christmas season.

But, what does the Biblical record show, and what does it mean. The Bible does mention the presence of shepherds at the manger scene, but does not specifically mention the number of wise men. It tells of gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh, but not how many men came. The written Biblical record does not place them at the manger, either.

We see depictions of livestock ranging from a sheep and a donkey as shown above, to scenes with those animals, as well as cattle, and camels. There was no Kodachrome or digital photography then, so all we have is the written record. But it is sufficient to tell the story.

At first glance, we might think of the Nativity as the beginning of the story, but it has its origins in eternity past. Mankind's story begins in the Garden of Eden with the creation of Adam and Eve by this same Jesus. (As the Apostle John writes: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. John 1: 1-3)

Gun free zones are STILL a bad idea!

I wrote the following in 2015 concerning 'Gun Free Zones' - - - 

Gun free zones are a bad idea. Now, once again, innocent Americans have reaped the reward of the gun ban utopian's dreams. Arbitrarily designating these areas shows that those who do so are out of touch with reality. There are at least two fatal assumptions they make:

1. Criminal who don't obey the law will obey their sign
2. Good people with guns will turn bad when they enter the designated ban area.

Well, in this case, there were again some good guys without guns in the ban area. The bad guy showed up, without an appointment, and massacred these Marines.

Details will come out. 

Questions will be asked, such, as was this person a radical Islamic terrorist? Was he a domestic terrorist? Was he just a run-of-the mill hoodlum?

Doesn't matter. 

The question that needs to be asked is, "When will these statist utopians wake up and get rid of these asinine killing fields for evil perpetrators??"

Are you a politician who has held onto this hopeless ideal?  Wake up!

Update October 2023 - the Marines' killer was identified HERE. With Hamas calling for worldwide jihad, it is long past time for our government to require us to disarm when we go to certain places.

The bad guys surely will not. 

New Mexico today, Tennessee Tomorrow?

 Here is the text of my letter to the editor warning against Red Flag laws in Tennessee:

Gov. Michelle Grisham (D) of New Mexico ignited a firestorm with her suspension of the Constitution, when she, by executive fiat, announced a 30-day Second Amendment (2A) ban. Television footage shows her backed by Moms Demand Action activists; but various law enforcement officials and even the Democrat New Mexico attorney general have distanced themselves from her and voiced refusal to enforce her edict. A federal judge has already entered a temporary restraining order against this harebrained 2A abridgment.

Meanwhile, Tennessee gun owners dodged a bullet in the recent special legislative session called by Gov. Bill Lee (R?). Lee wanted a red flag law so badly that he spent millions of Tennesseans’ tax dollars on the session. It was an utter failure when the legislature refused to circle the drain with him and send the Bill of Rights to the sewer.

Smith & Wesson M&P 22 Compact

 

M&P 22 Compact

In a previous post I made the case for a small, discreetly carried .22 caliber pistol. While that concept certainly still holds, I will discuss the Smith & Wesson M&P 22 Compact pistol here. It is too large to be so discreetly carried, but may still be a good choice for some. It is similar in size to the Smith & Wesson M&P 9 M2.0 4.0" Compact and weighs about half what that full caliber gun weighs.

 Some desirable features of this gun include-

• The controls mimic the controls of the 9 mm, so the manual of arms is the same.
• It is omnivorous, that is to say, it has eaten everything I have fed it. This certainly can't be said for every 22 caliber pistol.
• As mentioned above, it is light weight.
• It has a threaded barrel, so a silencer could be attached.

Why get this gun? 

Will Hunter partially dismantle the Gun Control Act of 1968?

Sometimes allies are found in strange places. You may recall that President Obama signed into law a bill effective in 2010 that legalized handgun carry in national parks. He did not do that out of a love for the Second Amendment, but because it was attached to something he really wanted passed.

Fast forward to July 26, 2023, when Hunter Biden pled not guilty to all the charges in a Delaware court:

THE COURT: All right. So Mr. Biden, . . . . . I'm just going to ask you, without the Plea Agreement, without me saying that I would agree to the Plea Agreement, how do you plead to the charges that we have been discussing?

THE DEFENDANT: Not guilty, Your Honor.

THE COURT: Thank you. . . .

I see two ways this can go.

1. Hunter is convicted on the gun charge. In due time, The Big Guy pardons him. End of story.
2. Hunter beats the rap using the Supreme Court's Bruen decision of 2022. 

What do you think?

Only time will tell.

XXX

Smith & Wesson .22 Magnum Pistol

 In 2011 I joked about Ruger introducing a .22 Magnum pistol - (Ruger to introduce new .22 Magnum pistol?) I spoke with a Ruger representative in 2015, and suggested it to them. Here is how I noted his response, "Ruger tells me that to have soft enough brass for reliable ignition, there is too much danger of a blown case."

It seemed to me that if Kel-Tec could produce a viable .22 Magnum pistol, one of the big manufacturers could, too. 

Fast Forward to 2023. Smith & Wesson has done it. Here is a picture, and a link to its web page.

M&P 22 MAGNUM

I am glad to see that S&W has stepped up and done this. I am pleased, too, that they are moving to Maryville, TN.