Random News and Notes 15 May
Today in 1972 during an outdoor rally in Laurel, Maryland, George Wallace, the governor of Alabama and a presidential candidate, is shot by 21-year-old Arthur Bremer. Three others were wounded, and Wallace was permanently paralyzed from the waist down.
Wallace, one of the most controversial politicians in U.S. history, was elected governor of Alabama in 1962 under an ultra-segregationist platform. In his 1963 inaugural address, Wallace promised his white followers: “Segregation now! Segregation tomorrow! Segregation forever!” That promise lasted just 6 months.
Javon Latriece Alix, 32, went on a stabbing rampage near a southeast Houston convenience store. A bystander and store clerk held the door shut as captured on surveillance video, preventing her from entering while a homeless man warned others of the danger. She left the store and went to a nearby apartment complex where she chased several people, including a woman and her 7-year-old daughter before stabbing a married couple multiple times.
Alix is charged with two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. The couple are hospitalized in serious but stable condition and are expected to make full recoveries.
Alix has a lengthy rap sheet apparently with previous convictions for felony drug possession, DWI after crashing into another vehicle, evading arrest, harassment of a public servant and assault on a peace officer.
Virginia Governor/cia cutout Abigail Spanberger just signed an “assault weapons” ban into law. The new law makes it a Class 1 misdemeanor—up to a year in jail and $2,500 fine—to sell, manufacture, import, buy or transfer semiautomatic centerfire rifles or pistols with features like pistol grips or threaded barrels, plus magazines holding over 15 rounds.
The lawsuit printers are going brrrrr already. The Firearms Policy Coalition, Gun Owners of America, The NRA and the DOJ’s Civil RIghts division are all filing suit in this one.
There was another gun law incident yesterday. This one didn’t involve lawmakers passing unconstitutional restrictions however. An unhinged leftist member of the Minnesota house went on a rant that included telling a republican member to – and I quote – “Go fucking shoot yourself” because a 67-67 tie blocked House File 5140, a Democratic bill to ban semiautomatic assault weapons, limit magazines to 17 rounds, criminalize ghost guns, and tighten school weapon rules. Rep. Aisha Gomez (DFL) directed the outburst at Rep. Elliott Engen (R), prompting GOP leaders to condemn the rhetoric and call for her removal from her committee chair post.
As my boys at the FPC say, fuck you, no.
BNSF Railway introduced three GE ES44ACH locomotives numbered 250, 1776, and 2026, painted with the America250 logo, ‘We the People,’ and stars from the Betsy Ross flag. Painted in Kansas City, Missouri, they nod to history with labels like ‘Freedom Train 2026’ and ‘Liberty 1776,’ and will haul freight across BNSF’s 32,500-mile network while appearing at events.
Cool as. . .
The leader of a poaching ring that killed ~3600 protected birds has been sentenced. Travis John Branson, the leader from Washington, got three years and 10 months in prison and has to pay some $770k in restitution for coordinating the killing of at least 118 Bald and Golden eagles and 107 hawks on and around the Flathead reservation in Montana.
The ring included Travis John Branson leader/organizer, Simon Paul who is on the run and suspected to be in Canada) shooter/shipper, John Patrick Butler buyer. Paul is also linked to Canadian poachers Teresa Snow, Eli Snow, James Brittain & Sophia Soriano.