THE WAY I SEE IT by Don Polson Red Bluff Daily News 4/01/2025
Things I wish were April Fools jokes
April 1 inspires my loving, grateful acknowledgment of my great fortune 41 years ago: Deciding to attend a country-western dance lesson night at the Longhorn Saloon in Canoga Park, in the San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles. Being agonizingly single, my quiet prayer was that the Lord would send me the right one before the wrong one caught my eye.
A lifetime of observing the choosing of partners in reality as well on big and little screens bears that prayer out; there is so much unknown about a person upon first meeting and presenting one’s best face. With the guys on one side, the girls on the other, each side was taught their dance moves—for contact dancing, not the gesticulations passing for dancing. Everyone picked a partner.
As everyone paired off, I was left facing a beautifully attired, fetchingly attractive young dame who thankfully accepted my approach for a turn on the floor. Over drinks and get-to-know-you conversation, she eventually handed me a card with her name, Barbara Biettchert, and a hand-written phone number. It could have easily been a “get lost” fake number, but then she wouldn’t have seen my real head of hair (my cowboy hat never came off) the next weekend, nor would she have discovered that I really didn’t know much about riding horses.
Happy “meeting” anniversary, Barbara; our 40th wedding anniversary comes in September.
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Now, some items you’ll say: “Surely, you’re joking.” Well, I’m not joking, and don’t call me “Shirley,” as the memorable “Airplane!” line went.
A close relative has had the curious, shocking realization that her photos of her handgun have disappeared from her (smart) phone. The simple, practical reason for taking and storing them was to have ready access to the serial number if needed.
The only explanation is a rather disturbing one: Some program, or “algorithm,” or hidden search app has reached into her stored data and removed them for what can only be described as anti-gun, “woke,” and nefarious purposes. No other photos disappeared. Readers are informed, and advised to be aware.
When I successfully renew my concealed carry permit, I will share the travails imposed on anyone who has, like me, routinely taken the biennial classes and filled out the paperwork to exercise our Constitutional right to “keep and bear arms.”
Suffice it to say that California passed a law a year ago, written by anti-gun legislators, for the purpose (I conclude) of so complicating the right-to-carry that some owners just give up trying to be legally armed in public. Yet, the criminals pay no heed, flout the laws against their use of guns, knowing they’ll not be “stopped and frisked” no matter how suspiciously they act—and suffer little if caught.
Thankfully, given Republican control of the House, “National Constitutional Carry Reciprocity Advances in the House” (Tom Knighton, Bearingarms.com). California’s onerous CCW regulations could then be skipped for another state’s more lenient rules. Unfortunately, Californians would likely face lawsuits to retain our anti-gun regimens.
Since I’m “clearing the deck” on Second Amendment items: “Ninth Circuit Upholds California Mag Ban, But Not Without Epic Dissent From Trump-Appointed Judge,” by Cam Edwards. A title search gives you a readable history of the “ban on large capacity magazines” law: The pronouncing it to be unconstitutional by U.S. District Judge Roger Benitez; the overruling of that decision by the liberal Ninth Circuit Appeals Court; the appeal to the Supreme Court, which remanded it back to the Ninth; and the ludicrous ruling by the liberals that magazines are “accouterments” not given (in their jaundiced view) Constitutional protection.
That ruling was “en banc” by the whole Ninth Circuit; however, Trump appointed judges dissented, stating factually that magazines were no less a part of the “arms” we are given a right to “keep and bear,” than any other part of the weapon.
One Trump judge, Lawrence VanDyke, drew criticism for posting an 18-minute video demonstrating the practical operation of magazines and firearms. Unsurprisingly, the fastidious, fanatical liberals complained that the video was “wildly improper” because it introduced facts that were not part of the record, and because VanDyke appeared to offer expert testimony. Such anti-gun judges would likely have said the same if the Framers of the Constitution rose from the grave to contradict their wrong-headed, illogical rulings.
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Illustrating how out-of-touch our Democrat U.S. Senators are, both Padilla and Schiff voted against the HALT Fentanyl Act (S.331), which increases penalties on fentanyl-related substances as Schedule 1 drugs.
More “wish-it-was-joking”: “'Not Election Week:' CA law giving mail ballots a week after Election Day to arrive is illegal, lawsuit says.”
“Some San Diego parents balk as tampon machines installed in 3rd-5th grade boys’ bathrooms”—“Gavin Newsom Gives Tampons to Third Grade Boys.”
“Huge: Dept. Of Education Investigating California’s Anti-Parent ‘Gender Concealing’ Scheme.” (All searchable by title)
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