NC faces Second Amendment suit

By William R. Toler

North Carolina’s emergency powers are under scrutiny in a recent lawsuit.

The Second Amendment Foundation filed suit late last month challenging a little-known provision of the state’s emergency powers that prohibits the sale and transportation of firearms during a declared state of emergency. According to a press release, the SAF believes that provision is unconstitutional.

The law came to public ire back in February when a state of emergency was declaed in the town of King. “Residents in King were fumed over the weekend after a state of emergency declaration restricted the sale of alcohol and the carrying of firearms in vehicles,” according to a local television station.

Judge: Comments are protected speech

By William R. Toler

If you comment on this or any other blog or news Web site, have no fear. Your comments are protected by the First Amendment.

The Gaston Gazette reported earlier this week that a Superior Court judge in Gaston County rejected a request that would have been able to indentify an annonymous commenter on The Gazette’s site who had disclosed unreleased information in a murder case.

John Bussian, an attorney representing the Gastonia-based newspaper, said the judge’s decision recognized that “media can’t be forced to disclose information about how they manage comments on news reports posted to their websites.” Bussian added that while other states have made similar rulings, this was the first time in North Carolina. “It’s a landmark ruling,” he said.

Is it just me?

By William R. Toler

If you’ve read my bio, you may have seen that other than the I.R. I worked on Craven Community College’s Campus Communicator and another indie newspaper, the Beaufort Observer.

In addition to writing, I also developed my skills in page design and photography. In the past, I created several illustrations through some fancy photchoppin’. Some illustrations were used for headline stories and some for editorials.

Several months ago, while seeing footage of our beloved governor, Bev Perdue, I thought to myself, “Wow! She looks like the Joker!”

State goes with federal education standards

By William R. Toler

Parents won’t have to worry about the state education curriculum starting U.S. History in 1877. Instead, there is a new concern.

Late last month, the Carolina Journal reported that the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction is dropping its own curriculum standards in favor of those developed by the Federal Government.

According to the conservative publication, the “Common Core Standards” will “guide the development of everything from teachers’ lesson plans to final exams” when set into motion. The Journal added that the U.S. Department of Education is giving extra points in the Race to the Top initiative to states adopting the federal standards.

While having a uniform curriculum throughout the country does seem ideal, and could benefit students who transfer from one state to another, this move does have its drawbacks.

Judge rules lies equal free speech

By William R. Toler

A man who was arrested for claiming to be a veteran got his walking papers from a federal judge last week who claimed the Stolen Valor Act unconstitutional.

District Court Judge Robert Blackburn ruled that the law, meant to keep individuals from boasting unearned service medals, is an infringement of the First Amendment, according to the Huffington Post.

“This wholly unsubstantiated assertion is, frankly, shocking and, indeed, unintentionally insulting to the profound sacrifices of military personnel the Stolen Valor Act purports to honor,” Blackburn wrote as reported in the Denver Post. “To suggest that the battlefield heroism of our servicemen and women is motivated in any way, let alone in a compelling way, by considerations of whether a medal may be awarded simply defies my comprehension.”

Rick Strandlof was arrested in 2009 after claims of being a wounded, three-tour Iraq veteran who was a captain in the Marine Corps were found to be fraudulent. Strandlof also claimed to be a recipient of both the Purple Heart and Silver Star, a graduate of the Naval Academy and survivor of the attack on the Pentagon in 2001. Records show that Strandlof never served in the military or attended the academy.

Prior to his arrest, Strandlof had helped form a veterans rights organization, fought for homeless vets in Colorado Springs and sent care packages to troops, according to the Post.

Problems with the pledge

By Joanna Carter

Recently, I have seen numerous billboards across the state showing people’s displeasure with some people omitting the words “under God” from the Pledge of Allegiance.

Before I go any further, let me say that I am in no way whatsoever saying these people, who apparently care enough about their beliefs in God to spend their own hard-earned or generously donated money to relay their opinions, are wrong in doing so, nor do I have a problem with Christians or God. I admire anyone for holding on to any beliefs, religious or otherwise, with a fervor that is greatly lacking in an age of apathy, and I consider myself Christian, even though it has been years since I have actually stepped foot into a church for a service other than the occasional wedding or funeral. However, although I believe their intentions are good, I also believe that some of the people up in arms about this topic don’t know much about the history of what we say when showing our patriotism.

NC DNA Bill: Collection before conviction

By William R. Toler

With a few strokes of a pen, Gov. Bev Perdue signed away the Fourth Amendment rights of anyone charged with a violent crime.

Not convicted, mind you, but charged. So much for presumption of innocence.

At a special bill-signing ceremony on Greenville, the governor inked her approval of the DNA Database Act, which gives deputies from across the state the authority to take cheek swabs from anyone charged with a violent felony or misdemeanor sex crime, according to the Gaston Gazette.

The bill, although a bi-partisan effort, didn’t pass smoothly. However, it did have the support of Attorney General Roy Cooper as well as law enforcement, district attorneys and victim advocates.

US backing war kids

By Joanna Carter

“One of the things I learned is how to kill with a knife.”

This is a statement from Ahmed, a 15-year-old Somali boy who received military training from his government starting at the age of 12. A Somali official also told a New York Times reporter, “I’ll be honest, we were trying to find anyone who could carry a gun.” Sadly, this is not isolated to one area, much less one boy.

There are conflicts and wars all over the world in which children fight in, whether it is decided by them or for them. Some children are simply messengers or cooks, but many are used for combative and sexual reasons. As a woman who has a deep love for children of all ages and strong protective and maternal instincts, it breaks my heart knowing children are used in such capacities.

However, there is even more than what you see on the surface concerning this boy. Not only is it quite chilling when coming from someone so young, it’s even more disturbing coupled with the fact that Ahmed’s, and much of Somalia’s other soldiers’, training comes from American military advisers. This means some of YOUR taxes that YOU pay to the American government are being used to train people to fight and kill that, if living in this country, wouldn’t even be old enough to drive a car by themselves. This is not only sickening, it’s infuriating.

King James’ royal distraction

By William R. Toler

Working in the mainstream media, I’m often disillusioned at what is considered news.

Last month, on the call-in radio show The Rage, I lamented that while the internet “kill-switch” bill had passed through a Senate committee and the Disclose Act was gaining ground, we in the major media were instead reminding everyone that Michael Jackson was still dead.

Last week another distraction hit television screens across America. The big issue: where will Lebron James play basketball?

The media hype that was generated over a sports star’s decision to switch teams was appalling. You would think it had life or death consequences for the entire nation.

A mosque at Ground Zero?

By CodyAnne Pauli

In New York City and across the nation, there is an uproar about plans to build a Mosque two blocks away from Ground Zero.

Before forming an opinion for yourself, take a second and think back to the moment when you discovered the Twin Towers were being attacked…

Now, think about your feelings toward those who committed this act of terrorism.

After recognizing that the terrible atrocity of the attack on the Twin Towers on 9/11/01 and those who committed the act, think about their religion. How do you feel about Islam? Should Muslims be allowed to share the same religious freedoms that we all do, as Christians, Buddhists, Jews, atheists, Taoists, Wiccans, etcetera?

Many say with a booming and resounding voice, “NO.” I think to myself, reading the fervent diatribe from these otherwise independent thinkers, and wonder, “Where am I? Am I even in America?” Now absolutely, they can make their opinions known. They have that right, and I don’t blame many for feeling as if a Mosque near Ground Zero is a slap to their own face. After all, the terrorists who carried out the plot to stab America through the heart were Muslim. That does not, however, mean that all Muslims are terrorists, just as most Christians aren’t KKK members, aren’t proud of the hateful displays of Westboro Baptist Church, and do recognize that the Crusades were wrong.