By uncommon_sense
According to an article in foxnews.com, thieves are taking a toll on California’s nut farmers and stole over $500,000 of products last year. As you might imagine, the thieves are not walking up and asking nicely. According to the article: “‘We really have seen a lot more brazen thievery in the area in recent years. We’ve had field workers and employees that have just been accosted in the middle of the day by armed assailants,’ Tricia Stever Blattler, with the Tulare County Farm Bureau, said.” . . .
Unfortunately the politically correct “solution” to the problem doesn’t seem based in reality.
… a newly formed task force is increasing awareness, posting warning signs and asking farmers and sellers to report anything suspicious.
“Our job is to advise local farmers how to … what we call .. . harden the target — to prevent thefts from happening in the first place. And that means checking credentials, make sure you don’t leave the keys in your vehicles,” Fresno County Sheriff Margaret Mims said.
Seriously? Who thinks a warning sign is going to stop an armed thief from driving away with a quarter million dollars in agricultural products? But it was their idea of how to “harden the target” — verifying credentials and not leaving keys in vehicles — that should offend everyone.
Fortunately for those of us who love nuts (the food that is), the farmers themselves seem to know better. California farmer Barrett Blain had this to say:
“… most farmers I know generally have to carry some sort of protection.”
No one would think twice about armed guards transporting $20,000 in cash to a local bank. Are the people who handle a $250,000 harvest any less worthy? More importantly, I wonder if being a nut farmer or one of their employees constitutes “good cause” for a concealed weapon permit in Fresno County.
As thieves become more brazen and sophisticated, inevitably working in groups, I also wonder when people like nut farmers will truly need to carry long guns with them to protect their harvest, which represents an entire year’s income. As it stands, however, California considers citizens to be criminals if they carry loaded long guns in their vehicles, even if going unarmed could mean losing a year’s income — or their lives — to thieves. Apparently, that’s the price we have to pay for “safety”.
I have always heard that California is the land of fruits and nuts. I’m glad to learn that doesn’t apply to most of its farmers. It’s too bad we can’t say the same about California government.
I would question whether there is really such a thing as a “brilliant” legal mind as far as deciding court cases goes. It was a so-called “brilliant legal mind” who upheld the SCOTUS case that said that the government has a right to forcibly sterilize a woman (I forget the case and the justice, but Jonah Goldberg talks about it in his book “Liberal Fascism”). Brilliance in law can apply to arguing cases, but otherwise, it seems to me more just a matter of opinion and knowledge of history.
“As it stands, however, California considers citizens to be criminals if they carry loaded long guns in their vehicles…” Since I would venture to bet at least some of the farmers are working on their own private property, does that law not apply to them? If I were to get arrested because I had a loaded rifle in my truck while driving on my own property, I would venture to bet I could find some investors to pay for a very profitable lawsuit.
Just noticed the video is on CNN, with the police chief saying she did nothing wrong but did defend her home and family. The Detroit TV station that reported it said people in the neighborhood will also be happy since this crew has been causing a lot of trouble.
Even though I own a car and am an excellent driver, I was late to work today. And car accidents kill millions every year. Clearly, the idea that cars are useful is a fantasy, and the only thing we as a country have done is make it easier for drunk drivers to kill innocents. As such, all decent humans will agree that we need to ban the ownership of cars.
/End Sarcasm
Yeah Diane, the gun laws in Cali are working. Only thing is both in the cities or country, it’s working against the wrong people.
I lived in CA for 14 years, so glad to be in CO now. I swear, if you could harness stupidity, CA could power the world.
Dan, Sean’s statement and the discussion that flowed from it (thank you Semper Why and int19h for providing a polite and respectful dialogue) is basically my view of it.
I live in St. Charles and I’m an Endowment member and I can’t see myself going to a single NRA event – rightly or wrongly, I figure at least half of the official material will be demonizing liberals, rather than people who want to limit gun-rights, which aren’t necessarily the same thing.
Having looked at a few other pro-gun sites in the last few days, why on earth would I want to gather around people who’s idea of intelligent conversation is trot out the same old tired canards about how the evil Kenyan president is the anti-christ who is out to destroy America. (And, I should point out, it was just as grating to hear that George W. Bush was striving to destroy America, but through other means – that’s if he was smart enough to figure out a way to do so.)
Why would I want to waste my time being insulted because I don’t toe some sort of official/unofficial social line that is seemingly required for group purity?
Liberal is meant as an insult, when uttered by the NRA. It’s a way to pigeon-hole someone or some group to make it easier to trivialize them. Sorta like calling them sub-human mongrels does.
I think Semper Why makes a great point by bringing up going to liberal sites and looking for even neutral talk about guns.
Here’s the thing. Why on earth does the NRA seem to suggest that you can’t be a supporter of Bill of Rights without being a conservative? (or at least, a non-liberal)
Having said all of that, I freely admit that I have no first-hand experience of such an event. However, by the same token, I have little incentive to gain the experience. I would love to be wrong. It would mean that the organization really was focused on those who wish to further restrict gun-rights, rather than those it can easily insult in order to rile up the majority of its base. It would mean that in St. Louis, at least, members of the NRA get together to discuss firearms, shooting, hunting, self-defense, and ways to legally retain one’s rights, not an echo chamber of a very specific set of opinions.
Why would you be insulted by someone saying Bush and Obama were in place to destroy the country? Both were, AND BOTH DID.
If you’re not awake enough to see that, you should be someplace soft and cushioned, with no sharp edges, not TTAG. TTAG has few cushions and lots of sharp edges. Learn to deal with it. Or not.
>> Why would you be insulted by someone saying Bush and Obama were in place to destroy the country? Both were, AND BOTH DID.
In a context of a general conversation on politics, I would not be insulted by this, and I would actually largely agree with both. Being a liberal doesn’t mean that I like Obama one bit – FWIW, he’s not being particularly good at “liberal”.
However, this is not the kind of thing that I want to read in official NRA correspondence or articulated by their spokespeople, or discuss on an NRA convention. It simply doesn’t relate to the question of Second Amendment rights, which is supposed to be that single issue that NRA is all about.
Irrational old man that he is, does he not remember Hitler & Stalin, and the slippery slope that civilian disarmament is? This guy lays waste to the assumption that old people are wise.
There really are two Californias … the coast from SF to LA, and the sane part of the state.
Of course the thieves are doubly – nay triply! – bold because they’re sure (or think they are) that no one is going to shoot at them. Maddening.
Quick question. In California, you can’t carry a loaded rifle on private property? That’s insane, if true..
wow… no chance dodging 5.56
“Seriously? Who thinks a sign is going to stop an armed thief ?”
Stupid right? well that is exactly what a few towns over from me is doing.
There has been a string of armed robberies (liquor stores)in a certain part of town.
This was the local pd solution ” we are going to provide stickers for store owners to put on the windows. To let the criminals know what will happen to them if they are involved in an armed robbery”. And to top it off it took a team to come up with this worthless plan.
The pd was just telling the locals to comply with the criminals.
Needless to say l was yelling at the tv during the news report.
Kansas passed the Second Amendment Protection Act last April that actually makes it illegal to enforce Federal laws for guns made sold and kept in the state. Eric Holder wasn’t real happy about it but the Gov and State AG told him to pound sand.
Just so that we are clear, Mr. Burke, are you saying that my viewpoint is invalid? If so, please enlighten me.
If I wanted to say your viewpoint was invalid, I would say your viewpoint was invalid. Are we clear now?
“No matter what the arbitrator says, you can’t be a patrol cop while you’re on probation and can’t touch guns.”
No, I remember hearing about a guy who is allowed to carry on duty but not off because he was suicidal or some such.
Trust me, that rabbit hole always gets deeper. :/
Edit: This dude: http://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/2013/12/chris-dumm/pa-state-trooper-prohibited-possessing-firearms-hes-enforcing-law/
I did loss prevention in most stores for 30 yrs. A man could stand still by a wall and never be seen. Don’t susprise me none.
Not to nit pick little things but use of deaths by fist and feet as twice the deaths by rifles is a bit misleading. While it may be true, but it would probably be more accurate to use deaths by firearms in general so as to not manipulate statistics as liberals are known to do.
And why is that?
I’ve applied for my carry permit. & plan to also take a few courses to understand my local laws,& try to just do it right. Though I have fired a handgun before, this will be my first handgun purchase. I’m not loaded with free cash so this very well may be my only handgun purchase for a LONG time. I’ve researched based on my assumed abilities, cash available,CC needs. I feel the p239 will give me the best of all worlds! I think the safety mechanisms , & feel in my hand & the reviews online all are guiding me to the p239 in 9mm. I’m now down to locating my best price. If sig would like to send me a coupon to use,just let me know! LOL!!