To Keep and Bear Arms

Supreme Court majority to D.C. residents: Lock and load!


Read the opinion of the Court.

Justice, Sort of

An update on a story from last year concerning an absolutely terrible tragedy. A young girl who defended herself from her abusive chromosome provider (Ballista refuses to humanize the slime by writing 'father') has been given probation. According to her lawyer, the District Attorney's office has also offered to expunge her record if she behaves during her supervised treatment at a youth facility. This is probably the best outcome given the circumstances. Of course, as Ballista originally noted, the best outcome would for the abuse to never have happened or neighbors calling authorities at some point (they never did).

In fact, Ballista lambasted the neighbors for their indifference. Ballista still thinks that's warranted, but Ballista has had a new thought on the matter. This new perspective was spurred by the raid on the polygamist compound in Texas. Ballista believes parents should be left to raise their children as they see fit, to a degree. Thus, it is somewhat understandable that the girl's neighbors where hesitant to interfere in another family's business. But, again as stated before, there is little excuse when you admit to hearing screaming and cries for help. Good parents will understand if the police come to their door after receiving a report of screaming children. Ballista hates giving the state a role in the family, but sometimes - especially in cases of abuse - the state has a necessary function. Don't be afraid to be responsible/vigilant neighbors, citizens, and humans, folks. It's what civilization is all about.

Cylon takes on Gang Bangers

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Who's the victim?

Straight out of an Aerosmith song, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports on a tragic story of abuse ending in the homicide of the apparent abuser. Ballista won't comment on the corpse - notice Ballista did not write victim. However, Ballista cannot let this go. According to the Post-Gazette:

[A] close neighbor said the girl told her that Mr. Booth had sexually and physically abused her since she was 7.

"The whole street knew about it," said Suzanne Gruber, 20, who lives across the street from the Booth home.

"He abused them both," she said. "Some nights I would hear her screaming, 'No, daddy! No! I'm sorry.' She said she just couldn't take it anymore."

Other sources confirmed that allegations of abuse were the motive.

Public floggings for the "whole street." Let's introduce a new theme - Civic Responsibility. Not to mention basic human compassion. Apathy is the ally of evil, make no mistake. Had those same vomit-inducing neighbors heard said abuser/corpse attacking a dog or cat, they probably would have called authorities. A more fair world would release the girl (unfortunately now known as the accused) back onto that very same street, all while the world collectively looked away for an hour or so.

Link to full article


Update: Yes, the "right" thing for the girl to have done was to call the police or social services. But talk to just about any victim of such abuse or review the scientific literature and you'll find why that outcome is not very likely to happen.