Tag Archives: Pensacola

Florida, Pensacola

Respect For Law Day, A Bust?

Pensacolans missed a chance to show a little respect. I’m afraid our public servants and first responders may have felt a little like Rodney respect_for_law_day_promoDangerfield. Billed as “Respect for Law Day” by the Optimist Club, an event held by Optimist Clubs everywhere, Pensacola missed a chance to get tips on public safety, check out a fire engine, and see some beautiful horses. And they missed a chance to show some respect to our first responders. They are respected and appreciated here at The Lunch Counter.

I hope the rest of the event was better attended than it was when it began at 10AM. I took a few pictures and found this video. There was no mention in the News Journal about the 4-hour event. At the start there was no one there but willing and helpful volunteers and club members anticipating some folks. Hot dogs and refreshments were there. Everything was there except the public.

The Pensacola Police department, Fire department, and Sheriffs department’s Posse were all represented. Gulf Power had a representative and a display showing hazards and giving safety tips for electrical emergencies that occur during storms.

[flagallery gid=20 name=Gallery]

Organizer Chuck McCants posted some videos on YouTube at the event. Below is one of them.

Economy, Florida, Immigration, Obamacare, Organized Labor, Pensacola, Politics

What’s Next For Big Labor?

Labor unions today have unknowingly fulfilled a self-fulfilling prophesy. By leveraging unfair practices upon workers to build union Labor-Unionsmembership, they did such a good job that they have lost their only reason to recruit.  Now they are left with ancient history, the mid twentieth century, to fall back on. And for the most part, no longer have a reason to exist.

BIG LABOR advocates say “Without America’s labor unions, we wouldn’t have many of the protections and benefits that we have today.” That’s a true statement. It was true 30 years ago too! Thanks to the ‘wake-up call’ delivered to employers by organized labor decades ago, which was “treat your people right or lose,” the labor movement has successfully put itself out of business so to speak. Their usefulness has diminished due to their earlier success as shown by their decreasing member rolls.

  • Total percentage private sector and public sector labor union workers: 2002 13.3%, 2012 11.3%
  • Percent of private sector labor union workers: 2002 8.6%, 2012 6.6%
  • Percent of public sector, government, labor union workers: 2002 37.3%, 2012 35.9%
  • Total number of union workers, public and private sector: 2002 16,145,000, 2012 14,366,000

Continue reading What’s Next For Big Labor? →

Florida, Pensacola, Politics

Teenager Has Ring-of-Fire’s Shorts In A Wad

A thirteen year old young man phoned in to the Rush Limbaugh radio show to tell the host that he didn’t understand why so many in the Mike Papantonioadministration believe that “global warming” is real and that it is man-made, when there is so much research easily available to refute that assertion like what he found in the public library in his home town. So what do you think that the Ring-of-Fire radio show (co-hosted by Mike Papantonio) did with it?

Here’s their headline, Indoctrinated Youth, Teenager “Destroys” Liberal Conspiracy on Fox. The story begins with . . .

Despite the majority of scientists agreeing that global warming is occurring and is largely man-made, conservatives are now using a 13-year-old’s library research to validate their opinion that climate change is a hoax.

Only people “using” this bright kid is Ring-of-Fire writer Alisha Mims who concludes “It’s disturbing to be reminded that there are people who would strive to prevent a child from learning facts and formulating his own opinions.” She cites the AlterNet, political ground zero of the wacko Left, for her research.

You know when science becomes political, like it is where so-called global warming is concerned? When there is “consensus” that “global warming” is “man-made.” First of all, science is science, and is not based on consensus, ie. “majority of scientists agreeing.” It either is, or it is not. Second, calling climate change “global warming.” Third, that man is causing it. Lastly, that the earth’s climate can be modified by moving vast amounts of money from one part of the earth to the other.

It’s amusing to see how the Left, or Progressives, get their shorts in a wad when they see evidence that a thirteen year old has formed an opinion that is antithetical to their political doctrine. Their reaction is also instructive. That he couldn’t have possibly formed that opinion on his own. And, he’s a “denier.”

Florida, Gun Control, Pensacola

Pensacola Indoor Shooting Range, New Location

The people at Pensacola Specialty Pawn (850) 433-3560, near Pace Blvd & Fairfield Dr., are planning on opening an indoor shooting range around June-July 2013.  For whatever reason, they have changed the site from the pawn shop site to a spot on Pensacola Boulevard, Rt. 29, at the former location of Leisure Tyme RV. Seems to me to be a better location from an accessibility, if not safety, standpoint. They are capping membership at 500 members.  Members can go anytime. Non-members can go when space is available. Their annual membership pricing is: Patriot (first responders & active/retired military) $199.99, Individual $299.99, Family (2 household) $399.99. Non-members $20 per hour.

Some new features (new to me anyway) at the range will be a closed circuit TV setup for each lane. There will be ten lanes. No matter where you put your target, which is adjustable right from your shooting position, there are two cameras in operation. One on the target, and the other on you. No need to get out the binocs to see where your bullets went. The camera system is focused on your target no matter how far downrange you put it. Another cool thing is that in another room, out of the shooting room, monitors will be there for your party (or whoever) to see you in action, in split screen (you/target), uh, for better or worse. Smile

Further updates will be in this post if and when they become available, so you may want to bookmark it.

UPDATE 7/30/2013 : Opening date is pushed back to mid to late September, 2013.

UPDATE 10/4/2013 : Opening date is pushed back to November 1, 2013. New construction is well underway.

UPDATE 11/4/2013 : The new projected opening date is in the Dec 2013 to Jan 2014 time frame.

UPDATE 1/3/2014: The A/C gets installed next week. Looking for an opening by the end of January 2014.

UPDATE 1/13/2014: The inside is coming along just fine. Now it seems the outside is pushing the opening back until around the end of February. Must be something new, because the property that never had a storm water retention pond now needs one. So that has to be built before they can open.

UPDATE 3/16/2014: Well, February has come and gone. But now the delay, or what remains to be completed, is the HVAC work at the shooting lanes. Now the estimate is anywhere from one to three weeks. {fingers crossed}

UPDATE 4/3/2014: Today the owner said he’s looking for next Wednesday, April 9th, as an opening date. Although he wasn’t 100 percent certain yet. At any rate, the opening seems right around the corner now.

UPDATE 4/8/2014: Tomorrow is off. Maybe another week or two. Waiting for occupancy and other permits. The gun shop next door to the range is open and they have a nice selection of hand guns, rifles, and shotguns.

UPDATE 4/23/2014: Soft Opening Monday 4/28/2014. Yippeeeee !!!

Happy, and safe, Shooting!




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Gun Control, Pensacola, Politics

Gun Goddesses Ladies Shoot

Topics like this didn’t used to be political in nature. But through no fault of lawful gun owners everywhere, anything to do with a gun has become a political issue.

In the interest of gun safety, on February 9, 2013, there is an event at the Escambia River Gun Club for women only that you should know about. Looks like a good chance for ladies to get some expert experience and advice from NRA Certified Pistol Instructors.

ladies_gun_shoot

Florida, Gun Control, Media, Pensacola, Politics

Record Turnout, High Prices At Florida Gun Shows

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Opening hours line at the Florida Gun Show in Pensacola.

Through my unscientific poll of Facebook posts, people are saying that the lines to get into the gun shows in Pensacola, Jacksonville, Orlando, and Miami are the longest ever. Since the gun store shelves are almost empty and out of ammo, I have to believe that President Obama wins the ‘Top Gun’ Salesman of the Year award.

It was heartening to see so many people getting CWP (Concealed Weapons Permit) training. Young, old, Black, White, and everywhere in between. And they weren’t all republicans either. Believe it or not, democrats believe in personal protection too. Contrary to Sen. Dianne Feinstein and Barack Obama’s argument, I didn’t see any gang members or gang bangers there buying guns. I saw everyone there that was buying, filling out the required paperwork and going through the background check procedure.

The laws of supply and demand have affected the firearms industry, at least at the retail level. Weapons like the AR15 that was $600-700 three months ago, are now between $2000 -3000. Ammo? You’re lucky if you find what you’re looking for. There was no 40 caliber range ammo, which was what I was looking for. I later found some, at before hysterical (over $1.00/round) prices  too, at a local shop off the beaten path. Not at the gun show. The name of which shall stay my secret. You’ll have to email me to get it.

Happy Shooting!

Economy, Pensacola

Where Rules Of The Road Are Not

An article in today’s Pensacola News Journal piqued my interest because of a matter that was brought to the attention of the Pensacola City Police, three times.

The article is about a growing trend started by a local entrepreneur that builds and sells battery-powered golf cards that are legal to drive on public roadways and are subject to the same traffic and motor vehicle laws that apply to cars.

A commenter there, Paul Utter said “if they are on the street, they need a tag and insurance..if not get off the road.”

After reading that, I had to reply . . .

There’s one caveat to that Paul. The Pensacola City Police apparently have one exception to the law. You see, if you’re a hard working guy, or gal, in the landscaping business, of course your vehicle and the trailer you tow both have to be registered and street-legal. But if you work for a big company like, or say, UPS, you’re allowed to drive on the roadways in your unregistered vehicle AND unregistered trailer. No problem.

Of course, Paul is correct. All vehicles driven on the public roadways must be legally registered and tagged, including any trailers being towed.

But there seems to be a double-standard within the Pensacola City limits. I’ve personally never seen landscapers driving around in an unregistered vehicle towing an unregistered trailer. Or any other occupation for that matter. Only reason I use landscapers as an example is because there are so many of them around. (A testament, perhaps, to the need to make a living in a lousy economy. But that’s another subject.)

Maybe you have seen a UPS driver delivering packages in your neighborhood? Maybe he was doing it legally? Clearly, this one was not.

ups-atvAnd clearly, the city police were ineffective in enforcing the law. Because repeated calls about the same offense on different days resulted in no effective action. And calls to Police Chief Chip Simmons went unanswered and unreturned.

This writer has no problem in UPS finding more economical ways to conduct their business. But I want to believe that the City Police would agree that the rules of the road actually do apply to everyone on the road.

Link: Pensacola Beach residents ditch cars for golf carts

2012 Election, Economy, Florida, Media, Pensacola, Politics

Pensacola News Journal Endorses Romney

Considering that our local newspaper, the Pensacola News Journal, endorsed Barack Obama in ’08, their endorsement of Mitt Romney today was a surprise. Whether it is a sign of buyers remorse or their own economic situation, the basis for their endorsement is the economy, and the likelihood that Romney can turn things around for the better.

Obama failed to adequately address the rising national debt that will cripple future generations. He has not pushed the approval submitted two years ago by the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform, also known as the Simpson-Bowles plan, that called for higher taxes to bring the debt under control. Congress also has failed to take the debt seriously, instead passing the buck, or in this case, $16 trillion of them.

Clearly, President Obama is disconnected from reality with this statement.

If the economy and our economic situation in NW Florida is as important to them as they say, the Romney endorsement seems to be inconsistent with their ‘NO’ recommendation for all of Florida’s 11 amendments. Early voting started yesterday in Florida. But don’t hold your breath waiting to see them reverse themselves on those too.

Links: WE RECOMMEND: Mitt Romney for president |  Vote ‘No’ on amendments