Is Truth Stranger Than Fiction?

A story about Thai Soldiers caught my eye this morning. Reading the article was eerie, I couldn't help but imagine a slightly different version:

In the U.S. capital Washington hundreds of soldiers and riot police have taken up positions in a main commercial district popular with tourists.  The heavy security was mobilized to prevent anti-government protesters, who have been demonstrating over a month now, from marching on the area.

Soldiers armed with assault rifles and police in riot gear massed early Monday morning on Pennsylvania Ave.

They spread rolls of razor wire across parts of the sidewalks and took up positions on the street and overpasses, and briefly blocked traffic.

Anti-government protesters threatened to march on the area, which the government says it will not allow.

But by mid morning only a hundred or so red-dressed protesters danced and cheered in front of barricades while traffic flowed normally and businesses were open.

Ben Gleck, the international spokesman for the protesters, known as the TEA Party. He says they called off the march.

"There will not be a march on Pennsylvania Ave today. But, we reserve that option to do it other when we feel like," he said. "We want to exercise our freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, freedom of movement, and we feel like … but it's not a need to risk anybody hurt or killed over this."

Although the march was called off, soldiers and riot police did not immediately pull back and razor wire remained in place.

The military presence raised concerns of another violent clash in Washington.

On April 10, 24 people were killed and hundreds injured when soldiers tried, and failed, to clear protesters from the city's historic district.

Both sides have blamed the other for the violence.

The Tea Party protesters are mainly from the countryside and have been demonstrating for weeks demanding new elections.  They have occupied a major commercial district, blocking traffic and forcing shopping malls and hotels to close their doors.

They say Washington elites overthrew their democratically elected leaders in the 2009 Elections.

A series of politically charged court rulings and legislative actions diluted or eliminated Constitutional protections and expanded executive powers in 2010 after the current administration took office.

The government offered to hold elections in nine months and says it is willing to negotiate with protesters. But, protest leaders say they are done negotiating and will continue pressuring the government to immediately step down.

Certainly this is a fictional scenario. But how far away from this are we?

Now we are talking! The Florida Congress is doing all the right things!!!

In addition to HB 21, the Florida House and Senate are working on several pieces of legislation to protect the state's citizens from the federal takeover taking place in our country today.

• CS/HJR 37 - Health Care Services 
• HM 17 Congressional Term Limits
• SCR 10 - Balanced Federal Budget
• CS/CS/SB 8 - Medicated and Public Assistance Fraud

There are others (2468 at last count). For a full list check out this link.  Be sure to encourage your senator and representative to vote for passage of these bills, and resolutions.

Support Florida HB 21

Florida has joined the ranks of several states in proposing legislation to protect the rights of Florida Citizens. Check out HB 21 and let your representative know that you want them to support it. Here's the preamble of the bill:

Regulation of Firearms: Creates Florida Firearms Freedom Act; provides legislative findings & definitions; provides that specified firearms, firearm accessories, & ammunition for personal use manufactured in state are not subject to federal law or regulation; provides that importation into state of specified parts & incorporation of such parts into firearm, firearm accessory, or ammunition manufactured in state does not subject firearm, firearm accessory, or ammunition to federal regulation; provides that certain basic materials are not subject to federal regulation of firearms, firearm accessories, or ammunition under interstate commerce; provides that specified firearm accessories imported into state from another state do not subject firearm to federal regulation under interstate commerce; provides legislative findings with respect thereto; provides exceptions; provides applicability; requires that firearms manufactured & sold in state must bear indicia of manufacture by specified date.

There is a companion bill in the Senate; SB 98 sponsored by Carey Baker.

The House bill is sponsored by the following representatives:
O'Toole (CO-SPONSORS) Adams; Adkins; Ambler; Carroll; Coley; Crisafulli; Dorworth; Drake; Eisnaugle; Evers; Flores; Ford; Fresen; Glorioso; Grady; Hays; Holder; Hooper; Hudson; Hukill; Kelly; Kreegel; Legg; Mayfield; McBurney; Murzin; Nelson; Patronis; Plakon; Planas; Poppell; Precourt; Renuart; Robaina; Schenck; Schultz; Snyder; Stargel; Tobia; Weinstein; Williams, T.; Wood; Workman

Please be sure to contact your representative and express your appreciation for their efforts to protect your freedoms.