Assembly aims to ban your bullets, too

By Eric Ingemunson | 06/17/09

The California State Assembly wants to regulate handgun ammunition as vigorously as handguns themselves. Earlier this month, the Assembly passed AB 962, which would criminalize transfers of over 50 rounds per month, even between family members. Ostensibly, this bill is designed to curb gang violence by keeping ammo out of the wrong hands. But let's think about this for a minute. If laws like this were so effective, existing law would already... read more »

Part 4 of legacy of Magna Carta, which departs Reagan Library in three days

By Eric Ingemunson | 06/17/09

After this week the 800-year-old Magna Carta leaves the Reagan Library and returns to England. This is Part 4 in a series of articles on the legacy Magna Carta left us. King John (formerly the evil Prince John of Robin Hood fame), was so inept at ruling his kingdom that his nobles united and forced him to agree to Magna Carta, a form of a Constitution that limited regal powers. No longer was the king above the law. Over the next... read more »

California forces Ventura County to make tough budget choices

By Eric Ingemunson | 06/16/09

The state's inability to solve its budget crisis will impact local budgets in Ventura County. California wants to raid the coffers of local governments, which are struggling to balance their own budgets, to help pay for Sacramento's mess. Oxnard will lose $4 million if the state withholds property tax revenue, adding to their $10 million budget deficit. City leaders have even asked city employees for help in solving the crisis. Camarillo's... read more »

Part 3 of legacy of Magna Carta, which departs the Reagan Library this week

By Eric Ingemunson | 06/16/09

On June 15, 1215, a group of English nobles rebelled against their king and forced him to acknowledge that the king is not above the law. The repercussions are still felt today, and it directly contributed to the foundation of our country. But why was Magna Carta significant?  First, it represented a turning point in history where countries could be ruled by laws instead of men. Imagine if the President of the United States could impose... read more »

Magna Carta has 5 more days at Reagan Library - Part 2 of its legacy

By Eric Ingemunson | 06/15/09

Today, June 15, 2009, is the 794th anniversary of the adoption of Magna Carta, which is on display at the Reagan Library for only five more days. Magna Carta is one of the greatest documents ever created. This is the second part of a series of articles on the history of the Great Charter and its effect on the creation of American government and law. This part focuses on the conditions that led to the adoption of Magna Carta (it is not preceded... read more »

Magna Carta leaves Reagan Library and returns to England after this week

By Eric Ingemunson | 06/14/09

One of the four remaining original copies of Magna Carta will be returning home to England this week after a six-month stay at the Ronald Reagan Library in Simi Valley. Many principles of American government were originally embodied in the 800-year-old document, including the notions of Rule of Law, written constitutions, religious freedom, and trial by jury. Magna Carta is so important that I will be writing a series of articles examining its... read more »

LA Times interactive budget tool exposes economic misconceptions

By Eric Ingemunson | 06/12/09

Governor Schwarzenegger and the Democrats are stalemated over whether to avoid an economic meltdown by either cutting spending, borrowing, or raising taxes. Think you can do better? The LA Times lets you attempt to solve the $24 billion deficit with an interactive state budget balancing tool.  Should you close down community colleges to save $4.6 billion? Or maybe you'd rather deport illegal alien prisoners for a savings of... read more »

Bill O'Reilly's Reagan Library jacket benefits Wounded Warriors

By Eric Ingemunson | 06/11/09

An online auction on Fox News commentator Bill O'Reilly's website ended Wednesday with a $50,000 contribution to the Wounded Warrior Project, a charity organization that benefits wounded veterans. The auctioned item was an Air Force One jacket that was given to O'Reilly by the Reagan Library. A farmer from Illinois, Van Merchant, won the auction with a $25,000 bid. O'Reilly matched it with $25,000 of his own money. The Wounded Warrior Project... read more »

Sierra Club polluted by voter fraud, allegations of racism and sexism

By Eric Ingemunson | 06/11/09

Rigged elections. Racists. Sexists. Three tired accusations that are normally fired at conservatives are being used by liberals on one another. The only difference is that this time, an election really was rigged (but we're not talking about Acorn). A contentious election has opened up a rift between rival factions of the Los Padres chapter of the Sierra Club, causing the national organization to step in to settle the matter. The parent group... read more »

And they're off! Candidates gear up with election day exactly one year away

By Eric Ingemunson | 06/09/09

  The next 12 months of Ventura County politics could get interesting as elections officially get under way and non-partisan candidates can begin raising money. Although we have an idea of who the candidates will be, it's not immediate obvious which offices they will seek. Much of it depends on decisions coming from Supervisor Peter Foy's office. The Ventura County Star reports there is speculation that Foy might run for governor, which... read more »