Tag Archive: Washington D.C.


Number of gun companies refusing to sell to gov’t entities restricting gun rights triples in just two weeks

By Madison Ruppert

Editor of End the Lie

(Image credit: barjack/Flickr)

(Image credit: barjack/Flickr)

When Brent Daggett originally reported on firearm companies refusing to sell their products to government entities enforcing what they see as gun control laws that endanger our Second Amendment right to bear arms for End the Lie, the number of companies was quite small.

That has radically changed recently with the number tripling in just two weeks. Now some 124 companies have joined the fight against restrictive gun laws according the Police Loophole, a website established to track “companies that have taken the step to publicly announce that they will not sell items to states, counties, cities, and municipalities that restrict their citizens’ rights to own them.”

The number continues to rise and according to Gregory Gwyn-Williams, Jr. of CNS News, “In just two weeks, the number of companies participating in what has been named the ‘Firearms Equality Movement,’ has more than tripled from 34 companies to 118.”

The number has now swelled to 124, although it is unclear where Gwyn-Williams, Jr. obtained the 118 number for his March 9 report since it should have been 123 on March 9, according to the Police Loophole’s dates.

Barrett summed up the movement well in writing, “Barrett opposes those who are illegally disarming the American public from their efficient arms and creating superior armed elitist government agencies.”

The most recent company to join the fray, C. and H. Arms, revealed their decision in a Facebook post.

“Even though we love to support our nations law enforcement agencies,” C. and H. Arms wrote, “We will not sell any item to any agency that restricts said item to its civilians.”

Wilson Combat announced their policy, which applies to California, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Washington, D.C. and Chicago, Illinois on February 28.

“Wilson Combat will no longer provide any products or services to any State Government imposing legislation that infringes on the second amendment rights of its law abiding citizens,” wrote Ryan Wilson, Vice President of Wilson Combat.

Read Full Article Here

 

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Wilson Combat Joins Over 100 Companies Boycotting Law Enforcement Sales

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Wilson Combat, famous manufacturer of premium 1911 pistols and AR-15 rifles, had put themselves on the ever-growing list of manufacturers who are making it a matter of policy to not supply law enforcement in states with prohibitive gun control.

Simply put, if your people don’t have access to the guns they want, neither can your police.

“Wilson Combat will no longer provide any products or services to any State Government imposing legislation that infringes on the Second Amendment rights of its law-abiding citizens. This includes any Law Enforcement Department, Law Enforcement Officers, or any State Government Entity or Employee of such an entity. This also applies to any local municipality imposing such infringements.

“States currently included in our No-Sale Policy are: California, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Washington D.C. and Chicago, Illinois.

“Wilson Combat will in no way support the government of these states or their anti-gun agenda that only limits the rights of law-abiding citizens. Wilson Combat will continue to supply any product and/or service they can legally sell in these states to all non-government affiliated citizens.”

 

Read Full Article Here

 

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Magpul Joins Over 100 Companies Boycotting Law Enforcement Sales

3/04/13 | by  120 3018

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In a recent announcement, Magpul is enacting a new policy where they will not sell to law enforcement in states with laws banning certain firearms or with magazine capacity limits. They’re one of more than 100 companies that have similar policies.

While a few notable companies have had similar policies for years, the number of companies who are now boycotting law enforcement agencies has ballooned following the recent surge of new gun control laws.

Magpul’s policy will halt all law enforcement sales for now, and may in the future include a provision to sell to individual officers who “uphold their oath to the U.S. Constitution — specifically the Second and Fourteenth amendments — as it applies to all citizens.”

Some have criticized this as a half-measure, saying that officers may make hollow pledges to Magpul in order to purchase their products, and that this is more of a marketing move.

Others are defending the policy. Right now it’s hard and fast, with an end to all law enforcement officers in so-called “ban states.” Citing Magpul’s other contributions to the ongoing fight for gun rights, including direct action in their home state of Colorado against recent gun control legislation and their prioritization of sales to Colorado residents as indicators of Magpul’s sincerity, many are backing the company with its decision to halt or at least severely curtail sales to law enforcement in those states.

Magpul has also announced that they will relocate pending a Colorado magazine capacity limit, saying that it would be hypocritical for them to pay taxes to support a state that would restrict its residents’ rights.

LaRue Tactical, Spike’s Tactical, Barrett, Bravo Company USA, Primary Weapon Systems, Midway USA, CMMG, Volquartsen Custom, Wilson Combat and Vltor are other big names in the industry that are enforcing similar policies with regards to sales to law enforcement. The list of companies that are officially boycotting law enforcement is up to 117 (at the time of writing).

 

Read Full Article Here

 

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Gun Companies Refuse Sales to State Governments with Strict Gun Laws

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Six gun companies have announced plans to stop selling any of their products to any government agency in states that severely limit the rights of private gun ownership.

Disappointed with New York State lawmakers and other jurisdictions around the country who have passed strict gun control legislation, the companies—composed of firearm manufacturers, gunsmiths, and sporting goods retailers—have announced these policies in the past week.

Their various statements emphasize that such laws create a class of government employees with rights and and a class of citizens without rights. Thus, they refuse to aid the enforcement of such inequality.

The announcements read:

Effective today, in an effort to see that no legal mistakes are made by LaRue Tactical and/or its employees, we will apply all current State and Local Laws (as applied to civilians) to state and local law enforcement / government agencies. In other words, LaRue Tactical will limit all sales to what law-abiding citizens residing in their districts can purchase or possess.

Due the passing of this legislation, Olympic Arms would like to announce that the State of New York, any Law Enforcement Departments, Law Enforcement Officers, First Responders within the State of New York, or any New York State government entity or employee of such an entity – will no longer be served as customers.

In short, Olympic Arms will no longer be doing business with the State of New York or any governmental entity or employee of such governmental entity within the State of New York – henceforth and until such legislation is repealed, and an apology made to the good people of the State of New York and the American people.

The Federal Government and several states have enacted gun control laws that restrict the public from owning and possessing certain types of firearms. Law-enforcement agencies are typically exempt from these restrictions. EFI, LLC does not recognize law-enforcement exemptions to local, state, and federal gun control laws. If a product that we manufacture is not legal for a private citizen to own in a jurisdiction, we will not sell that product to a law-enforcement agency in that jurisdiction.

 

 

Read Full Article Here

 

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Tuesday, 05 March 2013 12:04

New York Courts May Kill Cuomo Assault on Gun Rights

Written by 

In a move widely celebrated by activists, New York Supreme Court justices last week ordered Democrat Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s administration to prove by the end of next month that its recent assault on gun rights is actually constitutional — critics and experts say it clearly violates both the U.S. and state constitutions. The extraordinary speed used to adopt the controversial legislation, which appears to have violated a separate provision in the state constitution, is also facing scrutiny from the judicial branch.

If the state government fails to prove its case on both counts in the time frame provided, the unprecedented attack on gun rights may be struck down entirely, or at least temporarily rendered void. Gun rights activists have been pursuing multiple strategies to defeat the controversial infringements on the right to keep and bear arms adopted in New York. However, attacking them in the courts is seen by activists as among the most viable, at least at this point.

The statute in question, the so-called “NY SAFE Act,” purports to limit firearms to seven rounds and ban most semi-automatic weapons and standard-capacity magazines. Other unconstitutional and highly controversial provisions aim to, for example, mandate gun-owner registration with authorities while demanding government approval for virtually every firearm transfer.

Activists have already promised to defy the unconstitutional restrictions, and thousands of protesters recently converged on Albany calling on “King” Cuomo to resign or even be tried for treason owing to his blatant disregard for his oath of office and the lawless assault on the Constitution. The protests are getting bigger and louder even as the state faces an avalanche of lawsuits to overturn its lawless assault on the rights of law-abiding New Yorkers.

Amid the anti-gun rights hysteria whipped up by the increasingly discredited establishment media after the massacre of children in a Connecticut “gun-free zone,” the controversial “NY SAFE Act” was rammed through the legislature with arm-twisting from Gov. Cuomo on January 15. It passed just hours after being introduced — an apparent violation of the state Constitution, which generally requires three days before legislation can be passed unless there is an emergency.

In fact, the legislation’s approval was so rushed that lawmakers, most of whom apparently did not even read the bill, failed to exempt police officers from the draconian restrictions, sparking a mad dash to amend the statute before law-enforcement officials also become criminals. Across the state, sheriffs and other top law-enforcement officials have expressed serious concerns about the legislation, too — especially because of the brazen infringements on God-given rights of citizens and the violation of the U.S. and state constitutions they all took an oath to uphold.

If gun owners get their way and the state is forced to obey the U.S. and New York constitutions, however, it may all be a moot point. Last week, in two separate orders, state Supreme Court justices ordered the embattled Cuomo administration to explain itself and its unconstitutional infringements on the unalienable right to keep and bear arms enshrined in both the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and the New York Constitution.

The first order, issued by State Supreme Justice Deborah Chimes on February 27, demands that the state government prove that its unprecedented infringements on gun rights are indeed constitutional by April 29. The lawsuit was initiated by gun dealer Edward Holtz, who argues that the unconstitutional statute, among other problems, put him out of business, left him with merchandise he cannot sell, and violates his rights. According to the order issued by Justice Chimes, if the state is unable to prove that its statute is constitutional by the deadline, she will temporarily enjoin it.

 

Read Full Article Here

About these ads
Global Research, February 25, 2013

 

U.S. politicians have cried wolf over austerity long enough for the public to ignore them. A perfect time, then, for politicians to actually unleash the wolves. Barring an unlikely last minute deal, here’s a short list of some of the massive, national bi-partisan-created austerity cuts, according to the New York Times: 

-600,000 food stamp recipients will be cut from the program

-Massive education cuts. According to President Obama:

“Once these cuts take effect thousands of teachers and educators will be laid off and tens of thousands of parents will have to scramble to find child care for their kids. ”

-12 billion in Medicare cuts (more to come after 2013)

-Millions receiving unemployment will see their checks cut by 11% (an average of 132 a month)

-Federal funds to state governments will be cut, creating even more deficits for states and municipalities, and thus more localized cuts (the states have already made austerity cuts of $337 billion!)

Also, 700,000 jobs are expected to be loss, while 70,000 kids are also expected to be kicked off of Head Start

And this is just for 2013. The current plan for the austerity “sequester” cuts is $100 billion of federal cuts every year for ten years, equaling massive cuts to jobs, Medicare, education, and completely destroying federally funded social programs.

Will it actually happen this time? The New York Times reports: 

“In private, Capitol Hill staff members and members of Congress have admitted that there are no viable plans on the horizon to delay or offset the cuts.”

The finger pointing in Washington, D.C. has already reached a crescendo, with the perverted logic being that, if both parties are to blame, it’s really no one’s fault. In reality Democrats and Republicans created these “sequester” cuts, and they can just as easily undo them with a snap of the finger.Both parties are choosing not to delete the cuts. They just don’t want political responsibility for the fallout, which many economists have predicted will push the U.S. economy over the edge into official recession.

Obama has predictably blamed the Republicans for this mess, even though he personally began this process by creating the “deficit reduction commission” that helped shape the cuts (keep in mind there is zero debt crisis that calls for such drastic measures).

Obama could also just as easily appeal to the American public —over the heads of congressmen — to demand that the cuts be shelved forever. Instead, he’s proposing a “grand bargain” deal that he knows the Republicans won’t go for.

- See more at: http://www.globalresearch.ca/austerity-usa-begins-march-1st-bipartisan-project-to-impoverish-the-american-people/5324180#sthash.wiXrlRPe.dpuf

Muslims to march on White House next September 11th

Thu Jan 31, 2013 11:35AM GMT


By Dr. Kevin Barrett

The attack on American Muslims’ free speech actually appears to have begun a few days before 9/11, when the FBI raided key Muslim organizations and shut down their computer servers. The FBI’s raids preemptively prevented Muslims from freely expressing and disseminating their view of 9/11: That it was an inside job, presumably orchestrated by Israel and its American agents.”

Everyone knows that AIPAC, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, is the most powerful lobby in Washington.

But starting next September 11th, a new group called AMPAC, the American Muslim Political Action Committee, will challenge AIPAC’s stranglehold on American political life.

AMPAC will be forcefully announcing its presence with a “Million Muslim March” on the White House on September 11, 2013. The goal, announced at AMPAC’s press conference in New York:

“We at AMPAC (American Muslim Political Action Committee) are planning a historic event for 9/11/13. One million Muslims will march to Washington D.C. and demand that our civil rights be protected by our government. We are demanding that laws be enacted protecting our First Amendment rights. We are asking President Obama to fulfill his promise from his first campaign for the Presidency of a transparent government. Lastly we are asking for the establishment of a real 9/11 Commission to reveal the truth to the American people.”

AMPAC founder M.D. Rabbi Alam, a well-known Missouri Democratic Party organizer, points out that
American Muslims, like other Americans, were targeted on 9/11. More than 60 Muslims were murdered in the explosive demolitions of the three World Trade Center skyscrapers on 9/11, and a mosque in the South Tower was annihilated. Alam points out that “Muslim and non-Muslim alike were traumatized by 9/11, but we as Muslims continue twelve years later to be victimized by being made the villains.”

American courts have traditionally held that the Bill of Rights guarantees that all religions must be treated equally by the government. Alam cites “the ‘war on terrorism’ in Islamic countries, Congressional hearings on Islam in America, and changes to the NDAA” as infringements of the First Amendment right to freedom of religion.

AMPAC organizers also argue that the US government and media have lied about 9/11 and its aftermath. According to the AMPAC press release, “These lies told to the American population have made it impossible for us to do true Dawa (Islamic outreach).”

The attack on American Muslims’ free speech actually appears to have begun a few days before 9/11, when the FBI raided key Muslim organizations and shut down their computer servers. The FBI’s raids preemptively prevented Muslims from freely expressing and disseminating their view of 9/11: That it was an inside job, presumably orchestrated by Israel and its American agents.

Polls show that more than 80% of Muslims globally, and two-thirds of American Muslims, believe that 9/11 was an inside job – and these polls undoubtedly understate the real numbers. Yet the corporate media, dominated by Jewish Zionists, has refused to allow Muslims’ perspective on 9/11 to even be heard, much less debated. To this day, most Americans falsely believe that Muslims accept the official story of 9/11.

Muslims to march on White House next September 11th

Press TV

Thu Jan 31, 2013 11:35AM GMT
By Dr. Kevin Barrett

The attack on American Muslims’ free speech actually appears to have begun a few days before 9/11, when the FBI raided key Muslim organizations and shut down their computer servers. The FBI’s raids preemptively prevented Muslims from freely expressing and disseminating their view of 9/11: That it was an inside job, presumably orchestrated by Israel and its American agents.”

Everyone knows that AIPAC, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, is the most powerful lobby in Washington.

But starting next September 11th, a new group called AMPAC, the American Muslim Political Action Committee, will challenge AIPAC’s stranglehold on American political life.

AMPAC will be forcefully announcing its presence with a “Million Muslim March” on the White House on September 11, 2013. The goal, announced at AMPAC’s press conference in New York:

“We at AMPAC (American Muslim Political Action Committee) are planning a historic event for 9/11/13. One million Muslims will march to Washington D.C. and demand that our civil rights be protected by our government. We are demanding that laws be enacted protecting our First Amendment rights. We are asking President Obama to fulfill his promise from his first campaign for the Presidency of a transparent government. Lastly we are asking for the establishment of a real 9/11 Commission to reveal the truth to the American people.”

AMPAC founder M.D. Rabbi Alam, a well-known Missouri Democratic Party organizer, points out that
American Muslims, like other Americans, were targeted on 9/11. More than 60 Muslims were murdered in the explosive demolitions of the three World Trade Center skyscrapers on 9/11, and a mosque in the South Tower was annihilated. Alam points out that “Muslim and non-Muslim alike were traumatized by 9/11, but we as Muslims continue twelve years later to be victimized by being made the villains.”

American courts have traditionally held that the Bill of Rights guarantees that all religions must be treated equally by the government. Alam cites “the ‘war on terrorism’ in Islamic countries, Congressional hearings on Islam in America, and changes to the NDAA” as infringements of the First Amendment right to freedom of religion.

Apology to American Indians Unacceptable

Too Little, Too Late

Levi Rickert, editor-in-chief in Native Currents. Discussion »

WASHINGTON – Navajo Mark Charles, who has been on a one-man mission without any noticeable tribal support for past year as he attempted to bring widespread recognition of the apology to Native people that was buried in an defense appropriations bill in December 2009, on Wednesday stood near the reflecting pool outside the US Capitol and refused to accept the apology.

Apology to American IndiansThe crowd formed on the early cold morning.

Perhaps, it was a case of too little, too late.

The Apology to American Indians is on page 45 of the 67 page-long 2010 Department of Defense Appropriations Act, HR 3326.

On Wednesday, a changing crowd that numbered over 200 during the course of the event that lasted for over three hours, there were people in the crowd who traveled to Washington from numerous states throughout the United States to be part of the ceremony that included reading of the appropriations bill.

Mark Charles, Apology to American Indians“I take all these things as evidence that our country was not ready to apologize,”

No one from the White House, Congress or any other federal attended the event in any official capacity, though someone from an US Government issued vehicle was seen taking pictures on an iPad.

The apology was read in Ojibwe by American Indian author Jim Northrup and in Navajo by Reverend Ben Stoner.

Yesterday marked the third anniversary of the passing of HR 3326 – and the apology – that was passed on December 19, 2009.

The generic, non-binding apology, found in subsection 8113, was inserted by then Senator Brownback, R-Kansas, who is now the Governor of Kansas. This apology to American Indians on behalf of the citizens of the United States was not publicized by the White House or Congress at the time it was passed, nor has it been read publicly by President Obama.

Mark Charles, Apology to American IndiansMark Charles – Navajo

“spent the last year studying and reading about this… I have come to the conclusion, I don’t think our country was ready to apologize,”

said Charles.

“I have deep respect for Governor Brownsback …who spent four years of his time in the Senate to work on getting substantial language to get into a bill that stood on its own.”

“I take the fact that this apology has existed for three years and it has not been read publically been read by our president or by our Congress. I take the fact it was buried in an appropriation bill. I take the fact that language in draft after draft was turned back. I take all these things as evidence that our country was not ready to apologize,”

 

Read  Full Article Here

Cause and effect: Americans who voted for Obama now seeing weekly job hours slashed below 30 as Obamacare kicks in

Obama

by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger
Editor of NaturalNews.com

(NaturalNews)  Obamacare mandates for businesses only apply to those working 30 hours a week or more, and while many businesses do not want to cut workers’ hours, they are being forced to in order to stay afloat. This necessary action is causing businesses to lose money and become less competitive while at the same time destroying American jobs.

Some businesses are also slashing job positions in an effort to get below the 50-employee threshold above which Obamacare mandates kick in. So across the country, we’re not only seeing workers lose hours thanks to Obamacare; we’re also seeing workers losing their jobs.

But the Obama administration will announce these results to be a huge “job creation success!” because workers must now find two part-time jobs that usually pay less than the one full-time job they used to have. The raw job numbers, however, will be spun by the White House into a victory pronouncement of “twice as many jobs exist now!”

Be careful what you vote for

A note to Obama supporters: When you thought you were voting for “free health care,” you were actually voting to get yourself “downsized.” Your vote was an act of economic suicide. That’s because no government can force a business to pay for something that will put it out of business. When government mandates become too expensive for a business to afford, it will simply stop conducting business and that means cutting jobs or job hours.

Imagine: If Obama announced a new initiative called “double pay for all workers” and made it a federal law, he would of course win another popular vote. But employers wouldn’t be able to afford the double pay mandate, so they would start slashing jobs or offshoring jobs, and that’s exactly what we see today. Every employer in America is right now asking himself these three questions in order to stay above water and not go bankrupt:

#1) How can we slash workers to under 30 hours a week?
#2) How can we offshore jobs to India or other countries?
#3) How can we cut our total number of employees to under fifty?

This is the upshot of Obamacare: the destruction of America’s small businesses.

The largest businesses pay almost no tax

At the same time small businesses are struggling to afford Obamacare, mega-corporations like Google are proudly announcing they’re paying only 3.5% in taxes thanks to a complex array of global tax-shifting strategies with names like the “Double Irish” and “Dutch Sandwich.” As Bloomberg recently reported:

Google Inc. (GOOG) avoided about $2 billion in worldwide income taxes in 2011 by shifting $9.8 billion in revenues into a Bermuda shell company, almost double the total from three years before, filings show. By legally funneling profits from overseas subsidiaries into Bermuda, which doesn’t have a corporate income tax, Google cut its overall tax rate almost in half. The amount moved to Bermuda is equivalent to about 80 percent of Google’s total pretax profit in 2011.

So while Google, one of the wealthiest corporations in the world, pays just 3.5% in TOTAL tax, small businesses across America find themselves paying 30%, 40%, even 50% of their earnings in total taxes, including FICA, social security, inventory tax, capital gains and now Obamacare surcharges and taxes. This is how Obamacare works: Protect the corporate giants while socking it to small and medium-sized businesses.

Obamacare is gutting America’s economy and throwing a wrench into the economic machinery that keeps America working. You know why service is so slow at retailers these days? Because Obamacare forced the employer to slash workers’ hours. Why do car parts take so long to order and deliver? Because Obamacare gutted the human resources of the parts manufacturers. Why is everything becoming slower, more expensive and more frustrating across the economy? Because Obamacare mandates have forced employers to downsize or lay off their most productive workers.

I ask: What good is a health insurance mandate if it destroys your job in the process of being enforced?

Obamacare supporters have little understanding of economic reality

The simple truth of all this is that economics is a subject best left to those people capable of understanding mathematics, and that precludes the vast majority of voters of either political party. Mathematically speaking, Obama’s so-called “mandate” isn’t even a real mandate: Less than half of eligible voters actually voted in this recent election, and barely half of those voted for Obama. This means that roughly 75% of eligible voters didn’t vote for Obama, yet they must suffer under his economic policies which are based in pure fantasy and delusion.

Obama has zero business experience. He has no clue how economics really works and no knowledge of how to run a successful business, much less the executive branch of government. I know what it takes to create multi-million-dollar companies because I’ve done it successfully and repeatedly, and I can assure you that the economic policies currently being pursued in Washington will only destroy jobs, destroy America’s economy and destroy our economic future.

Democrats, it seems, believe the solution to all this is to make taxpayers pay even more money to the federal government. As we are told by the lamestream media, apparently the only reason the economy isn’t celebrating a rapid expansion right now is because workers and businesses are allowed to keep too much of their own incomes. If only Washington D.C. had more of your money, they would use it more wisely, we’re told, and fix all our problems. Obamacare is just the beginning: power-hungry zealots like Obama have plans for centralizing control and running everything in your life: health care, food choices, educational choices, private property, energy consumption, home gardening and anything else you might imagine.

So rather than thinking of ways to cut cancerous government out of the economy like a deadly tumor, the people who run the government can only imagine variations of ways to keep expanding it. (This is true across both Republicans and Democrats.) Government expansion necessarily requires an expansion of confiscation from businesses and workers. This action, of course, destroys international competitiveness and American jobs.

How to really create economic abundance in America

It’s all cause and effect, folks. If you really want to uplift America’s economy, create millions of quality jobs and put the kind of money into the hands of workers that can help them afford private health insurance, you’ve got to slash the size of government by 80% across the board. Let businesses and workers keep 80% of what they normally send to Washington. With that kind of money in their pockets and bank accounts, workers would EASILY be able to afford health insurance. They would also spend their newly-expanded discretionary incomes on all sorts of products and services that would be a boon to the economy.

Government, you see, is the eternal enemy of economic prosperity. Government has been and always will be a parasite on the economy. Obama and his worshippers don’t understand economics. They don’t understand what it takes to create abundance out of hard work, dedication and honest savings and investment. It’s all summed up in Obama’s atrociously insulting quote, “If you have a business, you didn’t built that… somebody else made that happen!”

That’s a lie. Government builds nothing. It only destroys that which others have built. And Obamacare has succeeded in only one thing: the “scorched Earth” destruction of American jobs and the rapid erosion of economic prosperity.

If you voted for Obama and you’re now unemployed or had your hours cut, you are getting a first-hand view of economic cause and effect. I’m not saying Romney would have been any better, because he was just another Goldman Sachs puppet. The real solution to all this is Ron Paul, who wanted to slash the size of government and send people’s money back home so they could spend it the way they choose instead of having a bunch of over-fed, over-paid bureaucrats spending their money in D.C.

Instead of blaming Obama, of course, the vast majority of the recently-unemployed will blame their employer! “How dare you cut my hours!” they will scream, oblivious to the fact that their employer did NOT want to cut their hours but was forced to by a cabal of economic morons in Washington who are dismantling America’s economy one piece of legislation at a time.

Putting Democrats in charge of the economy is kind of like putting kindergarteners in charge of nuclear missiles. The outcome can never be good… a lot of people are going to get hurt… and somebody else sooner or later has to clean up the mess.

In four years, things will be far worse

As bad as you might think things are right now, in four more years under Obama, they will be far, far worse.

Unemployment will continue to rise. Millions more Americans will desperately turn to food stamps. Crime waves will hit cities like Detroit, Chicago, New York and Los Angeles. Homelessness will spread, and people who used to have one good job will find themselves working two or three part-time jobs instead, none of which offer real benefits.

Like a heroin addict who can’t quit his cycle of self-destruction, the Obama administration will then insist, two or three years from now, that the problem is caused by government still not confiscating enough money from taxpayers and small businesses. The call for raising more taxes, growing more government and dictating economic policy to the nation will be parroted across the lamestream media.

In the end, the system will collapse. When that day comes, don’t be anywhere near a large U.S. city. The reasons for that will be discussed in an upcoming article right here on Natural News.

Many of these workers are, of course, ardent Obama supporters. And like most Obama supporters, they have very little understanding of how economics really works. Accordingly, they have no idea that their support for Obama is tied to their recent job loss. Instead, they blame their employer. “How dare they cut my hours!” Yep, it’s all the fault of the employer for wanting to avoid bankruptcy.

Obama supporters, by and large, think that money just magically appears out of thin air with no consequence and that therefore the government can simply give away enough wealth to keep the voters comfortable. That’s why voters want their Obama phones so badly… and their Obama welfare checks, Obama housing and Obama health care. They don’t realize the only reason they need a welfare check is because Obama destroyed their job in the first place. If we had a President who pursued rational economic policies, nearly everyone would already be employed and they wouldn’t need government handouts!

Warning to all pot smokers in Colorado and Washington: You are about to experience a costly lesson in federal tyranny and Obama betrayal

 

by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger
Editor of NaturalNews.com

 

(NaturalNews) Colorado and Washington pot smokers are lighting up in celebration after having achieved a stunning decriminalization victory at the ballot box. Inhale while you can, my brothers and sisters, because Obama is already plotting how to re-criminalize your swag and nullify states’ rights.

Marijuana decriminalization, you see, was a states’ rights victory that more or less flipped Washington D.C. the finger. From Obama’s point of view, this simply cannot be allowed to stand because it would set a precedent of the tyrannical federal government “allowing” states to decide their own laws, separate from federal law. While the U.S. Constitution clearly encourages precisely such a structure, the U.S. federal government that exists today operates like a power-hungry gang of thugs who seek to crush anyone and anything that threatens to stand against it. There does not even exist the facade of respecting the limitations of federal government described in the Constitution.

Mark my words: Obama, who is himself an admitted pot smoker, is coming after YOUR right to smoke pot.

It will start with polite-sounding lawsuits. The federal government will claim total control of all individual activity under the “commerce clause” of the U.S. Constitution and pressure a few key federal judges to overturn state decriminalization laws.

If, for some reason, that fails, the DEA — which operates much like a pack of hungry wolves barely restrained on a short leash — will be given the green light to start conduct armed federal raids in Washington and Colorado. The point of the raids? To send the message that the feds are still in charge, regardless of what the voters say.

A lesson in power

All the pot smoking voters in Washington and Colorado are about to receive a valuable lesson in power. They think they have won a permanent victory for liberty, even if they don’t describe it in those words. In reality, all they have done is antagonize federal forces of evil which are already planning a powerful counter-assault that will remind the slaves of America (the voters) who is really in charge.

And why? Because if marijuana decriminalization is not crushed by the political forces in Washington D.C., then its very existence might encourage other states to decriminalize things like industrial hemp farming, holistic medicine or even raw milk. For God’s sake, states might behave under the misimpression that they control their own destiny!

On this subject, I’ve already published a list of five things any state could legalize right now in order to experience an economic golden age. Each of these fives things would require states to assert their Tenth Amendment rights to nullify the power of the federal government within the state’s own borders. This is precisely what Colorado and Washington have done with marijuana decriminalization laws. They may not call it a “Tenth Amendment” initiative, but that’s exactly what it is.

Make no mistake that the federal government will use any means necessary to reverse this: Lawsuits, armed raids, false flag attacks, propaganda campaigns and so on. The federal government in America today is run by truly maniacal power-hungry criminals. Ron Paul calls Washington bureaucrats “psychopathic tyrants.” There is absolutely nothing they won’t do to enforce their fabricated authority over the states and the People.

If it means marching into Colorado with federal troops and shoving rifles in the faces of small-time pot growers, that’s exactly what they will do. For those of you in Colorado and Washington right now, do not suffer under the delusion that you are now free to smoke pot with impunity. You have merely achieved a reversible ballot victory that was only allowed to take place because the vote fraudsters were too busy stealing other elections (Prop 37!) to effectively defeat your marijuana decriminalization ballot measures.

It is good that you did achieve that victory, of course, because now the real lessons in liberty will be realized. At this point, Obama has no choice but to show his vindictive double standard where it’s okay for the President to campaign on the “coolness” of having smoked pot and inhaled, but his own voters who do the same thing will be arrested at gunpoint and incarcerated in federal prisons. And if you’re black like Obama, by the way, your prison sentence will be double or triple that of white offenders.

That’s real tyranny, and that’s the real Obama. Those of you voted for Obama and are enjoying your temporarily-legalized pot in Colorado or Washington are about to learn a very costly lesson in federal tyranny. Within a year, your states will be under assault by the feds, and your freedoms will be even further stripped away by the very President who campaigned on the idea that the government would listen and respond to the needs of the voters.

Obama lied. The federal government doesn’t want liberty in America; it wants CONTROL.

DEA agents are right now salivating at the thought of identifying, targeting and raiding small-time pot gardens in Colorado. Those who flaunt their growing, harvesting or smoking will be the first who are targeted. Don’t say you weren’t warned.

To learn more about state nullification of federal tyranny, visit:
www.NullifyNow.com

Marijuana decriminalized in Washington and Colorado as voters reject police state ‘War on Drugs’

by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger
Editor of NaturalNews.com

Washington

(NaturalNews) Here’s some good news in the election results: Voters in Washington and Colorado have decriminalized small quantities of marijuana for recreational use. This is an attempt to end the insane waste of law enforcement resources on small-time pot users who pose no threat to society.

Although I’m personally not a pot user and I don’t advocate the smoking of pot for recreational use, this is nonetheless a victory for freedom in a nation that’s increasingly crushing freedom on most fronts. It does, however, set the stage for state versus federal conflicts over the enforcement of federal drug laws.

Federal government mistakenly thinks it rules over states

According to President Obama, the federal government rules the nation and can bypass state laws to make arrests of pot users or growers, even when marijuana possession been deemed perfectly legal by the states! This is, of course, government arrogance and a gross overstepping of the limits of federal government as outlined in the United States Constitution.

But Washington D.C. does not seem to care about any constitutional limits of power. And the DEA, as always, is far more interested in expanding its own power than abiding by state laws. So watch for the DEA to specifically target marijuana users in Washington and Colorado in the near future in order to demonstrate some tyranny in the face of these new laws.

Government as gangs

The federal government is, after all, a lawless, tyrannical collection of three-lettered gangs: DEA, ATF, FDA, CDC and so on. Each of them has a “territory” of power and control, and when voters decriminalize marijuana, they threaten the territory of the DEA.

DEA agents don’t like that. And as they are all half-cocked crazy sons of bitches, they will lock and load wherever it takes to prove they’re still in charge.

Trust me on that point. I know some ex-DEA guys, and they’re insane to the core. To them, it’s not about law, it’s about street power. It’s about the rush of conducting an armed raid on a pot grower’s house, and the thrill of being written up in the newspaper for a “marijuana bust.” It’s also about those shiny new AR-15 toys and the IR non-visible laser sights that only government agents can buy.

To these guys, being a DEA agent is like being paid to act like a modern-day cowboy and play with government guns being directed against the People. These guys won’t give up their power (and their pensions) easily.

My prediction? Battleground Colorado!

Colorado and Washington prepare to face off with feds over marijuana

Fast Eddy Aki'a of Hawaii smokes a joint as thousands gathered to celebrate the state's medicinal marijuana laws in Civic Center Park April 20, 2012 in Denver, Colorado. (AFP Photo / Marc Piscotty)

Fast Eddy Aki’a of Hawaii smokes a joint as thousands gathered to celebrate the state’s medicinal marijuana laws in Civic Center Park April 20, 2012 in Denver, Colorado. (AFP Photo / Marc Piscotty)

Colorado and Washington became the first states in the US to legalize the recreational use of marijuana this week, but the win for weed advocates is likely to be challenged by the feds as nation-wide legislation outlawing the drug still stands.

Voters in both states elected to pass separate laws this week that essentially make legal the small-scale possession and use of marijuana, but the US Department of Justice is already tasking itself with an investigation to see how to proceed once prohibition formally ends in Washington and Colorado.

As of December 6 in Washington and January 5 in Colorado, residents will be allowed under state law to possess limited amounts of marijuana. Nationwide, 17 states and the District of Columbia have legalized marijuana for medicinal purposes already, but nowhere in the United States has possession or use been allowed without a doctor’s prescription, nor with the backing of the federal government. The topic of medicinal marijuana has already been a headache for the Justice Department since states first starting allowing physicians to sign off on pot scripts, beginning with a measure approved in California back in 1996. Now a doctor’s note won’t be necessary in Washington or Colorado, all but certain to spark a whole new battle over the states’ rights to govern locally without federal interference. In the meantime, though, this week’s election’s impact on the war on drugs and American culture is something that won’t be known until it plays out.

“To put this into historical context, there is no historical context. It’s the first time any state has ever voted to legalize marijuana — and two of them did it,” says Tom Angell, a spokesperson for Law Enforcement Against Prohibition.

The next step now is to see how the Justice Department reacts, but so far their only statement has revealed that the Drug Enforcement Administration’s “enforcement of the Controlled Substances Act remains unchanged.” Currently, federal law considered marijuana in the same category of drug as cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine.

Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire told KUOW radio on Wednesday that “The jury is out on what happens,” adding, “Meanwhile, my job as governor is to do what the people of the state of Washington have said they want done.” Even if Gov. Gregoire says he will fight this battle on behalf of his state, he suggests no one is quite certain yet about what will happen next. “Because marijuana is still illegal at the federal level, we are unsure how the federal government will proceed,” he says.

U.S. Rep. Jay Inslee – considered largely as the frontrunner in the race replace Gov. Gregoire during the next election — adds to Seattle PI, “Our voters have spoken:There is not an urgent national security reason not to respect the will of our voter.”

According to the Seattle Times, Washington Attorney General-elect Bob Ferguson says, “I’m 100 percent looking forward to defending the will of the people and will defend it vigorously,” but how exactly that will stand up to potential federal challenges is unknown.

“It’s an important state’s rights issue about whether a state can have a law that is inconsistent with the federal Uniform Controlled Substances Act,” King County Washington Prosecutor Dan Satterberg tells Seattle PI, referring to the key federal drug law. “I expect it’s the kind of case that would go all the way to the Supreme Court.”

Even before making it the judges’ quarters, the Obama White House might want to ramp-up federal prosecutions, some suggest.

“They are facing an uphill battle with implementing this, in the face of … presidential opposition and in the face of federal enforcement opposition,” former adviser to the Obama administration’s drug czar, Kevin Sabet, tells reporters.

Just recently in September, nine former administrators with the DEA sent a letter to Attorney General Eric Holder urging him to intervene in the latest proposal. “To continue to remain silent conveys to the American public and the global community a tacit acceptance of these dangerous initiatives,” the former DEA agents agreed. “We urge you to take a public position on these initiatives as soon as possible.”

Paul Armentano, the deputy director of the pro-marijuana NORML group, says he doubts federal enforcement will occur to the degree that opponents of the law suggest.

“The passage of these measures strikes a significant blow to federal cannabis prohibition,” Armentano writes in a statement this week. “Like alcohol prohibition before it, marijuana prohibition is a failed federal policy that delegates the burden of enforcement to the state and local police. Alcohol prohibition fell when a sufficient number of enacted legislation repealing the state’s alcohol prohibition laws. With state police and prosecutors no longer engaging in the federal government’s bidding to enforce an unpopular law, the federal government had little choice but to abandon the policy altogether. Today, history begins to repeat itself.”

Betty Aldworth, a spokesperson with Colorado’s Amendment 64 campaign and a proponent of the just-passed law, tells Seattle Times that, “At this point, we are cautiously optimistic that the federal government will respect the will of voters in Colorado and Washington and allow us to regulate marijuana as we best see fit.”

Amendment 64 passed with 54.7 percent of the vote in Colorado; in Washington, initiative 502 passed with the support of 55.4 percent of the voting public.

Food Safety

Cantaloupe Salmonella Outbreak Hits Illinois Hard

Food Poisoning Bulletin

Illinois has been hard hit by the cantaloupe Salmonella outbreak that has sickened 204 people in 22 states, according to the latest update from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).  Illinois residents account for about 12 percent of all reported cases nationwide. So far, 24 people from 11 counties in that state have confirmed cases of Salmonella poisoning. And at least eight of them had cases so severe that they needed to be hospitalized.

The tainted cantaloupes were grown on Chamberlain Farms Produce, Inc. of Owensville, Indiana and were distributed throughout the country. Retailers who reported removing cantaloupes from their shelves include Walmart, Krogers, Schnucks, Meijer and Marsh.

“Illinois consumers should check for and ask about the origin of recently purchased cantaloupe, and discard any cantaloupe grown in southwestern Indiana,” said Dr. LaMar Hasbrouck, director of the Illinois Department of Public Health. “Anyone who becomes ill after eating cantaloupes grown in southwestern Indiana should seek medical attention immediately.”

Symptoms of a Salmonella infection include diarrhea, fever and abdominal cramps developing 12 to 72 hours after exposure and lasting up to seven days. For some people, the diarrhea may be so severe that hospitalization is required. Those most at risk include older adults, infants, and those with impaired immune systems. Infections that travel from the GI tract to the bloodstream can be fatal id they are not treated quickly with antibiotics. In this outbreak 78 people have been hospitalized, and two people from Kentucky have died.

Get Salmonella help here.

Case counts by state are as follows: Alabama (13), Arkansas (5), California (2), Florida (1), Georgia (4), Illinois (24), Indiana (22), Iowa (8), Kentucky (63), Massachusetts (2), Michigan (6), Minnesota (5), Mississippi (5), Missouri (13), New Jersey (2), North Carolina (5), Ohio (5), Pennsylvania (2), South Carolina (3), Tennessee (8), Texas (2), and Wisconsin (4).

Swine Flu Kills 61-Year-Old Ohio Woman

Not transmissible to people through eating properly cooked pork

Food Safety News

The Ohio Department of Health (ODH) Friday announced the nation’s first known H3N2v-associated (swine flu) death.
Testing involving a 61-year-old Madison County woman at the Ohio Department of Health Laboratory confirmed that the individual had been infected with the H3N2v influenza virus.
The patient had multiple other underlying medical conditions, but the influenza virus may have contributed to the death.
The deceased woman is known to have had direct contact with swine at the Ross County fair before becoming ill.
According to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the main risk factor for infection is direct exposure to swine. CDC points out that the virus does not spread easily from person-to-person, but limited human-to-human infection has occurred.
Swine influenza has not been shown to be transmissible to people through eating properly handled and prepared pork (pig meat) or other products derived from pigs, according to CDC.
 ”H3N2v, like many other viruses, has the greatest potential to impact those with weakened immune systems,” said Dr. Ted Wymyslo, Director of ODH. “We have been seeing a mild illness in most individuals infected with the H3N2v virus, so there’s no need for alarm. However, it is important for those at-risk individuals to take extra precautions like avoiding swine exhibits to protect themselves.”
Ohio is currently reporting 102 cases of H3N2v statewide. Those with confirmed cases of H3N2v are between the ages of 6 months and 61 years old. Most ill individuals have recovered on their own or were treated and released after a short stay in the hospital.
At this time, surveillance indicates that the individuals most likely became ill with the flu virus after exposure to swine. At-risk individuals (children younger than 5 years old, people 65 years and older, pregnant women, and people with certain chronic conditions such as asthma and other lung diseases, diabetes, heart disease, weakened immune system, and neurologic or neurodevelopmental disorders) should avoid exposure to pigs and swine barns during this fair season.
Those attending fairs should remember:
- Wash your hands frequently with soap and running water before and after exposure to animals;
- Never eat, drink or put things in your mouth in animal areas, and don’t take food or drink into animal areas;
- Leave baby strollers parked outside of areas with pigs;
- Young children, pregnant women, people 65 and older and people with weakened immune systems should be extra careful around animals;
- If you have animals – including swine – watch them for signs of illness and call a veterinarian if you suspect they might be sick;
- Avoid close contact with animals that look or act ill, when possible;
- Avoid contact with swine if you are experiencing flu-like symptoms.
If you are sick:
- If you are at high risk and you get flu symptoms, call a health care provider. Tell them about your risk factor, other medical conditions and your flu symptoms. If you have recently been exposed to swine, tell them about that too.
- If you are not at high risk and you get flu symptoms after exposure to pigs, seek medical care as you normally would.

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Recalls

World Foods Recalls Winn-Dixie Products Made with Recalled Daniella Mangoes

Food Poisoning Bulletin

World Foods is recalling products it distributes to retail supermarkets that contain Daniella mangoes recalled by Splendid Products. The mangoes may be contaminated with Salmonella Braenderup that are linked to a nationwide outbreak. The products were distributed to stores in central and south Florida.

The recalled products include: Garden Highway Tropical Salsa in 11 ounce packages, with UPC code 8.26766-42210.4 and code dates 8/31/2012 and 9/1/2012. Generic/Winn Dixie Stores brand Fresh Island Medley in 1 pound pack, with UPC number 0.21140-01696.6 and code dates 8/30/2012 and 8/31/2012. Also recalled are Generic/Winn-Dixie Stores brand Fresh Fruit Burst Bowl in 1 pound pack, with UPC number 0.21140-01701.7 and code dates 8/30/2012 and 8/31/2012. And finally, Generic/Winn-Dixie Stores brand Fresh Fruit Burst Bowl in 1.5 pound pack is recalled, with UPC number 0.21140-01707.9 and code dates 8/30/2012 and 8/31/2012.

All affected products have a plant code P-009 on the label next to the UPC bar code. No other World Foods LLC products or code dates are affected by this recall. If you have purchased these products, discard them. For questions, call the company at 1-407-851-4504 Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm ET.

Hannaford Recalls Mango Products for Possible Salmonella

Food Poisoning Bulletin

Hannaford Bros. Co. is recalling several products made with recalled Daniella mangoes. The fruit may be contaminated with Salmonella Braenderup and may be linked to a nationwide outbreak that has sickened 105 people in 16 states.

Hannaford Mango Spears in 16 ounce packages with Sell by date of August 28, 2012 are recalled. In addition, Hannaford Fruit Burst in 10 ounce, 20 ounce, and 4-pound packages, with Sell by date of August 28, 2012 is recalled. And finally, Hannaford Tropical Medley in 16 ounce packages, with Sell by date of August 28, 2012 is recalled.

The store has also removed Daniella brand mangoes with PLU #4051 from its stores as part of a larger recall by Splendid Products. Do not eat these products if you have purchased them. Return them to the place of purchase for a full refund. Or dispose of the product in a sealed container and bring the receipt or sticker back to the store for a refund.

EphBurn Dietary Supplement Recalled for Ephedrine Alkaloids

Food Poisoning Bulletin

Brand new Energy re-sale distributor is recalling all lot codes of EphBurn 25. The FDA has notified them that one lot of EphBurn 25 was sampled and found to contain ephedrine alkaloids, making it an unapproved drug.

Ephedrine is a stimulant, appetite suppressant, concentration aid, and decongestant. Adverse effects of this drug include elevated blood pressure, rapid heartbeat, nerve damage, muscle injury, psychosis, and memory loss. More serious side effects include heart attack, stroke, seizure, and death. But there have been no reports of adverse events associated with the consumption of this product.

The recall affects all lot codes and use-by dates of EphBurn 25. The product is a 90-count bottle with red capsules. It displays the product name “ephBURN 25″ in white letters on a red label. There is no UPC code. EphBurn 25 was discontinued on or about May 2012.

If you have purchased this product, immediately discontinue use. Contact your healthcare provider if you have experienced any problems. Report adverse side effects at Medwatch. For questions, call 1-888-234-2595 from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm PT.

Klement Bratwurst Patties Recalled for Foreign Materials

Food Poisoning Bulletin

Klement Sausage Company of Wisconsin is recalling about 2,920 pounds of frozen bratwurst patties because they may contain pieces of ap lstic pen. The product is 10-pound cases containing 4-ounce patties of Klement Sausage Co. Bratwurst Patty.

The products were produced on July 6, 2012. The packages have the establishment number “EST. 2426B” in the USDA mark of inspection. Each case label has the batch number “21097″. The products were distributed for foodservice use in Iowa, Kentucky, Minnesota, and Wisconsin.

The problem was discovered when food preparation personnel discovered the foreign matter while cooking the product. There have been no reports of injury or illness associated with the consumption of this product. If you have questions, call Jeff Klement, the company’s vice president of special products, at 414-744-2330 extenion 244.

Stop & Shop Recalls Splendid Products LLC Daniella Mangoes

Food Poisoning Bulletin

The Stop & Shop Supermarket Company LLC is recalling Daniella mangoes it received from Splendid Products for possible Salmonella Braenderup contamination. The mangoes were purchased between July 12, 2012 and August 24, 2012. The mangoes have PLU #4959.

Stop & Shop says it is aware of illnesses reported in Canada and associated with this recall. If you have purchased this product, discard it and bring the receipt to Stop & Shop for a full refund. You can call Stop & Shop Customer Service at 800-767-7772 Monday through Friday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm for more information. Stop & Shop stores are located in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, New York, and New Jersey.

These mangoes may be linked to a nationwide outbreak of Salmonella Braenderup that has sickened 105 people in 16 states. The FDA and CDC are still investigating this outbreak and they may announce other products linked to the outbreak.

BI-LO Recalls Daniella Brand Mangoes for Salmonella Braenderup

BI-LO is recalling whole Daniella brand mangoes for possible Salmonella Braenderup contamination. The mangoes, imported from Mexico, were sold in stores between July 12, 2012 and August 27, 2012. The fruit was sold as individual fruit and can be identified by the Daniella brand sticker and UPC number 0-00000-04051.

The recall is for fruit sold in Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. The company has received no reports of illness associated with this product, but the mangoes are linked to a nationwide outbreak that has sickened 105 people in 16 states. Do not eat the mangoes; discard them, or return to BI-LO for a refund. You must have proof of purchase to receive a refund.

For questions, call BI-LO customer relations department at 1-800-862-9293. Hours of operation are Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm and Saturday from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm ET. If you have purchased mangoes that do not have a sticker, consult the store to find out where they came from.

Ready Pac Recalls Package Fruit With Daniella Brand Mangoes

Food Safety News

Irwindale, CA-based Ready Pac Foods Inc. Saturday recalled about 30 package fruit products containing mangoes, distributed through Aug. 30, 2012, for potential Salmonella Braenderup contamination.
The package fruit products contain Daniella Brand mangoes previously recalled by Splendid Products, the supplier.
The Ready Pac  recall is part of an ongoing food safety investigation in the United States and Canada.
There have been several confirmed illnesses associated with the consumption of Daniella brand mangoes contained in the Ready Pac fruit products.
The Ready Pac Foods fruit products were distributed in Alaska, Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Washington D.C., Florida,

readypac_320x175.png

Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming, and Canada.
Consumers who may have purchased the products should check the Ready Pac website for a complete list of products, use-by dates, and UPC codes.
Ready Pac is asking retailers to check their inventories and store shelves to confirm that none of the products are present or available for purchase by consumers or in warehouse inventories.
Customer service representatives are contacting all the retail stores impacted and are in the process of confirming that the recalled products are not in the stream of commerce.
Consumers with questions may contact Ready Pac  at 1-800-800-7822 M-F 8am-pm PDT.

More Mexican Mangoes Recalled By A Northeast Distributor

Food Safety News

More Mexican grown mangoes have been recalled, this time by New Jersey’s F&S Produce Co. Inc., which distributes in the Northeast U.S.
The company recalled products containing fresh cut mangoes for possible Salmonella Braenderup contamination. Several brand names, some familiar, are involved. F&S said the recalled products have an expiration date of Aug. 28.
The F&S recall is part of an ongoing food safety investigation by both the United States and Canada.

mangobox.jpg

There have been more than 100 confirmed illnesses associated with the consumption of Daniella brand mangoes from Mexico.  None of the illnesses have yet been connected to F&S products.
Five lots of Daniella brand mangoes have been recalled in the U.S. and Canada while officials in the two counties try to pin point the problem.  No deaths have yet been connected to the outbreak.
F&S said its products with mangoes that fall under the various recalls were distributed to grocery and convenience stores in the Northeast and were processed between  Aug. 9 and 19.  F&S switched to using mangoes from Brazil for packages with use or sell-by dates on or after Aug. 29.
The company has asked retailers to remove the recalled products from store shelves. The F&S recalled products by label, all with an expiration date of Aug. 28, unless otherwise noted include:
-Delish!: Mango Spears 5 ounce Cantaloupe; Mango, Pineapple Spears 5 ounce; Fruit Burst 10 ounce; Tropical Medley 10 ounce; Mango and Berry Mix 10 ounce; Mango Spears 1 lb.
-Garden Highway: Mango Medley 1 lb.; Tropical Mango Spinach Salad 7 ounce.
-Garden Pure: Mango Chunks 5 lb.; Mango 9 ounce ; Fruit Medley 3 lb.; Seasonal Fruit Bowl 4 lb.
-Signature Café: Fruit Basket Medley 30 ounce.
-Trader Joe’s: Tropical Fruit Medley 1 lb.

-Signature Café: Fruit Basket Medley 30 ounce.
-Generic Label, sold at Wal-Mart (expiration date Aug. 25): Mango Spears 1 lb.

In Canada, Glatt’s Ground Beef and Veal Recalled for E. coli 0157:H7

The CFIA and Continental Strictly Kosher Meat, Poultry and Delicatessen Products are recalling ground beef and ground veal products because they may be contaminated with E. coli 0157:H7. The following Glatt’s brand products are being recalled: lean ground veal, lean ground beef, medium ground beef, and medium ground beef club pack.

You can see where these products were sold at the CFIA web site. You can also see label photos at that web site. If you have purchased these products, discard them. Please check your home freezers to see if you have the products. And if you’re not sure if you purchased these products or not, check with your retailer.

There have not been any confirmed illnesses associated with the consumption of these products. For more information, call Continental at 514-522-1196, or the CFIA at 1-800-442-2342.

Soybean Sprouts and Tofu Recalled For Listeria

Food Safety News

Newark, NJ-based Manna Organics, Inc. on Sunday recalled various soybean sprouts and tofu products listed because they have the potential to be contaminated with potentially deadly Listeria monocytogenes.
No illnesses have yet been associated with the recall.

listeria_320x175.jpg

Manna Organics became concerned about possible contamination after random testing by the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets discovered Listeria in a 16 oz. package of of SOONYEOWON SOYBEAN SPROUTS.
Not known is whether New York’s testing was done under USDA’s 11-year old  Microbiological Data Program (MDP), which the Obama Administration is ending at the end of this growing season at the behest of the produce industry, or whether it was done on the state’s own nickel.
The company has suspended production while it investigates the problem with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Consumers who have purchased any of the items listed are urged to return them to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions may contact the company at 1-862-267-3400. Hours of operation are 9 AM to 5 PM EST, Monday through Friday.
The recalled products were distributed to various restaurants, retailers, and distributors in NY, NJ, PA, MA, VA, MD, CT, GA, IL, and TX on or after July 17, 2012.
The Jinga Firm and Soft, SooNyeoWon Firm and Soft Tofu are packaged in a square 16-ounce white plastic container with the label sealed on top with UPC Codes: 0 28346 09112 4, 0 28346 09111 7, 0 28346 07812 5 and 0 28346 07814 9. Expiration date of September 9, 2012 or later is printed in black on top of the label.
The 5 pieces and 10 pieces tofu are packaged in a white plastic bucket. The 5 pieces and 10 pieces are lidded and labeled in Korean “Healthy Tofu” with UPC Codes 0 28346 09125 4 and 0 28346 09129 2. Affected products have an expiration date of July 25, 2012 or later.
The Soy Milk is packaged in a 1.3 gallon white plastic pail.
The Large Tofu Bucket(30 pieces), Soon tofu, and Small Tofu are packaged in a large, white plastic pail enclosed in a plastic bag labeled TOFU with the company name, address, and nutritional information listed directly below. Affected products have an expiration date of July 25, 2012 or later.
SooNyeoWon Silken Tofu is packaged in a small 14-ounce square plastic container with the label sealed on top. It has a UPC Code of 0 28346 09113 1. There is an expiration date printed in black on top of the label. Affected products have an expiration date of September 9, 2012 or later.
The Soybean Sprouts 16-ounce products come in a clear plastic sealed bag colored in red or green with the labels SOONYEOWON SOYBEAN SPROUTS or SOONYEOWON HEALTHY SOYBEAN SPROUTS with UPC Codes 0 28346 07121 8 and 0 28346 07140 9. The Soybean Sprouts 10lbs. and 5 lbs. bags come in a clear hand tied plastic poly bag labeled SPROUTS with the company info directly beneath it.
See the attached table for more information.

Recall of Sea Salt Product For Not Listing Milk As Allergen

Food SafetyNews

The San Francisco-based Somersault Snack Co., LLC has recalled some of its Somersaults Pacific Sea Salt (6 oz.) for a packaging mistake.
“Limited quantities of Somersaults Santa Fe Salsa flavored product were inadvertently commingled with Somersaults Pacific Sea Salt flavored product in packages labeled as Somersaults Pacific Sea Salt,” the snack firm said.

seasalt_320x175.png

“The inadvertent commingling of these two products introduced another allergen (milk) to the Somersaults Pacific Sea Salt (6oz). packages, and that allergen (milk) is not listed on the packaging as either an ingredient or an allergen.
The sell-by date and UPC number on the product is: MAR1113 G6 / UPC Product Code: 8-98403-00201-7.   The Sell By Date is located on the back of the package, in the middle, above the sunflower graphics,
and the UPC Product Code is located below the UPC bar code.
People who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to milk run the risk of an allergic reaction if they consume the affected product. The product was distributed to retail stores nationwide. No allergic reactions have been reported.
Somersault Snack Co. has taken the precautionary measure of notifying the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and is voluntarily recalling approximately 418 cases of the product shown.
Somersault Snack Co. will work with retail customers to ensure that the recalled products are removed from store shelves.
In the event that consumers believe they have purchased products affected by this voluntary recall, they should return the product to the store where it was purchased for a full refund. Consumers or customers with questions may call 415-275-1247 for more information.

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Articles of Interest

Consumer Groups Sue Obama Administration Over Stalled FSMA Regulations

Food Poisoning Bulletin

Two consumer groups have sued the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for the delay in implementing the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). Four critical regulations have been delayed at OMB’s Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs for more than eight months, making the Act “unlawfully delayed for more than a year and a half,” according to the complaint.

FSMA was signed into law in January 2011, but the FDA has failed to put seven food safety regulations into effect. The lawsuit was filed in Federal Court on Thursday, August 30, 2012 by the Center for Environmental Health and the Center for Food Safety. Andrew Kimbrell, executive director of the Center for Food Safety, said in a statement, “if the Obama administration has lost the political will to make FSMA a reality, we’re here to help them find it. It’s a disgrace that a crucial, lifesaving law sits idle while the bureaucracies of FDA and OMB grind along without a hint of results.”

FSMA was established to update the food safety laws in the United States. The FDA was given the power to require preventive controls in the food supply, to inspect food producers, and ensure imported foods meet U.S. safety standards. Meanwhile, two major outbreaks linked to imported foods have occurred this year. The Salmonella Bareilly outbreak in tuna imported from India, and the Salmonella Braenderup outbreak in Mexican mangoes, have sickened hundreds of Americans.

This is not the first time groups have pressured the White House to release the delayed rules. In April 2012, Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) called on the White House to implement the regulations. And in March 2012, the Consumer Federation of America urged the Obama administration to release the proposals.

The lawsuit seeks a court order to impose a deadline to require the FDA to enact FSMA regulations and prevents the OMB from delaying the FDA’s compliance. Charles Margulis, Food Program Director at Center for Environmental Health said, “this unreasonable and dangerous political food-dragging on FSMA has to stop now. While illness outbreaks continue and Americans question the health and safety of their food supply, FDA issues excuses instead of new regulations.”

Food Safety Was Never at Risk at Central Valley Meat

Food safety was never at risk at Central Valley Meat, which was shut down for a week for inhumane treatment of animals.
But USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has concluded that no downer cows entered the food supply, meaning incidents of inhumane treatment did not result in any food safety violations.

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The Hanford, CA slaughterhouse was subjected to an undercover video sting by an animal rights group that produced disturbing footage of inhumane treatment of animals at the plant.
It brought potentially devastating losses to Central Valley Meat, with customers including USDA, Costco, McDonald’s and In-N-Out Burger.
But the concern about downer cattle entering the food supply is apparently unfounded.
“The USDA team conducting the Central Valley Meat investigation has concluded there is no evidence to support the allegation that a downer cow was slaughtered and entered the food supply, and that no food safety violation occurred as a result,” FSIS Administrator Al Almanza told Meatingplace, the industry news service.
Central Valley Meat said it is ready to resume full operations. It reopened with more video surveillance cameras installed, more training for those employees stunning animals and tighter rules for handling animals that become non-ambulatory while in transit from farm to plant.
FSIS took what it said was “aggressive action” to investigate the incident involving “evidence of inhumane treatment of cattle.” The agency received a copy of the undercover video from the animal right groups that took it.
With no downer cows entering the food supply, USDA did not demand the recall of any meat.  By comparison, the 2008 animal cruelty investigation at the Hallmark/Westland Meat Packing Co. in Chino, CA brought the one of the largest recalls in history — 143 million pounds of beef — because downer cows has entered the food supply.
Valley Meat Packing Co. did, at least temporarily, lose the business of Costco, In-N-Out Burgers, McDonald’s and USDA. In reopening the company said it was going to improve monitoring and deploy more third-party audits of its operations.

Grand Jury Indicts Meat Company Owners in Nebraska

Food Safety News

A federal grand jury in Nebraska has indicted Paul Rosberg, 61, and Kelly Rosberg, 44,  on six counts stemming from the sale of misbranded and/or non-inspected meat and meat products to  Omaha Public Schools.  Both men are from Wausa, NE.

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If convicted, each man could be sentenced to 3 to 5 years in federal prison, and fined from $10,000 to $250,000 on each of the six counts along with requirements that any release be supervised and fees paid.
Count one charges the pair with conspiracy with the intent to defraud.   The second count charges Kelly  Rosberg with selling 2,600 pounds of ground beef that was labeled as inspected by the USDA when it was not.
Count three charges both men with selling on or about Sept. 19, 2011 ground beef that was not inspected by USDA.  In other words, the indictment is for both the mislabeling ground beef as inspected when it was not and for actually selling beef outside the required USDA inspection.
The fourth count against both men is for representing the 2,600 pounds of beet was USDA inspected,   Counts  five and six are against Paul Rosberg for making a false statements on or about Nov. 3, 2011 to USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service.
Deborah Gilg, U.S. District Attorney for Nebraska, announced the indictments.
The pair were caught by a joint investigation of USDA’s Office of Program Evaluation, Enforcement and Review (OPEER) and the Inspector General (IG).
Information development by investigators led to the issuance of a search warrant  for Nebraska’s Finest Meats, which led to the confiscation of records, labels, equipment and other evidence in the case.
Nebraska’s Finest Meats has suspended operations.
Omaha Public Schools, with about 50,000 K-12 students, are Nebraska’s largest.

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Wells Fargo pays $175M to settle race discrimination probe

By msnbc.com staff and news services

The Justice Department says Wells Fargo & Co. will pay at least $175 million to settle accusations that it allegedly discriminated against qualified African-American and Hispanic borrowers in its mortgage lending from 2004 through 2009.

The settlement, which needs approval from a judge, would end the investigation into whether the fourth largest U.S. bank between 2004 and 2009 knowingly targeted minorities for risky mortgages that came with higher costs, according to documents filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.

“The Department of Justice today filed the second largest fair lending settlement in the department’s history to resolve allegations that Wells Fargo Bank, the largest residential home mortgage originator in the United States, engaged in a pattern or practice of discrimination against qualified African-American and Hispanic borrowers in its mortgage lending from 2004 through 2009,” said a statement from the U.S. Department of Justice.

The settlement will provide $125 million in compensation for minority borrowers the DOJ said were steered into subprime mortgages, which usually carry higher fees. Wells Fargo will pay $50 million more in direct down payment assistance to borrowers in parts of the country where the DOJ identified large numbers of discrimination victims.

At a news conference, Deputy Attorney General James Cole said the government will ensure that borrowers hit hard by the housing crisis will have an opportunity to access homeownership.

Cole said the bank’s discriminatory lending practices resulted in more than 34,000 African-American and Hispanic borrowers in 36 states and the District of Columbia paying higher rates for loans solely because of the color of their skin.

Wells Fargo in May said it could face civil charges under laws that prohibit discrimination against minority homebuyers. At the time, the lender said in a securities filing it believed the charges should not be brought and said it was seeking to show the department that it is in compliance with fair lending laws.

The government investigation found that loans submitted to Wells Fargo by mortgage brokers had varied interest rates, fees, and costs based only on race and not correlated to the borrowers’ creditworthiness, according to the court document.

Wells Fargo noted in a statement that it has denied the claims.

“Wells Fargo is settling this matter solely for the purpose of avoiding contested litigation with the DOJ,” it said, “and to instead devote its resources to continuing to provide fair credit services and choices to eligible customers and important and meaningful assistance to borrowers in distressed U.S. real estate markets.”

The disclosure came after Bank of America Corp’s Countrywide Financial unit agreed in December to pay a record $335 million to settle similar charges.

Last year, San Francisco-based Wells Fargo received an $85 million penalty from the Federal Reserve Board over charges it steered borrowers into high-cost loans. The Fed ordered Wells to compensate certain borrowers between $1,000 and $20,000.

The cities of Baltimore and Memphis filed suits alleging Wells Fargo engaged in “reverse redlining,” or intentionally targeting minority communities for predatory mortgage loans, leading to high foreclosures in minority neighborhoods.

In May, Memphis agreed to drop its suit after Wells Fargo agreed to contribute $7.5 million toward local homeowner and economic development initiatives. The bank also set a $425 million mortgage lending goal in the Memphis area, including $125 million in loans for low- and moderate-income borrowers.

The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.

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