Play it S.A.F.E.

One of the things we teach in concealed carry class is how important situational awareness is. This is a practice that extends beyond gun owners as well and is a large part of ensuring you don’t become a victim.

In my concealed carry class, I learned to be SAFE: Stay away from strangers, Aware of my surroundings, Follow my instincts, and Evaluate my options. These four simple rules not only help me to be prepared for anything, but also to avoid dangerous situations. Although no one can ever ensure complete safety in every single situation, gun owners and concealed carriers know that we carry to level the playing field should danger cross our paths.

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Why intellectual property rights matter

The digital revolution has spawned new platforms for authors, artists, inventors and other creators. Global digital distribution of works and products grounded in intellectual property (IP) rights now occurs virtually instantaneously and more economically than ever before. At the same time, the Internet age has prompted a perception that intellectual property online is less deserving of protection than intellectual property in tangible goods. This skewed perception harms the American economy and undermines respect for rights protected by our Constitution.

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Olivia Reynolds found guilty of 24 counts of voter fraud

A Houston County jury found Olivia Reynolds guilty Wednesday afternoon for her role in a voter fraud case.

Assistant District Attorney Banks Smith said the jury found 66-year-old Olivia Reynolds guilty of 24 felony counts of absentee ballot fraud. Smith said the jury deliberated for less than an hour before returning with the guilty verdicts.

Houston County Sheriff’s investigators arrested Reynolds in May 2014. She was one of three women charged who worked on the 2013 campaign for District 2 City Commissioner Amos Newsome.

In the August election, Newsome beat challenger Lamesa Danzey by 14 votes. Newsome received 119 of the 124 absentee votes that were cast. Danzey received more votes than Newsome at the polls.

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Pa. Judge Sentenced To 28 Years In Massive Juvenile Justice Bribery Scandal

A Pennsylvania judge was sentenced to 28 years in prison in connection to a bribery scandal that roiled the state’s juvenile justice system. Former Luzerne County Judge Mark Ciavarella Jr. was convicted of taking $1 million in bribes from developers of juvenile detention centers. The judge then presided over cases that would send juveniles to those same centers. The case came to be known as “kids-for-cash.”

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The 10 Worst Things About Lockheed Martin’s Alleged Lobbying Fraud

Last week, Lockheed Martin paid the Justice Department $4.7 million to settle charges it fraudulently paid a lobbyist with illegally-used taxpayer funds. It paid the lobbyist, a revolving door former U.S. Representative, to help it get it a giant, no-bid, $2.4 billion-a-year contract to run giant national labs for many years to come. Lockheed’s astonishingly corrupt influence peddling, with illegal taxpayer funds, has so many sleazy aspects that only the ten worst can be briefly covered.

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Investigating Complex Issues