West Virgina Punx + Politics
It has now been 12 months since gun owners in Australia were forced to surrender 640,381 personal firearms to be destroyed, a program costing the government more than $500 million dollars.
And now the results are in: Australia-wide, homicides are up 3.2 percent; Australia-wide, assaults are up 8.6 percent; Australia-wide, armed robberies are up 44 percent (yes, 44 percent). In the state of Victoria, homicides with firearms are up 300 percent.
Figures over the previous 25 years show a steady decrease in armed robbery with firearms (changed drastically in the past 12 months). There has been a dramatic increase in break-ins and assaults of the elderly.
Australian politicians are on the spot and at a loss to explain how no improvement in "safety" has been observed after such monumental effort and expense was successfully expended in "ridding society of guns."
Bet you won't see this data on the evening news or hear your governor or members of the state Assembly disseminating this information. It's time to state it plainly: Guns in the hands of honest citizens save lives and property and, yes, gun-control laws only affect the law-abiding citizens.
Take note, Californians and other Americans, before it's too late!
(note: this is another mail from jeph in L.B.C.)
Alot of people come and talk to me after shows and say, "thanks." I just wanted to take a minute to write to you all, and say a heart felt "THANK YOU!", to everyone that comes to all of the shows. You guys are the ones that make these things happen, and you all deserve as much recognition as the guys that book the shows, the bands that play, and the venues where the shows take place. As long as you all keep coming out to support the "scene", it's only gonna get bigger, and I'm seeing it happen at every show! Again.....I say THANK YOU! To the kids that help us pass out flyers, and to the kids that show up. THANKS TO EVERYONE!! We appreciate you ALL!
DFL,
Jeph / L.B.C.
P.S. I've seen alot of girls kicking shit up in the pit at the last couple of shows, they prove that everyone is a part of all of this. Much respect to the ladies as well.
Ladies and gentlemen, the major store chain Wal-Mart has decided
that Morgantown, West Virginia could use yet another Wal-Mart store. Wal-Mart has proposed to build a $15 million super centre near Stewartstown Road if it can link an access road to heavily traveled Route 705. That road is the main path to the Evansdale Campus, Mountaineer Field, Ruby Memorial Hospital, and other government buildings.
Now many people may not see anything wrong with that. It would bring an estimated 450 jobs and would add to the growing Motown economy.
But at what cost? Wal-Mart wants to come in here and tear down thousands of trees and destroy some of the enviroment just so that we have another place to buy greeting cards and lamps.
And, in case you didn't already know, Morgantown already has one Wal-Mart, not to mention a super K-Mart and a moderately large shopping mall. So why would we need another? Many kids are asking the same question, myself being one of them. In protest, many kids from Morgantown now graffiti the words "Let WalMart Eat You," meaning something must be done to keep Mr. Sam Wal from monopolizing Motown.
The only logical, non-violent solution is simple: boycott Wal-Mart. Buy your shit somewhere else.
Find another store to buy bed sheets in. Do whatever you can to let Wal-Mart know they are not welcome here
-- Written by Matt J.
More than 1,000 people joined a peaceful prayer outside the United Nations, where activist Rev. Al Sharpton hoped to bring the Diallo case to international attention.
Some in the crowd wore signs reading: "Go ahead and shoot. I'm black so it must be justified."
In what was billed as a day of prayer, political leaders and activists joined Sharpton in criticizing the verdicts as inappropriate for a case in which police fired 41 bullets and hit the West African immigrant 19 times, only to discover afterward that he was unarmed.
(The following is from friends at
Mindless Mag)
Hello. My name is Peter Peace. I am in a political punk rock group known
as, Heretics In Good Company. Ever since October 1999, my band has been
preparing to play a show at the local high school, Palm Springs High
School, Which was a school which all of our members have attended at one
point. The actual show date was set as being Febuary 4th, 2000. Today is
the 3rd of Febuary. Yesterday, we recieved word that the school wasn't
going to allow our group to perform in the show. Previously, another
band that I am in (The Empty Hearts) was also kicked off the roster for
rule violation. I decided to let the The Empty Hearts slid beuse I had a
felling we were going to be dropped. Anyways, that's beside the point.
The reason why HIGC (Heretics In Good Company) were dropped from the
list of groups, is because two members are skinheads. Apparently,
someone called and complained to the school, that the members of HIGC,
had used racist remarks during one sound check. This is false. The
skinheads in the group are not white supremists, they are known as
traditionals, which im sure you are all aware of. During the sound
check, no racial comments were made. There is nothing in our bands
content which would qualify us as a "racist group." The principal of
PSHS, Principal, Ricky Wright, made the decision to pull the plug on our
performance. During a later sound check, I was confronted by a Mr.
Murphy, who had talked to me concerning this issue. I managed to get his
views to my side. He agreed with me. At the time of the second sound
check, I was reading a book by the African American activist, who was
jailed and sentenced to death row for crimes he did not commit, Mumia
Abu-Jamal. I presented Mr. Murphy some unseen art work for a song we
have called "Stop The Execution of Mumia Abu-Jamal" and had said, "Why
would a white supremist band, have songs about the liberation of a
jailed black man?" Mr. Murphy was in our favor. However, Principal,
Ricky Wright decided to stay with his decision as to not let HIGC
perform. Countless hours have been spent preparing for the show.
Locally, HIGC's reputation has now been ruined by one bad seed. The
treatment by the school towards HIGC has been biased. Being accused of
being a white supremist band, has intentionally inflicted an enourmous
amount of emotional distress amongst our group.
There's more to the
story than I have mentioned, but anyways, HIGC has decided to take the
school to court. However, being a very poor punk rock group, we are
unable to hire a lawyer for the case. One guy in one of the performing
bands, said that his father was a lawyer and he would do it for free. I
sincerly doubt that. Anyways, the whole point of this e-mail is to ask
for your help. What our band needs done is a form of protest. Anyone you
can send this to would be helpful. Anywhere you could put this would be
great. Anyone with fanzines willing to publish a story about what has
happened would be much appreciated. Anyone willing to call the school
and give them hell, would be awesome. The number of Palm Springs High
School is (760) 778-0400. Anyone willing to talk to Principal Ricky
Wright, his secretary's desk number is (760) 778-0405 or (760) 778-0406.
Anything that you can do to help us win this, is very much appreciated.
Heretics In Good Company are not a hateful group. We speak out against
such current affairs such as racism (as well as a variety of other
current affairs), we do not encourage violent behavior, and we are a
very open minded, peaceful group. However, our names have now been
defiled and our bands reputation has gone to shit. From this point on,
it will be very difficult for us to get any local gigs.
Please visit Heretics In Good Company's
home on the web at:
Septic Records
Thank you for any form of protest in our favor. Your help is much apprecitated.
it is not my pleasure to let you all know that josh miller (the guitarist for internal riot) has been diagnosed with leukemia. he is already undergoing treatment, and any of you that know him know nothing can get him down. nathan has dedicated internal riot's web page guest list to anyone who wants to send josh their good wishes, prayers, hopes, whatever . . . so anyone that knows josh or the band or just has some compassion for this family we call a "scene" for lack of a better word please visit the site and drop a line. we'll be doing anything in our power to help and will try to keep all of you updated on everything. thanks.
-welsch
anger fuels our need for action. action is our only salvation.
mutiny.productions
/upheaval/
iraterecords