Kentucky Judge Steven D. Combs in Pike County has been temporarily suspended after an array of charges of bizarre comments and actions, including calling officials such names as “Fishface,” “cokehead,” and “Dumbo.” Worst yet, he threatened to put a “bullet in the head” of the next police officer who pulled him over. A temporary suspension until resolution of the 10 charges seems quite modest punishment but his counsel, Stephen Ryan, still conveyed Combs’ “disappointment” with the action taken by the Judicial Conduct Commission.
The complaint detailed Combs use of various, less-than-flattering ways of referring to other people like “Fishface,” “cokehead,” “dumbo,” “retarded,” “coward” and “prick. ” — use of those words has led to the temporary suspension of a Pike County circuit judge.
Combs is accused of conflicts of interest in cases, inappropriate communications, inappropriate political activity, soliciting contributions from attorneys in cases before him, and other violations. One of the most interesting is that he allegedly made inappropriate statements on the gossip website Topix under usernames including “LOL,” “Better Call Wusty,” “Imma Tellinyou,” and “City Hall Patrol.”
That last allegation is problematic and goes again to the right of public employees to engage in social media, particularly when using an alias.
One of the worst charges concerns the alleged statement of Combs that the next officer who pulled him over would get a “bullet in the head.” When confronted by police over the statement, he allegedly replied “I’m elected by the people and not pieces of trash like you-all.”
Combs, who has been a judge since 2003, is paid $124,620 annually.
@NinianPickitt
You said,
Hmmm. Maybe, you should tell all those Muzzies killing our soldiers, and taking over Iraq and Syria, that they are trying to do an impossible task. Because they seem pretty effective to me. So did the Vietnamese. We had B-52s. They had AK-47s. We had sophisticated logistics systems. They had bicycles. Who is running their country now, them or us???
You are denial. You are not basing your opinion on FACTS, but instead on erroneous OPINIONS. And theories. Tyranny is real. Abuse of power is real. Democracy didn’t just “cease to exist” in Germany, like an ice cube that just melts. Democracy was deliberately killed by the Nazis in pursuit of power. Much the same as we see in America, through the ballot stuffing, power-mad Democratic Party.
Remember that little thingy called WWII??? Some of the first shipments to England were small arms, because the foppish weenies over there didn’t have much of a gun culture—read this, 500,000 Enfield rifles.
You see, when it comes down to the act of laying hands on somebody, the people doing the actual laying on would really prefer that the layee not have a gun. That is why there are spots in America where even the heavily-militarized police don’t want to go, because the people there have guns, and not a lot of impulse control at times.
I have read that there is the equivalent of two Army divisions of armed gang members in Chicago. About 60,000 or so. Today, there is even the means for these people to organize thru social media and the Internet. (Which is another reason for those of us who aren’t criminals to be armed.) Because even armed gang members are really fond of invading home where the homeowner may have a gun.
We ain’t Australia, here. And that is probably a bad thing in a lot of ways. But some Australians who come here for more that a brief visit, with preconceived ideas on things like race, and guns- – -go home with an entirely different attitude.
As far as the “government is transparent” so “it can’t happen here” thing—haven’t you been watching the news the last few years??? America has lost its “Constitution” chasing after silly crap like gay rights, and abortion rights, and pornography rights. Currently, the Democrats are quite ready, as a group, to do away with the Constitution and just let Obama do whatever he wants. You know, because that pesky Congress won’t do what he wants. Sooo, that makes everything he does OK! That’s the idiotic mindset in this country. Yeah, that’s gonna work real well. They are pulling that crap right out in the open. And, they are pulling the ballot stuffing immigration stuff right out in the open.
Even you, no respect for our 2nd Amendment rights. But, you are no different from many Americans here blithely talking about doing unconstitutional things to take our gun rights away. What I told you about the Nazis and the Commies was to help you understand that those kinds of things are not just outliers. They are common. They are representative of a certain kind of mindset, that still exists. Are you a racist??? Do you believe that us White folks are different than say, Arabs??? Because if we aren’t different, if we are all the same under the skin- that means that there are White Americans with the same mindset as the people in ISIS. That it is OK to kill lots of people if it is for the purpose of whatever Utopia they believe in.
Here, just like with the Nazis, they will try to gut the Constitution, and sneak into power, and then eventually start rounding us up for whatever concentration camp or re-education camp they think we need. Or whatever social program they want to inflict on us. Who knows—will they shut down churches? Deny the right to give kids religious instructions? Re-settle us where they think we need to be? Shutdown electrical plants to save the planet? Euthanize people over 75 to save money, etc. There is no end to the looniness that people can come up with, and convince themselves is both reasonable, and morally OK. Germany was a country with some of the smartest, best educated, most civilized people in the world, and less than one life time ago, they were rounding up Jews, and exterminating them. So go figure.
Civilization is a veneer. When it cracks, widespread gun ownership can help keep the crack from spreading. IMO.
Squeeky Fromm
Girl Reporter
Ninianpeckitt
To really understand why there is such a proliferation of guns and gun violence one has to pay close attention to the rational of those defending America’s present condition as ‘armed to the teeth’. Arguments that include comparisons to auto accident deaths, shark attacks, choking on chicken bones, and any other unrelated statistic should give you some insight as to what holds back societal evolution in the US. It’s alright to suffer the thousands of innocent deaths by gun violence and accident because people die in auto accidents. Add disparaging remarks about other countries, most in the Western World, that don’t have this problem and you get an idea of how well the wagons are circled here.
The banner under which most march is the one of how the Constitution’s 2nd amendment is interpreted at this time. The Supreme Court, an entity that is both praised or vilified depending on whether or not one agrees with it, has lately leaned towards taking the money from the gun manufacturers and avoiding the scandals that could be floated by the NRA.
In short, it is a sort of ego centric madness that Americans cling to. Owning a gun is the ultimate expression of self determination, self reliance, and self worth for enough individuals that it looks unlikely that the concerns of society will prevail. America is the top dog and has yet to have its myth of supremacy extinguished. In some ways and to some degree it is the greatest country that exists or has existed. To many Americans the armed link to this greatness is their individual grasp or connection with this myth.
Another ingredient in the state of mind of the ‘gun owner’ is the reality of one’s insignificance as a single cog in this enormous machine. Having a gun(s) makes a certain statement of presence readily available to the millions of Americans who are simply one of the millions of Americans.
However one interprets the myth of America, one can use it to support diametrically opposing ideals. To some it means that every American can be just as important as every other American, all by oneself and to express this, own some guns. To others it means that there is no problem that cannot be solved. Personally I am in the ‘no problem that cannot be solved’ camp. Just as America solved, (and unfortunately is still solving), the slavery problem it can solve the gun ownership problem.
It may be that the solution to the problem is acknowledging the right to own guns, but with greater responsibility. It might even mean that someday in the far off future, our society will mirror that of the rest of Western Societies. What is necessary is for the NRA, gun manufacturers, and other extremists and special interest groups to get out of the equation and allow the people to be represented by their leaders with no bias. Unfortunately, as it stands this issue of gun control falls under a much greater problem being experienced by America. Unlike the mulit party Parliamentary systems of most other countries, the US is run as an oligarchy consisting of politicians bought and paid for along with appointed members of various governing institutions.
Whatever ire the above tantrum raises will undoubtedly be expressed in references to how and why America was created and the intentions of the founding fathers as represented through various interpretations of the Constitution, a document written in another time and place; along with no small amount of labeling.
Abuse is defined here:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abuse
I’m not assuming anything about anything – especially Malitias.
But contrary to “Squeeky Fromm Girl’s” comments about arming for protection from the State, I am saying that evidence conforms that wars are not won with pop guns…. and the claim that current arming of citizens could address this scenario in the USA cannot be taken seriously. You only have to look at Vietnam and how the Vietcong were armed by China and others to understand the logistics of winning a civil war conflict.
You appear to want to talk about anything as long as you don’t answer my questions as to why you don’t want to vote on it. I specifically asked WHY you don’t want a vote on it. Not how a vote would be conducted. You are evading my questions again and have every intention of repeating this exercise.
If a referendum mechanism is not possible then this is either accepted or it is changed. One of the great strengths of American Society is a “Can Do” attitude. So I don’t accept a “Can’t do” attitude when it blocks a democratic process demanded by what appears to be a majority view.
This is a matter for the American People as a whole if a minority view prevails this cannot be acceptable in the democratic system. And there is no amount of manoeuvring, manipulating or cajoling that will alter this analysis. It really doesn’t matter what individuals think on a contentious subject of National Interest. What matters is a decision by means of consensus and there is no doubt whatsoever that this process is being obstructed.
This is the hole you are in…. and so beautifully illustrated by the gun related comments of the judge in this article.
Bloggers will have to make their own minds up about whether there is pretence that there isn’t a problem.
One thing for sure is that if there is a majority in favour of reform of Gun Control in the USA it will eventually happen regardless of lobbying by anti-gun control pressure groups.
And if there isn’t, it won’t…..
ninianpeckitt – oddly enough ‘gun abuse’ is not defined by Wikipedia. Sad, hunh.
For Tom:
Just post the correct data if my posting of data is wrong. I’ve done my best to try and present the data. But don’t attack statistics with your opinion. Anecdotal comment is worthless. Attack my argument by proving that the data I presented is incorrect and attack my argument by reasoned and informed argument. Please don’t answer my questions by answering a question I haven’t asked. And please don’t give me an answer to which there is no question….. ! You may find I am more on your side than you think I am.
In a democracy there is a right of free speech but debate must be informed if a democratic decision is to be made. But a personal responsibility comes with freedom of speech, and bilateral misrepresentation and deception is not really compatible with freedom of speech.
You can argue all you want. It’s all been heard before – on all sides, but to win a debate – in a democracy – it is the People who decide.
The American People have a right to choose about gun control, if they so wish – and to date, this has been denied them.
It is the fear of a vote on this subject which is most interesting – especially to outsiders – and how the suggestion of a vote attracts no comment except to ask me about cars.
It is truly delusional to state that ” more Americans kill themselves with guns than are shot to death by felons”. That tops even some of the most outrageous falsehoods I have seen in comments.
I do not pretend to have a good knowledge of the British parliamentary system, the balance of power between executive, legislative, and judicial branches in England, or the process of passing legislation there.
Just as you DO pretend to understand our system….your lack of knowledge is evident by your “wave of the wand” solutions like amending our constitution, or having a national referendum.
In all of the words you have posted, I have seen nothing in the way of useful, practical recommendations.
Please try to be specific…e.g., are you advocating confiscation of a large percentage of the c. 300 million firearms in America? You can layer on an additional mountain of laws, and absent confiscation, those guns won’t disappear.
Also, is there any jurisdiction in the U.S. that you would consider as a model (nationwide) for the entire country? If so, identify it and also attempt to assess how and why these (model jurisdictional laws)are effective.
I anticipate no direct answer, just more verbage.
To Squeeky Fromm Girl Reporter
You can’t use a Pop Gun to bring down an F111 MiG or an Abrams Tank.
Commercial Marketing has clouded thinking.
Handguns, shotguns LAWs are useless against this sort of professional force which would be brought to bear on the American Public by an Autocratic State. I’m sorry, but you need to think about what you are really saying….. this is the argument of confused delusion bent on catastrophe.
In an armed insurrection against the State, sophisticated weaponry would need to be acquired and would be acquired in order for the People to take on hypothetical oppressive U.S. Armed forces.
Your Second Amendment was invoked in an age before Aeroplanes for goodness sake, before missiles, before tanks, and before automatic weapons. It has no power in the modern world and its only relevance is commercially based for corporations that want to exploit sincere but nevertheless human gullibility.
Your strength is in your democracy to prevent despotic government, not in being wiped out by an overwhelming professional army. The control of the Armed Forces by Democracy is your greatest Safety as a Nation.
The Nazis succeeded because democracy ceased to exist. It was wiped out when Hitler became Chancellor, and the amazing thing is that this was achieved through the ballot box through German resentment of the Treaty of Versailles.
The United States is not in this situation and could never be placed in this situation in the increased transparency of the modern world.
If you want guns to shoot people in an unrestricted manner just come right out and say it. If you claim to be democratic put it to the vote to see if you are in the majority.
Or maybe there is some other latent reason why the issue of gun control is taboo……
I don’t think that there is much more I can add to this debate. I have made my position clear as have others and I have every confidence that democracy will prevail in the end.
You are subsuming the military will remain with the government. There is nothing in any revolution to show that is true.
To Annie
(Apologies for auto type error in my previous blog)
I have every sympathy for what you say. Some pro gun lobbyists are “gun nuts” but others aren’t.
This debate should be about responsible gun possession and responsible gun control, not the current free for all.
I cannot understand why the US citizens have allowed democratic process to be sacrificed in this one specific area of American Society. This is really about freedom to choose on both sides and the right to vote.
The analogue in British Society is the Royal Family, the Sacred Cow and another issue that allegedly cannot be criticised. And yet Australia has the God Given Right to Vote to be a Republic and chose the Crown instead. Now that’s an example of Democracy.
The pro gun lobby has deliberately avoided discussion on democratic voting because they know or they fear that they will lose. But WHAT they may lose remains unclear. Remember I am advocating a vote on gun abuse not gun use, which sort of makes me sort “pro gun” if you look at it through dysfunctional spectacles. I have phrased the argument in this way because I know full well that a total ban on the right to bear arms is unworkable in the USA.
The United States portrays itself as the Leader of the Free World and cannot understand so much Anti American antagonism and disbelief across the Globe.
To Lead the Free World you have to set an example that others want to follow.
Your Judge from Kentucky is an example of a failed example and has fallen on his sword. No one wants to see this sort of thing happen.
The issue is whether the Tail should Wag the dog but like the proverbial Pekinese you need to know which end produces the Poo.
The real issue here is the abuse of Democracy and the abusers don’t want to talk about it…..
ninianpeckitt – you have yet to define ‘gun abuse.’
http://2d0yaz2jiom3c6vy7e7e5svk.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/roof_flag_gun-410×220.jpg
This is the poster boy for the NRA.
Dr. Peckitt, these gun nuts will try to rationalize their obsession with guns on many things. It’s so common to hear their excuses here in the States, despite one mass shooting after another, by white males, over the years. It must seem absolutely crazy to Europeans and the rest of the world, except for ISIS perhaps. These gun nuts don’t want democracy, they are hoping for a total breakdown in our society, so they can realize their dream, which is a combination of a theocracy and some sort of libertarian utopia, LOL. Of course it won’t happen, there are still enough normal healthy rational people in this country, thankfully.
To Tom
Just look at the published data and stop deluding yourself (ad others)
“More Americans kill themselves with guns than are shot to deatby felons” ???? NP, correcting your inaccuracies and pie- in- the -sky “solutions” is more ardous and less productive than the stablehands’ job in The Wizard of Id.
America has 50 states and numerous, varying gun laws. There is NO procedure in America for national referendums…which is what you proposed.
There are certain political realities and impediments in passing or changing laws, let alone the near impossibility of passing Constitutional Amendments.
You stated that Obama’s hands are tied with respect to passing gun control
legislation….that statement is probably true today, but you may want to take a look the energy he expended on gun control (or immigration) when he DID have huge majorities on other houses of Congress.
I will repeat what I said earlier…I’m interested in what actually WORKS, not theoretical and unrealistic ramblings sprinkled with demonstrably false “facts”
But of you look at the statistics there isn’t ANY evidence of protection against criminals. More Americans kill themselves wirh guns than are shot to death by felons.
Your reluctance to discuss this point is very interesting and equates with a surprising lack of insight and inherrant interest in talking about cars when someone asks you about guns.
This is either expressive dysphasia or a new transatlantic nomenclature only understood West of the Pond.
As far as I am aware, no one has shot themselves with a car. So when you are losing an argument
Teaching a child to shoot a LAW when they are tall enough to ride in Dysneyland illustrates the thinking of the pro gun lobby. It is something Paul is obviously proud of… it is as American as Apple Pie, Cowboys and Indians, baseball and even Robbing a Drug Store, but it shocks other people and he knows it. It doesn’t matter to Paul because hopefully he hasn’t been affected by tragedy. If it had been his child who accidentally shot a professional instructor with an uzi, which the child was not strong enough to hold, I would venture his views might he a little different. But it wasn’t – so it isn’t and he wI’ll quite rightky protect hus rights to the death. And this is the issue. Do some citizens require protection from themselves. Should they set the legal standards of gun-husbandry or should someone else? The fact that the People are being prevented from voting on this dilemma is very telling. It is also very telling that opponents of this argument want to talk about cars instead.
This is the real problem that America faces.
The affect of such a shooting range accident on a child is incalculable but must be devastating. Real Guns are not Toys. They are designed to kill wheras a car is an automobile.
What the proponents of the gun lobby refuse to accept is that in the eyes of the majority their views and behaviour are questioned and continue to be questioned.
Until this matter is taken more seriously more gun crime will notch up more victims in the USA than pretty much anywhere else.
It is clear that a minority of Americans are prepared to accept this whilst others look on absolutely horrified.
Why?
Because its only one LAW that calls the shots…..
and it isn’t democracy
ninianpeckitt – I heard the President was going to have his minions out blogging to support his efforts for gun control. I guess you are our Presidential representative.
The polls I have seen indicate a fairly even split between Americans who support more gun control legislation and those who oppose it.
One can post material from gun control supporters and groups, then draw the conclusion that this means a consensus by Americans clamoring for more gun control legislation.
One can just as easily post material from the NRA, etc., then “conclude ” from that that there is a clear American consensus opposing gun control.
Based on the results of polling, I think it is erroneous to conclude from either one of these examples that there is an American consensus on this issue.
That division needs to recognized, just as the wildly unrealistic expection or advocy of a Constitutional Amendment needs to be seen as unrealistic.
@Ninianpickett
I think you are missing the reality. Protection against criminals is just one reason to support the Second Amendment. The other is to protect ourselves against a potentially bad and out of control government. Sadly, we are less than 100 years removed from the Communist Revolution in Russia. About 70 years removed from the Nazi threat. About 60 years from the Communist Chinese revolution.
I could go on, but the reality is that sometimes governments get out of control and somebody like a Lenin, a Hitler, a Mao, a Pot Pie or whatever his name was, or Lil Kim comes along and people and bodies start getting crammed into concentration camps, prisons, gulags, torture dungeons, killing fields, etc.
Unlike many people, I do not consider Hitler, for example, to be all that great an anomaly among human beings. I think he was a quite typical human being, and hardly unique. FWIW, that belief also scares the crap of me. I truly wish that Hitler had horns and a tail, and carried a pitchfork. Such a person would be much easier to spot. But they don’t.
I think the spirit of Adolf lives on in government employees, churches, companies, political organizations, etc. I( think that the type of people who supported Hitler, who have the mindset to follow a Hitler, are to be found in even greater numbers. For example, are any of Obama’s press secretaries any different than Joseph Goebbels??? They will lie for Obama, and manipulate the facts in exactly the same way that Goebbels did for Hitler. And the next President, whether Republican or Democrat, will have just the same sort of paid liar to spin the same crap the same way. These kind of people are all over the place. You can find them in any political campaign in large numbers.
All that one of these toxic Hitler-like individuals need to fully morph into Hitler is an appropriately strong centralized government. Any kind of good disaster – economic or natural – would help, too. Imagine America if a Hitler type took over, and used such an event, whether real or invented, and seized power. Look what happened here, after 9-11 with the “Patriot Act.” Fourteen years later and people still support that crap.
And most people are cowards. Do you see the SCOTUS standing up to a Hitler the first time one of them is “disappeared”. The media is so in the bag for the government they would probably go along out of mutual belief, but a few dead journalists would certainly seal the deal.
Not to mention the complete control that the government could exercise over the Internet, and the airwaves. My goodness, but each of us is trackable thru our cell phones, and soon our cars. Cameras and drones are everywhere. And spy satellites. And it is getting worse. There is now serious talk out there about doing away with cash, and going fully electronic, which would provide the ability for government to shut down any person, any time.
And what recourse would we have without our weapons??? We wouldn’t have much recourse even with them because Americans have become fat, lazy, and stupid. But, if they ever got hungry, or uncomfortable, they would at least have the means to do something.
In my opinion, that is the real reason for the push for “gun control.” Because people who believe in limitless government power know that it will one day come to that. And even today in this country, there are areas where our overly-militarized police fear to go. Imagine Ferguson, or Baltimore, if there was a serious reason to riot.
Personally, I do not see America lasting much more than 25 or 30 years or so as a Republic. We will probably morph into some sort of socialist state or overt oligarchy at that point, to deal with the growing financial reality. Look for a Hitler or two to show up.
Squeeky Fromm
Girl Reporter
875 million guns are owned world wide. 875 million guns, including the 25 percent that are government controlled, are used to kill as many as 1,000 people daily.
Globally, millions are wounded through the use of guns.
Levels of gun violence vary greatly among geographical regions, countries, and even subnationally.
The United States has the highest rate of gun related deaths per capita among developed countries, though it also has the highest rate of gun ownership……
Source:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gun_violence
ninianpeckitt – 3400 people are killed every day by cars according to WHO.
This is what the World Health Organisation has to say
http://www.who.int/violence_injury_prevention/publications/violence/small_arms/en/
Gunshot Injuries USA
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gun_violence_in_the_United_States
Tom Nash’s statements don’t seem to be supported by references in the press I posted, which seem to indicate a strong public lobby for effective gun control.
If the USA is at the top of the list for “gun abuse” it needs to be explained why other countries do better – and then see if their system can be adopted by the U.S. The global gun mortality figures are available on Wikipedia and are shocking.
What is interesting is that the number of felons shot in the U.S. is small in comparison to the numbers of victims shot, which contradicts the NRA viewpoint – but that the numbers of suicides eclipses this data. So Americans are at greater danger from shooting themselves rather than shooting the “bad guy”.
It is important to quote correct data in order to make informed opinions, and this clearly isn’t happening.
And in reply to Annie, it doesn’t matter what THEY want, it is about what is decided by democratic process and what the COUNTRY wants. You fought a War of Independence for the Right of Self Determination.
Don’t give this away 🙌
The chances are that the true enthusiastic responsible gun toting citizen, who does not represent a public risk, will be unaffected by responsible regulation.
But if they want to fire military type weapons, they join the Army or a Specialist Gun Club where guns are securely kept and fired e.g. as per military regulations.
To leave a gun lying around the house where a child can get hold of it or to leave it unattended in a purse are just 2 examples of gun abuse that may end in an unintended tragedy. If you aren’t competent or safe to take charge of a weapon, then the right to bear arms needs to be reviewed. Encouraging young children to fire automatic weapons that may be difficult for them to control may / has backfired with tragic consequences and the American Public needs to understand what sort of message this sends out to home based citizens and American allies abroad.
The other issue relates to those of diminished responsibility, who are a greater risk of gun abuse. How is this to be managed? If a judge hypothetically was really serious about shooting a policeman, should his firearms license be revoked?
So maybe the Second Amendment could be conditional on the right to bear arms responsibly…..
One other thought is that regulations could target ammunition rather than the weapons themselves.
ninianpeckett – I taught all my children to fire LAWs as soon as they were tall enough to go on the rides at Disneyland.
I think the gun grabbing stuff is racially motivated, and just racist code-talk, since an overwhelming amount of gun violence is by blacks against blacks.
Liberals are afraid to come right out and say, “Take guns away from blacks sooo that only the racist police will have guns!” sooo, we get all the blather. I am not sure myself whether I am just being sarcastic here, or have accidentally stumbled onto a Great Truth???
Squeeky Fromm
Girl Reporter