Category Archives: guns

Unmoderated Moderate Attempts Moderation

Kelli Jae Baeli Posted on by

From blog ideas archive…. I got into an unplanned debate on Facebook. Most debates on Facebook are, in fact, unplanned. you know how it is. Most of the time, it begins with some innocent status update of mine, but this time, I started it by responding to something I felt needed clarification. I always feel a need to do that when i think something is being misrepresented or over-simplified. The following exchange was very thought-provoking and I agreed with many of the sensibilities of this poster, but the rub is always in the specifics, the semantics. This sort of debate is … Continue reading →

Policing the Police

Kelli Jae Baeli Posted on by

UPDATE: see end of this essay for my updated remarks after learning new information…. Few things are black and white, unless you’re talking about racism. In regard to gun violence and police shootings, there are solid arguments on either side of this contentious issue which tells me once again that the truth is most often found in the middle and that extremism of any kind is both dangerous and counterproductive. Right out of the chute, let me say that I know there are good cops out there. In fact, I believe that MOST cops are honorable, compassionate people who really … Continue reading →

Gun Laws: the Truth is in the Middle

Kelli Jae Baeli Posted on by

In a sign-meme on Facebook recently, there was a quote by Ronald Reagan: “I do not believe in taking away the right of the citizen for sporting, for hunting and so forth, or for home defense. But I do believe that an AK-47, a machine gun, is not a sporting weapon or needed for defense of a home.” ~Ronald Reagan, in a speech at his 78th birthday celebration in Los Angeles on February 6, 1989. KG MacGregor makes all salient points on this, in her blog Baby, You Can Drive My Gun when suggests using driving laws as a template … Continue reading →

Cows With Guns

Kelli Jae Baeli Posted on by

My beloved and I have made this pact, starting yesterday, that we would pick a subject and blog it separately, just to see what each of us would come up with. My suggestion yesterday was “Are writers born or made?” Hers, for today, was “Cows with Guns.” Guess which one of us is more cerebral, and which one the goob? She also informed me that the title is from a song called “Cows with guns.” Who knew? I didn’t even do any research on that one except to glance over a Wikipedia page and notice it was the title of … Continue reading →

Throwing Bullets

Kelli Jae Baeli Posted on by

My best friend, Justi, and I were talking about knives and axes, as weapons.  (I know, but we often have strange conversations with little memory of exactly how the subject came up). Anyway, she liked the idea of using them as weapons –of throwing an axe at someone who was attacking her. And as usual added, “Don’t you?” I said no, I don’t want to get that close to someone who is trying to kill me. She said, “You don’t have to get close, it’s an axe. You can just throw it at them.” I deftly spotting the flaw in … Continue reading →

Happy Effing Anniversary

Kelli Jae Baeli Posted on by

Today would have been our one year anniversary. D. came by at 9:30 with police escort to get some things. Officers were very nice. He said “Kelli?” I said, “Yes, but I go by Jae.” He introduced himself but now I can’t remember his name. I shook his hand in introduction. He said the lady over there needed.…and then I couldn’t hear what he was saying because when I looked across the street, there she was, parked in her truck. I had a little palpitation and felt myself step backward.They stepped in and I explained that I only had to … Continue reading →

Jae-Walking

Kelli Jae Baeli Posted on by

My new exercise program consists primarily of walking, (and sometimes Jumping to Conclusions). I prefer walking the golf course for several reasons: aesthetics (Not many parks around here–the golf course is the “parkiest” place, convenience–it’s just down the hill, the winding, undulating path gives variety to the muscle-workout, and I guess I have a secret desire to be beaned with a golf ball. There‘s a little old man on a golf cart who patrols the area; he’s more like the Hall Monitor than a Security Guard. My first encounter with him went something like this: He whirs up next to … Continue reading →

Gun-Toting Sleepy-head

Kelli Jae Baeli Posted on by

Sound. Sound. Bad sound. Door. Opening door. Danger. I sat up in bed, suddenly awake, my pulse pushing at my neck. I did hear the door. The shlink of the deadbolt, to be precise. Someone had broken in. I reached down to the space between my bed and nightstand for the automatic I kept there. Thumbing the safety off, I crept out of bed to investigate. Halfway down the hall, I realized I didn’t have my glasses on. I worried I would not be able to see who it was. I’d hate to shoot my best friend who surprised me … Continue reading →

"Here, Hold my Brain while I Vote…"

Kelli Jae Baeli Posted on by

I sent around an email quoting Eve Ensler, the American playwright, performer, feminist and activist best known for “The Vagina Monologues.” In it, Ensler delineates the many frightening beliefs for which VP candidate Sarah Palin is known. After an exhaustive list that includes Palin’s devout creationism stance (which would include believing that the earth is only 6,000 years old, and evolution is a myth). Ensler elaborates: “Sarah Palin does not believe in evolution. I take this as a metaphor. In her world and the world of Fundamentalists nothing changes or gets better or evolves. She does not believe in global … Continue reading →

"Here, Hold my Brain while I Vote…"

Kelli Jae Baeli Posted on by

I sent around an email quoting Eve Ensler, the American playwright, performer, feminist and activist best known for “The Vagina Monologues.” In it, Ensler delineates the many frightening beliefs for which VP candidate Sarah Palin is known. After an exhaustive list that includes Palin’s devout creationism stance (which would include believing that the earth is only 6,000 years old, and evolution is a myth). Ensler elaborates: “Sarah Palin does not believe in evolution. I take this as a metaphor. In her world and the world of Fundamentalists nothing changes or gets better or evolves. She does not believe in global … Continue reading →

Knock & the Door Won’t Be Opened to You

Kelli Jae Baeli Posted on by

I have a condition called Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome, and that often means I wind up sleeping during the day, and being awake at night. This schedule has its negative aspects. One of them is the fact that I’m asleep while everyone else is going about their business. Few things can awaken the irrational beast in me faster than someone knocking on my door when I’m asleep. First, it scares me, and so that’s what is known as a rude awakening. Who likes waking up scared? Knocks on the door have always scared me, even when I’m awake. I’ve tried … Continue reading →