New and Experienced Climbers over 50 #34

Brian in SLC wrote:

"Are you an unlawful user of, or addicted to, marijuana or any depressant, stimulant, narcotic drug, or any other controlled substance?"

Reference:  ATF Form 4473 Section 11e.

I was curious and looked it up. Section 21 f looks like. Section 21 d would bar Trump from owning a weapon obviously. 

Li Hu wrote:

I wonder why ATF specifically named Marijuana?

Because its illegal federally and folks with medical cards from their states still have to answer "yes" to the question and thus be denied a transfer.

From the ATF:

Marijuana is listed in the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) as a Schedule I controlled substance. See 21 U.S.C. § 812. Possession of marijuana, including medical marijuana, is a violation of Federal law, regardless of State law/patient cardholder status. See 21 U.S.C. § 844. 

ATF’s September 21, 2011, Open Letter to all FFLs states in part:

“[A]ny person who uses or is addicted to marijuana, regardless of whether his or her State has passed legislation authorizing marijuana use for medicinal purposes, is an unlawful user of or addicted to a controlled substance, and is prohibited by Federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition. Such persons should answer “yes” to question 11.e. on ATF Form 4473 (August 2008), Firearms Transaction Record, and you may not transfer firearms or ammunition to them. Further, if you are aware that the potential transferee is in possession of a card authorizing the possession and use of marijuana under State law, then you have “reasonable cause to believe” that the person is an unlawful user of a controlled substance. As such, you may not transfer firearms or ammunition to the person, even if the person answered “no” to question 11.e. on ATF Form 4473.”

Just watched a 1989 film called ‘In Country’- it’s about the impacts of the Vietnam War on veterans and family members. Overall only a fair movie, but the closing scenes are quite powerful, with images of the Vietnam War Memorial, and the thousands and thousands of names inscribed there on that black marble. Many images of the icons of our democracy and country, juxtaposed against the deeply solemn memorial, and dozens of people honoring and experiencing it.

It was hard to see this in contrast to the current ‘leadership’ of this country, with a man at the helm who has referred to the names on this wall as suckers and losers. I have great pride and respect for those who have sacrificed so much for my ability to type this right now…and so much fear and sorrow for where we have landed.

Geez....I was offline yesterday, and most of today, and now 3 pages to catch up on.

No climbing, I was on a 2 day overnight trip with the other people I'm hanging out with, local folks who enjoy doing art.

My climbing buddy Paul, taking a crack at something we both find more intimidating then climbing, lol! We were at a state park, Bruneau Dunes. Big standing dunes, and "dry" doesn't begin to cover it. There's a lake at the base, and the Snake river is nearby, but it's quite low humidity. An interesting place, nonetheless.

The artists went out morning, afternoon, evening (into night) and this morning. I'm still just trying to get drawing back, after a 30 year hiatus, let alone learn painting, but it was fun, anyway.

Tiny, ephemeral wildflowers, Sand Lily. Someone looking over my shoulder was impressed with how realistic a spider in my drawing was ...until it walked off the paper. So I inked a little guy on.

One thing I decided to do, was at least try. So the first thing I did was larger size, on drawing paper, started with graphite, but decided to add color anyway. It came out sort of funky but okay.

And in the try anyway department, I went out last evening about sunset, when they did their nocturnes. Start a painting at sunset....and paint with just enough light to see the canvas, and your palette. A nighttime landscape.

I couldn't "see" producing a nighttime painting.

So I just drew, and quickly, at sunset, but no actual dark, lol. 

Like I said, it was intimidating...but fun. Just do it anyway.

Gee, kinda like climbing, eh?

H.

Brian in SLC wrote:

"Are you an unlawful user of, or addicted to, marijuana or any depressant, stimulant, narcotic drug, or any other controlled substance?"

Reference:  ATF Form 4473 Section 11e.

A bit different than Nick's comment.

Nick Goldsmith · 16 hours ago · NEK · Joined Aug 2009 · Points: 460

Helen - I love your art work! Keep at it!

K M wrote:

A bit different than Nick's comment.

Nick Goldsmith · 16 hours ago · NEK · Joined Aug 2009 · Points: 460

Nick summed it up in plain English IMO. What's your point with his MP statistics?

Brandt Allen wrote:

Helen - I love your art work! Keep at it!

What Brandt said, Helen!!!  These are beautiful! Another talent of yours.    Keep sharing. 

Nick Goldsmith wrote:

The so called biden crime family was in fact completey made up and the one charge that they hit Hunter with almost every single Maga Moron who has bought a gun through the system told the exact same lie on that form. You sign a piece of paper saying that you have never done illegal drugs.

The quote was cut off.

You are not signing a piece of paper saying you have never done illegal drugs. Only that you are not currently using them.

Just to be clear: asking for a friend.  What if your spouse has a medical weed card?  Can the weed-smoking spouse get into trouble for possessing guns that belong to the non-weed-smoking spouse?  Can the non-weed smoking spouse get slammed for possession of weed and somehow lose their second amendment rights?  In the case of my friend, all of the guns were inherited, so no forms were falsified.  One was a high-school graduation present received 45 years ago.  (Anyone else get a 12 ga. for graduation?)

PTR wrote:

Just to be clear: asking for a friend.  What if your spouse has a medical weed card?  Can the weed-smoking spouse get into trouble for possessing guns that belong to the non-weed-smoking spouse?  Can the non-weed smoking spouse get slammed for possession of weed and somehow lose their second amendment rights?  In the case of my friend, all of the guns were inherited, so no forms were falsified.  One was a high-school graduation present received 45 years ago.  (Anyone else get a 12 ga. for graduation?)

I also have “a friend” who had a felony conviction years ago on a drug charge, served his time and went on to start a new life. He also inherited a gun from his father-in-law. He also lives in a wilderness area where a firearm seems essential to protect his wife and kids. Yet, his attorney told me he’d better not even think about it. If he were caught for any reason in possession of a gun on himself or his property, he WILL go to prison for a minimum of 10 years. Even with a perfectly clean record for the last decade it would cost a lot of money in attorneys fees, just to fight it with no guarantee of results.

I asked what if his wife has the firearm? I was told it’s far better if no one in that household has a gun but if his wife insists she should keep it in a firearm safe where only she knows the code.

He has now had his felony expunged and I believe he can have his firearm now, but I’m not sure.

The major problem with this assumption is that most of the trade imbalance is unfinished goods.

It’ll likely affect USA economy more so than China’s. Trade with USA even through proxy nations is <10% of their GDP.

Scott Bessent has a net worth of 700M. Soon to be half that if they keep on with the tariffs.

“Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Friday offered an extensive defense of the administration's decision to level heavy tariffs on global trade, arguing that the president had successfully reset relations with China.

One of the biggest goals, Bessent said, was to redirect trade with China for the benefit of American workers.

'I don't know if they can retaliate,' he said, pointing to the unbalanced nature of trade between the United States and China.”

Somebody should also point out that the definition of “reset relations”, doesn’t encourage the other party to effectively say “f##k off” by imposing 34% tariffs and cutting off the supply of critical semiconductor materials.

Lori Milas wrote:

I also have “a friend” who had a felony conviction years ago on a drug charge, served his time and went on to start a new life. He also inherited a gun from his father-in-law. He also lives in a wilderness area where a firearm seems essential to protect his wife and kids. Yet, his attorney told me he’d better not even think about it. If he were caught for any reason in possession of a gun on himself or his property, he WILL go to prison for a minimum of 10 years. Even with a perfectly clean record for the last decade it would cost a lot of money in attorneys fees, just to fight it with no guarantee of results.

I asked what if his wife has the firearm? I was told it’s far better if no one in that household has a gun but if his wife insists she should keep it in a firearm safe where only she knows the code.

He has now had his felony expunged and I believe he can have his firearm now, but I’m not sure.

Legalise weed!!!

Canadians can own guns in USA, but pretty much every other global citizen, not.

A good “friend” from Britain, can’t own a gun. Guessing an antiquated law created sometime after the Rebel war against the King…   

Sorry. I haven't read that form in decades and it's possible it's changed since I read it but simple facts. Weed is not legal under federal law so every single one of those weed smoking oxy popping trumpets that buy guns is commiting the same crime as the horrible hunter Biden. And why didn't they hit Rush Limbaugh with the same charge. 

PTR wrote:

Just to be clear: asking for a friend.  What if your spouse has a medical weed card?  Can the weed-smoking spouse get into trouble for possessing guns that belong to the non-weed-smoking spouse?  Can the non-weed smoking spouse get slammed for possession of weed and somehow lose their second amendment rights?  In the case of my friend, all of the guns were inherited, so no forms were falsified.  One was a high-school graduation present received 45 years ago.  (Anyone else get a 12 ga. for graduation?)

From what I understand, your "friend" should be ok. Although there'd be a risk if your friend was in happenstance possession (and caught) and my guess that it'd have to be cleared up legally, which would be a pain.

In my home state, kids get a hunting rifle on their 12th birthday.  Still have mine.

It's an interesting subject to me...how a usually conservative issue (firearms) could help make maryjane legal federally.  Given states' rights and all too.  My guess is someone will get arrested and maybe convicted for possession of both and the case will proceed up the ladder to a high enough court.  Hasn't so far.  And...doesn't seem fair to me to hang a felony on someone who has a legal (in their state) medical card and also possesses a firearm.  Or to send someone to jail who lied on the form but that firearm had been disposed of by, say, their wife (as in...no risk to the "public").

Edit:  Yeah, Nick...plenty of examples.  How 'bout Joe Rogan or Elon Musk?  Both pretty public about their drug use and possession of firearms.  Etc.

Guy Keesee wrote:

Dragons      

I don’t want to go all political because it’s useless to try to change anyone’s beliefs.

...

My state has an “insurance commissioner” - a typical California lefty- all academic theory, zero experience with insurance. He uses buzzwords and speaks word salad saying nothing- just like Kamala Harris. He refused to allow fire insurance companies to raise their rates so they can cover the new charges imposed. So as an alternative the state set up its own Insurance plan for people. Only down side is this- The state knows nothing about insurance. Now that lots of burned out home owners are making claims the CA- fire fund is showing its weakness. People in the Eaton Fire and The Palisade fire discovered that they get “One Hour” of work to fix “smoke damage” ….
Insurance Companies are not stupid, they know how much it will cost to replace X amount of homes. And they can evaluate the effect of a water company that can not supply water or a Fire Department that has 45% of its resources unavailable due to maintenance issues.
Just to name a few reasons.
A sad state of affairs.

Hi Guy,

Thanks for this. It's interesting to get your perspective. I was specifically interested in the fire insurance issue, so I quoted that above.

You had said earlier "I’m more terrified of not being able to sell my house because a new buyer can’t purchase fire insurance in California - for any reasonable amount- and the state insurance “system” has failed completely".

In your response, you said "He refused to allow fire insurance companies to raise their rates so they can cover the new charges imposed". So you would have rather had higher, private-market fire insurance rates, than have the state step in? Is that the correct interpretation of what you're saying? You believe you and others would have an easier time selling your house if there were only private market fire insurance, with no limits imposed by the state?

I haven't been a property owner until recently, and haven't had a reason to pay attention to these things. When we looked at properties, we were always very aware of flooding issues, since fire has not been a major problem in our neck of the woods. If we couldn't get reasonable homeowners' insurance (like $1K or something?), we definitely wouldn't buy a property. I guess "reasonable" differs, and wealthy people can afford to pay much higher rates.

I would tend to want the state to stay out of the insurance business as well. My impression was that as more flooding and fires occurred, insurance rates were going up to the point where existing homeowners couldn't afford to pay the new rates (and some insurers were just leaving specific states altogether). It would suck to be 75 years old and have to move from your house because you can't afford the insurance. So the state was stepping in to try to help such people. That's not necessarily the best response, but it was an attempt to help. But, that's just my impression. I have barely been paying attention to these things - it's definitely not on my radar.

Anyone remember the big push not so long ago, to get more chip, semiconductor, etc stuff manufactured in the US?

Boise based Micron Technology jumped on those incentives, quickly, and bigtime. They are worldwide, but started here, not just corporate, they manufacture here. Employ 5,000 ish employees, and finance the program to educate techies at Boise State University. Built them a technology company.

Anyway, it's a huge campus, and the expansion is also huge.

This is a still from a video that I couldn't figure out how to get in here, but, there's at least 2 dozen cranes on site. The original facilities have their own bus system. You get the idea.

So, yay 'Murica, right??

But. Then there's this.

Screenshot from this morning. Note the 52 week high....and the 52 week low.

From this morning.

According to the local radio Friday? Micron lost 27% in two days.

Okay, so what, that's not in my stock portfolio, one might say. What does it matter?

But that's the value of a company that IS moving manufacturing at least partly domestically.

But the part people aren't pondering?

Those 5000 people. 

If you work for Fortune 500 companies, even just as a cog in the assembly machine?

You likely have some part of your compensation package vested in the company.

Those people buy houses. They buy groceries 

High school grads who go to BSU might choose to go into tech. 

And.....

The big one? Just......uncertainty. Red, blue, whatever. Plain ordinary people also face uncertainty. 

Why???? What are we "fixing" here???

Helen

Rant 2.

Migrants, who make up a significant labor force in ag. Tariffs, on countries that actively feed us.

We live in North America, and have these things called seasons.

I walked through the produce department today. Only that, nothing else.

Just a guess, about 15 percent, by type of item, from Mexico, a bit from Guatemala, Canada. Spain. Spain???!?

And I purposely stayed away from the obvious ones, avocados, bananas, citrus, etc.

This is the fresh stuff, so your groceries will be going up soon, I'd expect.

Helen

I read that Florida is experiencing a farmworker shortage that DeSantis proposes to fix by relaxing child labor laws.

An attempt to explain California 

It looks like Joshua Tree got a nod.   

I will agree with the smelly lake. Most of the rest is pretty spot on.

It would take a lot to make me not love California. It has every kind of beauty, incredible universities and forward thinking people.  

FWIW, most people in this area have lost their home insurance. Both my daughter and my son lost theirs. The fires that now ravage our state year round are driving most insurers out of the state.

WHY are our homes, our skies and our natural habitats up in flames?  Trump claims he is an expert on forest fires and he “told California” dozens of times we need to rake our leaves but we wouldn’t listen. Meanwhile climate scientists around the world warned Trump that as the planet continues to warm unceasingly fires will engulf our state year round.  And so here we are. Reading through Project 2025 the consensus is “nonsense “. Ignore the shaming and blaming of the woke Left and drill baby drill.  

https://www.cnn.com/2025/01/24/climate/trump-california-fires-raking-forests/index.html