GEORGE WASHINGTON STATED

Firearms are second only to the Constitution in importance; they are the peoples' liberty teeth.



First Inaugural Address of George Washington...April 30, 1789

The preservation of the sacred fire of liberty and the destiny of the republican model of government are justly considered as deeply, perhaps as finally, staked on the experiment entrusted to the hands of the American people.

The Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution

A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

The First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Abraham Lincoln said:

"In this age, and in this country, public sentiment is everything. With it, nothing can fail; against it nothing can suceed. Whoever molds public sentiment goes deeper than he who enacts statutes, or pronounces judicial decisions."

James Madison Declared

The adversaries of the Constitution seem to have lost sight of the PEOPLE altogether in their reasonings on this subject; and to have viewed these different establishments not only as mutual rivals and enemies, but as uncontrolled by any common superior in their efforts to usurp the authorities of each other. These gentlemen must be reminded of their error. They must be told that the ULTIMATE AUTHORITY, wherever the derivative may be found, RESIDES IN THE PEOPLE ALONE. (Federalist Papers, No. 46, p.294; emphasis added.)

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

$175,000 versus millions

The ultimate in hypocrisy was manifest tonight with the televising of Sen. B. Obama's infomercial. The Democrats condemned the Gov. from Alaska for getting some new duds to wear, $175,000 worth, during the campaign which will be auctioned off after the campaign is over and given to charity but not a peep from anyone about the millions spent by Sen. B. Hussein Obama to sell himself to the people of the United States. Doesn't that seem a little unfair and not balanced to you? If all its going to take to win the Presidency is a lot of money and good fitting suit and being able to read a teleprompter well this country is going to be in for some hard times. Leadership has nothing to do with money, TV time and slick talk but everything to do with keeping your promises and maintaining your core principles. Senator McCain did not break under seven years of torture at the Hanoi Hilton...I think the White House should be a breeze for him.

Sunday, October 19, 2008

David W McArdle...Back Again In Court

Remember the previous article about David W. McArdle, a managing partner of Zukowski, Rogers, Flood and McArdle, attorneys for the City of Woodstock Illinois and the phone call and meeting with Sgt. Gorski's attorneys to work out something more amicable and efficient in settling their differences? Well to the best of my knowledge Sgt. Gorski's attorneys received no calls back in regards to it but I am sure the Sergeant's legal bill increased and so did the city's because of this exercise in futility. I suspect it may have been just another tactic in trying to extend this whole matter by trying to bankrupt the Sgt. so that he could not go on and continue to defend his position in court and for the City of Woodstock to continue to not pay him any wages for more than a year now.

At court,Mr. McArdle brought out his tripod and poster boards and in a few minutes tried to convince Judge Maureen McIntyre that the 4 1/2 months of evidence and testimony presented by Anne Brophy, the attorney who handled the prosecution for the city against Sgt. Gorski and an attorney for Zukowski, Rogers, Flood and McArdle; that the decision in the case, by the Board of Fire and Police Commissioners should have been decided differently and against Sgt. Gorski. That they, the Board, should have found him guilty of the charges brought against him by the Chief of Police, Robert W. Lowen Jr. and he should have been fired from his job after 20 years of exemplary public service to the community of Woodstock Illinois. So much for advancing amicability, efficiency and trust but I will say it was a valiant effort in trying to rewrite history and a valiant attempt to forget about the concept of double jeopardy of the defendant. As far as justice...you be the judge.

Now the citizens of Woodstock and of McHenry County have an even clearer idea of what Sgt. Gorski and his attorneys have had to deal with.

Saturday, October 18, 2008

LINE OF DUTY PENSION BENEFITS FOR POLICE OFFICERS

About three weeks ago a telephone conversation between two attorneys representing Sgt. Steven R. Gorski, an employee of the Woodstock Police Department for the last 20 years and Mr. David W. McArdle, a partner in the firm of Zukowski, Rogers, Flood & McArdle, representing the Chief of Police and City of Woodstock took place. It was my understanding that Mr. McArdle wanted to have a meeting of the legal representatives of the Chief of Police, Robert W. Lowen Jr. and the City of Woodstock and the Police Pension Board and those of Sgt. Gorski to see if this litigation on the part of the Police Chief and the City and the Police Pension Board could be resolved in a more amicable and efficient manner. I presume since Mr. McArdle arranged this meeting he self-assumed the role of moderator. This meeting took place in the afternoon of October 8, 2008 in the City Council Chambers.
After about two hours of talking and the usual "posturing" that attorneys are known for, the position of Sgt. Gorski was finalized to the understanding of Mr. McArdle and he said he would get back to Sgt. Gorski's attorneys after discussing this with the City Council as soon as possible. To date, Oct. 18, 2008, Sgt. Gorski's attorneys have not heard a word back from Mr. McArdle; so much for amicability and efficiency.
Also during this meeting one of the attorneys for either Workman's Comp or the Pension Board allegedly said that they were not sure that the injury ever happened during line of duty even though the appropriate form (Form 45) was filed and investigated an verified by a deputy chief of police. According to "Municipal Matters" dated July 2007, Vol. 2, Issue 3, a news letter produced by the firm of Zukowski, Rogers, Flood and McArdle a police officer is entitled to Line of Duty Pension Benefits and I quote:
"Any act of police duty inherently involving a special risk, not ordinarily assumed by a citizen in the ordinary walks of life, imposed on a policeman by the statutes of this State, or by ordinances or police regulations of the city in which this Article is in effect or by special assignment, or by any act of heroism performed in the city having for its direct purpose the saving of the life or property of a person other than the policeman."
Sgt. Gorski was at 3:30 am trying to do what he could for a man who was gravely injured in a single car accident on the side of Route 14 in Woodstock Illinois. The man expired and later it was found that his blood alcohol was in excess of the legal limit. It was at this scene during the course of his assisting in the later investigation that he incurred his injuries. Now that does not sound like an act "ordinarily assumed by a citizen in the ordinary walks of life " to me. How about you?
This gives you just a little feeling of what Sgt. Gorski has been dealing with in connection with the Chief of Police, the City of Woodstock and its hired and well paid attorneys.
To all the citizens of Woodstock Illinois don't forget that your elected officials are allegedly condoning this by setting policy and allowing their subordinates to proceed in this matter as regards Sgt. Gorski. Last but not least it is your tax money being used to pay the legal fees of these attorneys to pursue this course of action. That tax money could be used in a much better way in these troubled times.

Thursday, October 16, 2008

Woodstock IL....Continuing Saga of Sgt. Gorski

On February 14, 2008 the Woodstock Illinois Fire and Police Commissioners vindicated Patrol Sergeant Steven R. Gorski, for lack of evidence, of all complaints filed against him by Police Chief, Robert W. Lowen Jr. This followed a 4 1/2 month prosecution by Lowen and his city paid attorney Anne Brophy of the firm of Zukowski, Rogers, Flood & McArdle. After all was said and done by the prosecution, including taking the testimony of a multitude of witnesses the Board of Fire and Police Commissioners returned a unanimous decision in Sgt. Gorski's favor; not one commissioner voted against him. Of even more significance is the fact that not one commissioner asked that any disciplinary action be taken against him.

On February 14, 2008 the Board of Fire and Police Commissioners signed the following official document:

"IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that the Charges against the Respondent (Sgt. Gorski) be dismissed. The Board having held that the Charges against the Respondent (Sgt. Gorski) are not sustained, orders that the Respondent (Sgt. Gorski) be reimbursed for any wages withheld as a result of the Respondent's suspension without pay pending the hearing. The Chief of the Police Department and other appropriate corporate authorities are directed to implement this order forthwith."

Well, it is now (8) eight months later and the Chief, Robert Lowen and other appropriate corporate authorities of the City of Woodstock Illinois have not implemented the direct order of the Board of Fire and Police Commissioners. From all sensible points of view that sounds like the Chief and appropriate corporate authorities are allegedly guilty of insubordination and not obeying a direct order given to them. Sgt. Gorski still has not seen one penny of the money due him. How many of you could survive and take care of a family on no income?

I would hope and pray that the City Council of the City of Woodstock Illinois would stop this travesty of justice and common sense from continuing by complying with the order and directly dismissing those individuals who were ordered to comply forthwith by the Board of Fire and Police Commissioners and freely choose not to follow the order. The Sgt. should also be paid all money due him per order of the Board.

No one in public service, no mater what rank or level of power and supervision they hold are above the rule of law and those who believe they are need to move on to some other endeavor. I pray that this foolishness ends.