WE RIDE BIKES ! ALLOW US TO ENJOY THE RIDE IN SAFETY !

WE RIDE BIKES ! ALLOW US TO ENJOY THE RIDE IN SAFETY !
There are NO " RIGHTS "! THERE IS MUTUAL RESPECT !
Showing posts with label Giro d'Italia. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Giro d'Italia. Show all posts

Tuesday, October 7, 2014

LONDON, arrive in Good Health , leave as a CASUALTY !

Today i discovered WHY Cyclists are regarded as less than " Road Furniture "!  Seems there is a group called the " Association of Chief police Officers "!  These eminent menbers of the UK Establishment , have devised a way to keep the Courts free of Cycling related Casualty Prosecutions and thus save the Motorist MONEY !

Speed on UK roads , you are likely to get a request in the Post , demanding a remittance of your cash, drive through a Red Light , similar results !  You will also be told that your Licence has forfeited a certain number of POINTS !  In the UK you can lose 12 points before Panic sets in . There have been reports that a number of individuals have convinced the Judiciary to allow them to continue driving after amassing 43 POINTS !  All it required was a " Brief ( Smarmy lawyer who is mates with a key person )" and an appearance in court claiming that the loss of  licence could cause " Personal Hardship " !

Well here is the thing , all of the above are at no cost to the personal health of other Road Users !  As a driver you would hope to avoid causing harm , to other Vulnerable Road Users ? Seems that if you do cause " Injury to V R U people , you may very likely NOT EVEN Lose Money , nor EVEN POINTS !  Seems that " ACPO " in their wisdom , have decided that Injuring Cyclists and Pedestrians , does not matter a DAMN !

In 2 cases that i am aware of , using the " ACPO Guidelines " , Police Authorities have rewarded the " Attempted Murder " of Cyclists , with a DAY OFF from driving , so as to attend a " Driver Improvement Course "!  With the power of the Unions , these " Education Courses " would mean the " Traffic Violence Terrorist " will get PAID , whilst yawning through the events that will attempt to remind them of the matters they were required to know when they first sought the licence , that was in use when they MOWED Down the unfortunates that they overlooked as they operated their chosen KILLING MACHINE !

How these " ACPO Members " manage to sleep at night , is beyond me !

For speeding & running a Red light , Cash & points , for INFLICTING Pain & Suffering , a day off ?
We ALL hear of " Justice being BLIND !  Never expected to hear it was DUMB & STUPID !

Case 1 ,    2 Manchester Lads Cycling from Manchester to Rome with the idea of     supporting/fundraising for " Help4Heroes ". Severely Injured with weeks in Hospital in one case and yet the " perp. truck driver gets to yawn through a Day Off from Driving !

Case 2 ,    personal experience . Having arrived from the Tour de Romandie in London , i had completed my business and was heading for Oxon and thence the Manchester area , Riding on a Cycle Lane past a traffic Island , i found myself tossed like a Rag Doll , onto the pavement . The Mobile Police Command Centre Van , staffed by an Inspector & Sargeant , both bike riders to work , did all that was necessary to ensure a successful prosecution , yet some " Jobsworth " cocked a snoop at them and my Injuries and decided to REWARD the perp. driving the TFL D/Decker bus with a " DAY OFF " ! No cash penalty , no loss of points ! As it was lunchtime , i would hazard a guess that the driver had more on his mind than looking out for Cyclists ?

Currently i am in " No mans Land " , since i chose a " Lawyer " that seems to favour the TFL line of "No Purchase Receipts " for Garments and Equipment , thus not entitled to reimbursement , because we only pay CASH !  Even after advising the Names of my Sponsors/Donors , they are sitting on their hands ignoring common Justice . Had i been driving a Car , they would have gladly paid the Rental of a Vehicle , to get me to Belfast for the Giro D'Italia Grand Depart , for which i was heading at that time .  I am sure they would have had no qualms about the expense of my trip around Eire in those Days that were on my way to Belfast ?

Below are a series of Emails that relate further info , on my attempts to obtain Justice in this matter :

  " To:  

Subject:   LX/1501386/2014/CH

Date:   Fri 08/15/14 02:20 AM

Attachments
Name Type Save View
Part 1.1   text/plain Save
Part 1.2   text/html Save
Letter 22 - NDAC 3rd party decision.doc   application/msword Save View
Dear Mr McCarthy,

I am writing in regards to the accident you were involved in on 2nd May 2014 in Wandsworth Road, SW8.

Evidence suggests that the bus driver was at fault for the incident. It has been decided that the bus driver will be offered a place on a driver improvement course. If he fails the course or declines to attend we will proceed with court action against him for driving without due care and attention.

Please see attached letter. I have also posted a letter to you.

Kind regards

Colin Harris
Case Manager
Lambeth/Bexley
Traffic Criminal Justice OCU
Phone: 0207 230 0718
Fax:   0208 309 7773


#########################################################

  Attn Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe

  Commisioner of Metropolitan Police

  London

Sir ,

As Commisioner of Metropolitan Police you have a considerable Pool of Talent available to deal with the myriad of Incidents that fall within your purview .

No doubt there are some that fall below the Level of Expertise that you would normally demand ?

The matter i now call your attention to , was attended by a Mini Bus full of your Met. Police Officers , who would have had every opportunity to gather sufficient evidence on the scene , to secure the conviction of the offending TFL Bus Driver !   Had i as a vehicle driver  behaved in the same manner , i would no doubt have been issued with paperwork immediately , for at the minimum " Driving without due care and attention ", perhaps even speeding  or passing too close to a Cyclist ?  However because the vehicle is operated by a member of the TFL Consortia , the Inspector Beresford , or his Sargeant may have instructed the Woman Constable to only take down details , for later consideration ?

As far as anyone is concerned the Traffic Violence inflicted on me was due to my deciding to use that road to pass through London ? In the letter sent to me , there is a definite presumption that i deserve no better , for having decided to be a Bike Tourist in London !

After the November 2013 Cyclist deaths , your Police Force scored considerable Publicity with " Operation safeguard " , wherein Cyclists received countless numbers of " FPN " for a variety of offences , some of those offences in contradiction of the " ACPO guide lines "!

When was ramming a Cyclist in the rear on a " Marked CYCLE Lane " that passes a traffic Island , NOT an open & shut reason for a charge to be immediately imposed ?  Attempted Manslaughter, Grevious Bodily Harm , etc , when using a FIST , but using 15 ton of a Metal blunt object , that is OKAY ?

Regretably this PATHETIC Example of " Fair Treatment " is not the only Traffic Violence that received the same treatment as shown in this Tweet/article :   "  Pedals for medals ?@Pedalsformedals  May 5
@Dean_Bousfield, we will be going again, but we will need time to regroup and 'unfold' our bikes and bodies! @HelpforHeroes

So a Charity Group of " Ex Military Guys ( http://pedalsformedals.com/ )  " get wiped out by "Sleeping Driver " , they go to Hospital ( see Photo attached ) andd HE goes to a " Driver Improvement Course !  FAIR DEAL ?  Well to the Admin Staff at the CPS ? YAWN ! To the attending Police Officers ? Frustration ?

Unless i am informed by return email / Tweet / other , that your office will review the matter URGENTLY ,  i will have to do as so many others have done , to have the matter reopened , in order to see the Driver Convicted , seek the services of the " IPCC " .

As you will see from the attachment below my signature , TFL are well known as a source of Misery to the Victims of their ongoing Traffic Violence :

Sincerely

M. Mc Carthy

Met Police Letter Ref :  LX/1501386/2014/CH

Originating Officer   :  Colin.E.Harris@met.pnn.police.uk


#########################################################


From:   "skippy mc carthy"

Reply-To:  

To:  

Cc:  

Subject:   MY REPLY Re: LX/1501386/2014/CH CONFIRM Receipt of Email THIS TIME !

Date:   Sat 08/16/14 11:52 AM

Attachments
Name Type Save View
Message   text/html Save
   SO Disgusted with the reply , which no doubt , was not your decision , that i sent the following through the Facebook Social Media Page :  www.facebook.com/metpoliceuk

  "  Attn Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe

  Commisioner of Metropolitan Police

  London

Sir ,

As Commisioner of Metropolitan Police you have a considerable Pool of Talent available to deal with the myriad of Incidents that fall within your purview .

No doubt there are some that fall below the Level of Expertise that you would normally demand ?

The matter i now call your attention to , was attended by a Mini Bus full of your Met. Police Officers , who would have had every opportunity to gather sufficient evidence on the scene , to secure the conviction of the offending TFL Bus Driver !   Had i as a vehicle driver  behaved in the same manner , i would no doubt have been issued with paperwork immediately , for at the minimum " Driving without due care and attention ", perhaps even speeding  or passing too close to a Cyclist ?  However because the vehicle is operated by a member of the TFL Consortia , the Inspector Beresford , or his Sargeant may have instructed the Woman Constable to only take down details , for later consideration ?

As far as anyone is concerned the Traffic Violence inflicted on me was due to my deciding to use that road to pass through London ? In the letter sent to me , there is a definite presumption that i deserve no better , for having decided to be a Bike Tourist in London !

After the November 2013 Cyclist deaths , your Police Force scored considerable Publicity with " Operation safeguard " , wherein Cyclists received countless numbers of " FPN " for a variety of offences , some of those offences in contradiction of the " ACPO guide lines "!

When was ramming a Cyclist in the rear on a " Marked CYCLE Lane " that passes a traffic Island , NOT an open & shut reason for a charge to be immediately imposed ?  Attempted Manslaughter , Grevious Bodily Harm , etc , when using a FIST , but using 15 ton of a Metal blunt object , that is OKAY ?

Regretably this PATHETIC Example of " Fair Treatment " is not the only Traffic Violence that received the same treatment as shown in this Tweet/article :   "  Pedals for medals ?@Pedalsformedals  May 5
@Dean_Bousfield, we will be going again, but we will need time to regroup and 'unfold' our bikes and bodies! @HelpforHeroes

So a Charity Group of " Ex Military Guys ( http://pedalsformedals.com/ )  " get wiped out by " Sleeping Driver " , they go to Hospital ( see Photo attached ) and HE ( the perp. )goes to a " Driver Improvement Course !  FAIR DEAL ?  Well to the Admin Staff at the CPS ? YAWN ! To the attending Police Officers ? Frustration ?

Unless i am informed by return email / Tweet / other , that your office will review the matter URGENTLY ,  i will have to do as so many others have done , to have the matter reopened , in order to see the Driver Convicted , seek the services of the " IPCC " .

As you will see from the attachment below my signature , TFL are well known as a source of Misery to the Victims of their ongoing Traffic Violence :

Sincerely

M. Mc Carthy
###########

 No doubt , if there are conscientious people running that Facebook page , a copy will be on his desk on Monday ?  Should i not receive your confirmation of this email by close of business on Monday , then i shall be following these examples :

              http://saferoxfordstreet.blogspot.co.at/2013/12/protecting-their-own-what-i-learned.html     IPCC by MP ?

The Met’s “re-investigation” of my case compelled by the IPCC simply confirmed that everything Met had done to investigate my collision had been carried out “within standard operating procedures” which -  apparently -  include:

Not interviewing the victim of a KSI collision involving a TfL bus during the formal investigation phase
Not revisiting the site of the collision during the IPCC-mandated reinvestigation
Not reconstructing the collision...ever.
Not collecting available CCTV evidence in time so it is destroyed
Not reviewing or analysing CCTV evidence (unless two years later and only if compelled to by the IPCC counts)
Not contacting key witnesses (even two years later and even though the Mayor's office managed to do so)
Not reviewing available CCTV evidence to see if it corroborates any witness statements.


http://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/cyclist-tells-of-struggle-for-justice-after-almost-dying-beneath-lorry-in-hackney-9670790.html

I have ridden my Bike at ProWorld Road Race Major Cycle Tour Events for the past 17 seasons , i did not spend the first 4 months of 2014 preparing to be cheated of success by some 2 bit TFL bus driver , who was probably speeding to his lunch !

 You had better have ALL your ducks in a row , because i will be looking for a conviction of something more noteworthy than "Careless Driving "!

Sincerely

M. Mc Carthy
###################################
--- Colin.E.Harris@met.pnn.police.uk wrote:

From:
To:
Subject: LX/1501386/2014/CH
Date: Fri, 15 Aug 2014 09:19:59 +0000

Dear Mr McCarthy,

I am writing in regards to the accident you were involved in on 2nd May 2014 in Wandsworth Road, SW8.

Evidence suggests that the bus driver was at fault for the incident. It has been decided that the bus driver will be offered a place on a driver improvement course. If he fails the course or declines to attend we will proceed with court action against him for driving without due care and attention.

Please see attached letter. I have also posted a letter to you.

Kind regards

Colin Harris
Case Manager
Lambeth/Bexley
Traffic Criminal Justice OCU
Phone: 0207 230 0718
Fax:   0208 309 7773



Total Policing is the Met's commitment to be on the streets and in your communities to catch offenders, prevent crime and support victims. We are here for London, working with you to make our capital safer.

Consider our environment - please do not print this email unless absolutely necessary.


NOTICE - This email and any attachments may be confidential, subject to copyright and/or legal privilege and are intended solely for the use of the intended recipient. If you have received this email in error, please notify the sender and delete it from your system.  To avoid incurring legal liabilities, you must not distribute or copy the information in this email without the permission of the sender. MPS communication systems are monitored to the extent permitted by law.  Consequently, any email and/or attachments may be read by monitoring staff. Only specified personnel are authorised to conclude any binding agreement on behalf of the MPS by email. The MPS accepts no responsibility for unauthorised agreements reached with other employees or agents.  The security of this email and any attachments cannot be guaranteed. Email messages are routinely scanned but malicious software infection and corruption of content can still occur during transmission over the Internet. Any views or opinions expressed in this communication are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS).

Find us at:

Facebook: Facebook.com/metpoliceuk
Twitter: @metpoliceuk

 #####################################################

My Reply

  "  Totally ignoring my previous Email , means that i have NO REGRETS about advising the world about YOUR abismal efforts on my behalf !  That YOU failed to show even the courtesy of inquiring after my HEALTH , demonstrates that you are worthy of the title " Mr jobsworth "!!

Together with the TFL Personnel that i have had occasion to deal with , i regard you as little better than the dross at the bottom of the barrel !

I am not alone in being treated to this cavalier attitude , since i saw thatt 2 Manchester Area Men , were treated to the same disregard , when skittled by a trucker , whilst riding from Manchester to Rome , in support of the " Help4Heroes Charity "!

When you find yourself mown down by 15 tonnes of metal , forgive me if i hope it is by someone that your organisation , gave a " Day Off " , to revise " Skills " required BEFORE being allowed to turn on the ignition of the vehicle that they had become licenced to drive !

That both the attending Inspector and Sargeant , that attended my " TRAFFIC VIOLENCE Incident " , they Cycle to work , took the time to see that my Incident was properly documented to ensure a SUCCESSFUL PROSECUTION , and YOU and YOUR colleagues have SNUBBED their efforts speak volumes for the current " Sweep under the carpet " attitude that prevails for Victims of TFL !

The Met. Police have an " Anti Terrorism Unit " to safeguard the Citizens of London , who would be better employed dealing with those that TERRORISE CYCLISTS !

When 9 Cyclists were KILLED in November 2013 , the Met. Police solution was " Operation Safeguard "!  Great effort to solve the problem ? Since when did VEHICLES have the right to RAM Cyclists off the road ?  Releasing Police Officers , not properly aware of the UK Laws about CYCLING , on a STOP Cyclists Exercise to TELL THEM that they should be wearing Helmets and Wearing High Vis. garments , none of which are required by the Highway Code , OR , UK Laws demonstrates a level of STUPIDITY that is also demonstrated by giving a TFL Bus Driver a " PAID HOLIDAY " for ramming a Cyclist , and thus causing 5 months ( so Far ) of pain & suffering !

YOU think you are finished with this matter ?

Think AGAIN , jobsworth !

Your Superiors will find the Blogs generated , UNCOMFORTABLE Reading !

Under is the email , previously sent , just so YOU can avoid claiming that it was unseen !

Sincerely

M.Mc Carthy

###########################

From:   "skippy mc carthy"

Reply-To:  

To:  

Cc:  

Subject:   MY REPLY Re: LX/1501386/2014/CH CONFIRM Receipt of Email THIS TIME !

Date:   Sat 08/16/14 11:52 AM

Attachments
Name Type Save View
Message   text/html Save
   SO Disgusted with the reply , which no doubt , was not your decision , that i sent the following through the Facebook Social Media Page :  www.facebook.com/metpoliceuk

  "  Attn Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe

  Commisioner of Metropolitan Police

  London

Sir ,

As Commisioner of Metropolitan Police you have a considerable Pool of Talent available to deal with the myriad of Incidents that fall within your purview .

No doubt there are some that fall below the Level of Expertise that you would normally demand ?

The matter i now call your attention to , was attended by a Mini Bus full of your Met. Police Officers , who would have had every opportunity to gather sufficient evidence on the scene , to secure the conviction of the offending TFL Bus Driver !   Had i as a vehicle driver  behaved in the same manner , i would no doubt have been issued with paperwork immediately , for at the minimum " Driving without due care and attention ", perhaps even speeding  or passing too close to a Cyclist ?  However because the vehicle is operated by a member of the TFL Consortia , the Inspector Beresford , or his Sargeant may have instructed the Woman Constable to only take down details , for later consideration ?

As far as anyone is concerned the Traffic Violence inflicted on me was due to my deciding to use that road to pass through London ? In the letter sent to me , there is a definite presumption that i deserve no better , for having decided to be a Bike Tourist in London !

After the November 2013 Cyclist deaths , your Police Force scored considerable Publicity with " Operation safeguard " , wherein Cyclists received countless numbers of " FPN " for a variety of offences , some of those offences in contradiction of the " ACPO guide lines "!

When was ramming a Cyclist in the rear on a " Marked CYCLE Lane " that passes a traffic Island , NOT an open & shut reason for a charge to be immediately imposed ?  Attempted Manslaughter , Grevious Bodily Harm , etc , when using a FIST , but using 15 ton of a Metal blunt object , that is OKAY ?

Regretably this PATHETIC Example of " Fair Treatment " is not the only Traffic Violence that received the same treatment as shown in this Tweet/article :   "  Pedals for medals ‏@Pedalsformedals  May 5
@Dean_Bousfield, we will be going again, but we will need time to regroup and 'unfold' our bikes and bodies! @HelpforHeroes

So a Charity Group of " Ex Military Guys ( http://pedalsformedals.com/ )  " get wiped out by " Sleeping Driver " , they go to Hospital ( see Photo attached ) andd HE goes to a " Driver Improvement Course !  FAIR DEAL ?  Well to the Admin Staff at the CPS ? YAWN ! To the attending Police Officers ? Frustration ?

Unless i am informed by return email / Tweet / other , that your office will review the matter URGENTLY ,  i will have to do as so many others have done , to have the matter reopened , in order to see the Driver Convicted , seek the services of the " IPCC " .

As you will see from the attachment below my signature , TFL are well known as a source of Misery to the Victims of their ongoing Traffic Violence :

Sincerely

M. Mc Carthy
###########

 No doubt , if there are conscientious people running that Facebook page , a copy will be on his desk on Monday ?  Should i not receive your confirmation of this email by close of business on Monday , then i shall be following these examples :

 FROM             http://saferoxfordstreet.blogspot.co.at/2013/12/protecting-their-own-what-i-learned.html     IPCC by MP ?

  "  The Met’s “re-investigation” of my case compelled by the IPCC simply confirmed that everything Met had done to investigate my collision had been carried out “within standard operating procedures” which -  apparently -  include:

Not interviewing the victim of a KSI collision involving a TfL bus during the formal investigation phase
Not revisiting the site of the collision during the IPCC-mandated reinvestigation
Not reconstructing the collision...ever.
Not collecting available CCTV evidence in time so it is destroyed
Not reviewing or analysing CCTV evidence (unless two years later and only if compelled to by the IPCC counts)
Not contacting key witnesses (even two years later and even though the Mayor's office managed to do so)
Not reviewing available CCTV evidence to see if it corroborates any witness statements.


http://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/cyclist-tells-of-struggle-for-justice-after-almost-dying-beneath-lorry-in-hackney-9670790.html

I have ridden my Bike at ProWorld Road Race Major Cycle Tour Events for the past 17 seasons , i did not spend the first 4 months of 2014 preparing to be cheated of success by some 2 bit TFL bus driver , who was probably speeding to his lunch !

 You had better have ALL your ducks in a row , because i will be looking for a conviction of something more noteworthy than "Careless Driving "!

Sincerely

M. Mc Carthy
###################################

--- Colin.E.Harris@met.pnn.police.uk wrote:

From:
To:
Subject: LX/1501386/2014/CH
Date: Fri, 15 Aug 2014 09:19:59 +0000

Dear Mr McCarthy,

I am writing in regards to the accident you were involved in on 2nd May 2014 in Wandsworth Road, SW8.

Evidence suggests that the bus driver was at fault for the incident. It has been decided that the bus driver will be offered a place on a driver improvement course. If he fails the course or declines to attend we will proceed with court action against him for driving without due care and attention.

Please see attached letter. I have also posted a letter to you.

Kind regards

Colin Harris
Case Manager
Lambeth/Bexley
Traffic Criminal Justice OCU
Phone: 0207 230 0718
Fax:   0208 309 7773

 #########################################


letter from colin  : yet to scan this into Computer


##########################################


From:
To:
Subject: : " JOBSWORTH Effort "!!
Date: Mon, 6 Oct 2014 09:40:38 +0000

Dear Mr McCarthy
Your e mail has been passed to me as the senior police staff manager in charge of Mr Harris. I will review your case and respond to you ASAP,it is too early to say at this moment if you have any genuine reason to complain as your e mail is a mixture of personal abuse,threats and a general tirade against the system.
One thing which cannot be changed is our action in your case the offender has taken a course and as such cannot be prosecuted for your collision as this is considered by the law as an abuse of process.

Yours Sincerely

Trevor Benton.

############################################

my reply

Thankyou for your prompt attention and email .  Somewhere i mentioned that your colleague was the victim of the system , that you have to work within !

 Whilst i am only aware of the two cases mentioned , mine and the 2 Charity riders for " Help4Heroes " , i am almost certain that there are countless others , that have suffered the same fate . The derision that the judiciary holds to that 2nd class citizen , the Vulnerable Road User !

We CHOOSE to ride bikes , we Choose to leave our vehicles at home , yet reading , listening and watching the Media , we are little more than " MOBILE Road Furniture "!  Indeed there are Politicians that have stated similar sentimen ts , such as those described in that website :

www.facebook.com/groups/stopkillingcyclists/1505539113030329   ( it may be Southwark Council ? )

When you consider that a Mobile Police Command Van attended the scene of the Traffic Violence and that the Ambulance Crew required tthat i travel to Hospital and abandon the Bike to other arrangements , it must be clear that ENOUGH EVIDENCE wouldd have been collected to eensure a successful prosecution of the errant driver .

That he was given a " DAY OFF WORK " as a reward for whatever negligence he displayed , is an insult to ALL that attended and tried to assist me there ! That a similar reward was made to the Driver thatt albut killed the Charity Riders adds further derision to this form of dealing with Traffic Violence !

Politicians are involved in deciding the form of retribution meted out to the " Errant Drivers " , much to the frustration of the thinking person , yet , very little appears to be happening to ensure that the " Victims " are fairly treated .

I chose to suffer the pain and after being delivered by the Police Van to a Bike shop , i took the cheapest options to stay mobile .  It is being held against me by those at TFL that i was wearing clothes provided to me and using equipment that was also provided . it is their contention at present that until i provide receipts for PURCHASE , the destroyed /damaged property has NO VALUE ! Yet they only wish to give me cents on the euro , if i had those receipts !  Had the bus rammed my car , i would have had a rental provided and the car returned to a similar condition , paintwork and roadworthy .

5 months later i am still suffering a slight problem with my elbow and the " Lawyer ( my unfortunate choice ) prefers that i travel at expense to London for Examination by Specialists . I would sooner go without , than trust the NHS or UK Specialists to tell me what an Austria Doctor is MORE CAPABLE of telling me .

Frankly the System you administer is BROKE !  Having to work within it must be the source of Daily Frustration ?

No doubt your examination of this case will show that your colleague has done his job to the " Specifications required " , BUT , why do you ALL , not remedy the situation by ensuring , that those that IMPOSE these lenient " slap on the limp wrist " penalties , replace it with FINANCIAL PENALTIES and loss of POINTS ?

With Unions requiring that " Education Courses " be on Paid Work Time , it is likely that the Errant drivers are even PAID to learn/revise ALL they were required to know to obtain the Licence in use at the time they delivered their NEGLECTFUL actions !

Sincerely

M. Mc Carthy

This email will also receive exposure on Social Media !

#####################################################
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Monday, October 7, 2013

2014 Giro d'Italia ! Pro Racers ONLY Welcome ?

For 16 seasons i have ridden the Routes of the Grand Tours .
This year i completed my 15th Giro d'Italia , although i did not ride  every stage after Tarvisio , Nature played a large part in that failure . I had to laugh after getting out of bed in the Val di Non , intending to ride the Friday Etappe and saw snow on the fields outside . No point going any further after my Host told me that the Passo Tonale was already snowed in . I later saw another rider post a photo of the top of the Passo Tonale , i guess he rode his bike there but i had gone back to bed .

This year the Giro d'Italia seems to have broken their normal traditions . Not only do they start on a FRIDAY in Ireland , but they finish in Trieste . In addition to this they have 3 Rest days ! Looking at the flight from Dublin to Bari ( at a guess ) , it seems to need a rest day to get over the change in Cultures , let alone a probable change of weather conditions ? For Racers , it doesn't matter about the costs involved , in their stay in any Country , but living off my savings , a visit to cold & wet Belfast , is not the ideal start to nearly a month of travelling .

Those Racers that know me , will know that since 2010 , i have had the little green Citroen available as back up for Medical Emergencies. My dose of P.E. after the 2009 Tour de France and repeat in Feb 2011 at the Tour de Med has reminded me that i am getting on in years and Medical Assistance with Hospitalisation is not the best of Ideas . The first bout entailed 10 days in the Schwaz Hospital but the second bout only required 2 Nights since i opted to drive non stop from Monaco to Schwaz , since i knew their records would be able to shortcut any unnecessaryly repeated exploratory work .

From COLD & WET Belfast and Dublin  , with their grey granite buildings to the South of Italy with 30c+ temps and Mediteranean architecture overnight , quite a contrast ? I recall the transfer from Wet & gloomy Belgium , years ago to Bergamo , with a tad warmer but gloomy weather that lasted until the Team Time Trial of Cremona to Piacenza , that was run the next day  in mid 30s sunshine . The contrast was very welcome for me .Several visits to that area since have always produced comfortably warm sunny conditions .

The choice for me is to depart Dublin by air , or to head to Bari and enjoy the warmer conditions as i watch the RAI TV all day broadcast , as they dart in and out of various aspects of the matters surrounding the daily events .

Today RCS had the Formal Presentation of the 2014 Giro Route . Various Racers were on hand , although which of them actually race will not be determined until after the 2014 Tour de France route is revealed .

Here is the daily schedule :

2014 Giro Route :   Total Distance 3450 km

1/ Friday, May 9 21.7 km
Belfast (IE) → Belfast (IE)


2/ Saturday, May 10 218 km
Belfast (IE) → Belfast (IE)


3/ Sunday, May 11 187 km
Armagh (IE) → Dublin (IE)


TRansfer Monday, May 12
Rest day


4/ Tuesday, May 13 121 km
Giovinazzo → Bari



5/ Wednesday, May 14 200 km
Taranto → Viggiano



6/ Thursday, May 15 247 km
Sassano → Montecassino



7/ Friday, May 16 214 km
Frosinone → Foligno



8/ Saturday, May 17 174 km
Foligno → Montecopiolo


9/ Sunday, May 18 174 km
Lugo → Sestola


Rest Day Monday, May 19
Rest day

10/ Tuesday, May 20 184 km
Modena → Salsomaggiore



11/ Wednesday, May 21 249 km
Correggio → Savona



12/ Thursday, May 22 46.4 km
Barbaresco → Barolo



13/ Friday, May 23 158 km
Fossano → Rivarolo Canavese



14/ Saturday, May 24 162 km
Agliè → Oropa



15/ Sunday, May 25 217 km
Valdengo → Montecampione


Rest day Monday, May 26
Rest day

16/ Tuesday, May 27 139 km
Ponte di Legno → Val Martello



17/ Wednesday, May 28 204 km
Sarnonico → Vittorio Veneto



18/ Thursday, May 29 171 km
Belluno → Malga Panarotta


19/ Friday, May 30 26.8 km
Bassano del Grappa → Monte Grappa



20/ Saturday, May 31 167 km
Maniago → Monte Zoncolan



21/ Sunday, June 1 169 km
Gemona → Trieste



  Total Distance 3450 km









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Monday, May 27, 2013

FUNDING " ANTI DOPING " now !

The Giro d'Italia has finished with " Nibs " , forecast as winner , taking the Crown ! Good for him , he prepared well with the win , at the " Giro del Trentino " , amongst other work efforts
.

Some of his challengers for the title , went home due to illness , perhaps brought about by the unseasonably bad weather . Falling from the bike and then " Descending like a Girl " , would have shaken Sir Brad's confidence and desire to fight off the symptoms of bad health , he was fighting .
Just as well he quit at that time , since the weather became even worse . Ryder arrived at the Giro determined to fight for a repeat result , but reports indicate that he was severely underweight , thus allowing the body , little ability to resist the symptoms that caused his earlier than desired exit .

During the Giro , we saw several Racers , sent home after testing Positive to PED abuse . Georges has caused his Team , to honour their commitment to the " MPCC Code ", thus declaring they would not participate at the Dauphinee Libere Event in June . Di Luca , on the other hand , has even incurred the displeasure of the likes of Lance Armstrong , since this is his 3rd Sanction ! Being a previous winner stripped of his 2009 Giro Crown , you could expect he would have learnt that lesson . But NO ! This imbecile thought " EPO " , was the way to go , a Sponsor of  His , convinced " Team Fantini ", that he deserved another chance . Bundles of cash , from that Sponsor , would have overcome the Team Management's desire , to not touch him with a " bargepole ". No matter , the decision was made to allow him to race without testing . Football Teams test the  Athlete before signing them on , so what happened here ?

With these TWO , besmirching the Giro's reputation , for being the Hardest of the Grand Tours , the debate about " Anti Doping " , has been thrown into the Public Arena , once again . Days before Di Luca's problem was announced , UCI released a report :

 http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/pat-mcquaid-cycling-has-an-extremely-bright-future

" phat in mouth " , as posterity will describe him , MUST have known about Di Luca's problem , since it is UCI that is reported to be in control of these announcements . Did he rush out the " Brighter Future report " , and attempt to delay the Di Luca announcement ? In recent times , phat , has been giving the impression , that he is hopping around on one foot , with the other firmly jammed elsewhere ! Being paid a SALARY to safeguard the UCI Constitution , does nothing to stop him , putting his self interests above ALL ELSE !

The search for " Anti Doping " solutions continue , but one that came to my attention in February , deserves MORE than the casual glance , that appears to have been given in recent times :

http://www.cyclingnews.com/blogs/jonathan-vaughters/opinion-its-not-all-about-lance-armstrong-and-heres-how-we-can-fight-doping

Even i as a fan , have some guilt in these matters , i have been known to chide people such as Christian Vandevelde , for their transgressions , but in general , i have no ability to cause the returned Racer anything other than momentary discomfort .

JV , is correct in his statement that ONLY Substantially increased FUNDING , will change the equation in respect of the FIGHT AGAINST DOPING !

Until mid June , we will not know what can be done in this ongoing fight , BUT , Cycling Ireland , by refusing to Nominate JIM Burns ( aka pat mc quaid ) , can start the progress towards CHANGE in the UCI and thus a new sense of Purpose at the UCI Congress in September .  For my part i can write letters to the Voting Delegates at that Congress , but , if OTHERS , join this effort , those Delegates with the POWER , will understand that the WORLDWIDE CYCLING COMMUNITY deserve better from them !



Here in full is JV's appraisal of the situation :

  "  The blame game, MPCC and just who should clean up cycling
Jon Vaughters & Lance Armstrong just before the 1999 Tour
Jon Vaughters & Lance Armstrong just before the 1999 Tour
I am wearing a garbage bag. Why, you might ask, thinking that Merino wool is more my thing. Quite simple, I know that in these days of cycling, banana peels and rotten tomatoes are thrown at anyone who dares stick their head up. Rocks also work quite well and, sadly, my garbage bag won’t do much against those. They hurt.

Cycling has become a post revolution mob, not much different than paintings we see of post-revolution France. I think, back then, banana peels were replaced with bed pan water. So, before I begin, let me go ahead and save you the labor of writing in the comments section: I am an ex-doper, a filthy team manager hell bent on extracting dollars and wins at any cost. I am a person who not only should not be allowed in cycling, but should not be allowed to have an opinion. I am someone with no moral compass and someone who needs to just shut the hell up. Those comments are just the rotten tomatoes and banana peels. The rocks hurt more.
However, the old expression about sticks and stones hopefully will prove correct and because of this, I figure I’ll continue onward with this monologue. Let me start by saying something really simple: I love bike racing. From a very early age every aspect of the sport just enthralled me. Its history, its traditions, its strategy, its heroism, its toughness, and even the constantly evolving bike technology. I love it. I love waking up early and watching some poorly web streamed feed when I’m home.

I love the feeling of my hair standing up on the back of my neck when I realize one of my riders has made the lead group. I love sitting in the wind tunnel for hours. I love the laughter of the guys at the dinner table, even when they have broken bones or concussions! I loved getting a disgustingly dirty and sweaty hug from Johan after he won Roubaix. This sport has been my life, inside and out for 20 years. It’s like an old marriage to me, we fight, but I love it.
Now, despite the fact that I am all of the things described in paragraph one, I often wonder, how is it that I managed to damage something that I loved so much? Why did I disregard that? And why is it that when I watch my peers that have damaged the sport of cycling in similar ways, do we fail to see that we are the problem. We are the problem. But I don’t see anyone saying that. I see people saying “he is the problem” or “they are the problem.” It’s gone from blaming Lance and Lance only, to blaming the journalists, to blaming the team managers, to blaming the UCI, to blaming the riders, definitely blaming Pat McQuaid, oh and don’t forget to blame the race organizers, and then back to blaming Lance. I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention that I played this game too. The fact of the matter is that it is our entire fault. We, the people who make up the world of professional cycling, are to blame.
I can already hear the peeling of bananas... “Damn you, JV, no! I am not to blame, my team stopped doping in 1999 after Le Affaire Festina!” or “No, I am not to blame I never raced in the EPO era!” or “No, I am not to blame because I only did it to survive.” or “No, I am not to blame because everyone else did it!” “I am only a race organizer that made the most mountainous Grand Tour in history of mankind, I am not to blame!!” ... I can go on, but I think you see the point. Before I move on, let me say for those who were talented enough to race at the highest level in Europe, and did walk away, you aren’t many, but you are not to blame. You are to be highly regarded. You can leave the principal’s office now and have pudding. I can only offer my apologies to you guys, and pudding.
So, we can come to the conclusion that actually no one is responsible for the doping issue in cycling. Everyone denies their culpability and we happily hang a few riders every year, give them the blame, and refuse to understand the responsibility we all have.
I was absolutely shocked to learn, this morning, that the MPCC, an organization I have been a part of since 2007 and one that I truly believe in, is thinking about suing Lance Armstrong. Yes, it is his fault, a 100+ year history of doping problems in cycling can be remedied by extracting financial damages from Lance Armstrong. All the while, this organization, of which I am member, is chaired by someone who once tested positive, and whose members have a rich and varied history ranging from Festina to Puerto to USPS to CERA to Corticoid investigations. And our solution to protect cycling’s image is to sue Lance Armstrong? I truly hope they don't sue anyone. Maybe I need to attend the next meeting? Maybe a bit of introspection is needed here? Maybe a better way would be to sue myself and give the damages to someone like Danny Pate? But this seems to be the mentality entrenched in cycling, blame the other guy to fix the problem. Put it on his plate.

Let me take a big hunk of “it’s my own damn fault” and put it on my own damn plate. At this point, I’d rather personally be responsible for all of this than to watch the petty squabbling at hand devolve into the equivalent of hair pulling on the Jerry Springer show.
When I signed up to go testify to USADA about cycling’s past, I did it, not to “bring down Lance!” I did it because I was convinced it would help cycling in the long term. But instead of fertile ground for positive change and forward movement, my testimony seems to have turned into mud for throwing at each other. Seeds don’t grow in mud. It was an attempt, my me, at helping cycling unwind from a nasty past, but I’m not sure it worked the way I wanted. So, what will work?
First we have to realize, cycling cannot separate itself from its own history. That is impossible. When, a hundred years ago someone decided to cheat in the Tour de France, that got the ball rolling. It kept rolling. And while I hope you (the readers) will feel it is somewhat honorable to walk away from doping and try to mend the damage you’ve (me) done, whether one stopped doping in 1956, 1976, 1998, or 2006, the fact that at one time you doped has contributed to the pervasive culture of doping. That’s not to say there aren’t reasons for this culture. To start with, cycling is the toughest sport ever invented. It is contested by hardened individuals from hard backgrounds. This is not the sport of the aristocracy, this is the sport of tough kids who are fighting their way out of tough lives. That is cycling’s history in Europe. The ethos professional cycling started with is not that of higher, faster, cleaner...It is an ethos of “I need to feed my family.” That is cycling’s 100 year history. The private jets only came at the tail end. So, while all of us, especially me, would like to believe that we are “part of the solution” we weren’t, we were part of grinding this culture in further and further. To try and indemnify ourselves from that will not work. In fact it will only entrench the culture deeper, as it teaches hypocrisy.
We, in professional cycling, all are to blame and we all end up hurting each other because of blaming each other. Public spats, lawsuits, backstabbing policies, hatred... these all hurt cycling. They work against any budding possibility of a long term solution for this sport. Trying to solve a 100 year old problem with short-sighted and knee jerk reactions will not work. This takes creativity, vision, and UNITY. And who does this lack of unity hurt? Well, we might think harsher measures and lawsuits hurt those evil doers who need public flogging, but instead who do I see getting hurt? I see young riders, who have had nothing to do with this mess, being the ones that get hurt. The up-and-comers who, with idealism still intact, they are the beneficiaries of our inability to work out real and lasting solutions, together. They get to carry the burden of being seen as a “doper” in the view of the broader public, for the next ten years, when in fact, they’ve never doped. Not yet, anyway. But, if we don’t figure this out, soon, guess what? 100 years of cultural entrenchment beats a few of us old guys coming up with a few new rules. That is sad. And that is my own damn fault.
Garmin-Sharp team boss Jonathan Vaughters speaks to the press prior to the start of Tour de France stage 5.
How about we give these young riders a chance at having a doping free career? How about we do something that overcomes the image that they’ve been saddled with due to their predecessors’ (like me) actions?
Because I absolutely hate complaining without a solution, I’m going to make a very simple suggestion for a solution: Make us pay. Now, I know many of you think I should be in jail, and whole heartedly agree with my suggestion of making me pay, but “making us pay” isn’t an analogy. Quite simply put, as opposed to launching lawsuits, trying to overthrow the king, blaming the dog, etc.. We need to fix anti-doping. I’m sorry, I do not think that is accomplishable by policy changes and adding extra rules invented by people who broke the rules. I do not think that is accomplishable by telling a rider who has less than 12 months visibility into if he’ll be able to feed himself that he needs to “just say no”... Nor do I think telling a highly ambitious type “A” athlete that he should be happy with second place, is going to work. Nor do I think a newly reformed team manager telling his team “do as I say, not as I did” will work. Nor do I think telling guys that ride 30,000 kms a year in rain, snow, sleet, and heat to just “work harder” is going to work.
Let me give you an example: There are two young guys I know quite well. One is on my team now, one raced for me as a junior. Both are thought of as future GT contenders. Both of these guys are unbelievable tough, incredibly competitive, driven, and ambitious. And both of them would saw their kneecaps off with a rusty butter knife, if they knew it would win them a bike race. That’s why they are so good. They are both clean riders from a generation that shows us what cycling could be. But you throw a drug in the mix that makes you 10% better, there is no test for, and then that’s a whole lot more tempting than sawing off your kneecap for the win. We need to protect these guys. The toughest and most competitive are the most at risk. The guys we love and the qualities of those champions are exactly the things that put them most at risk for doping. So, since I don’t think anyone wants to make bike racing easy and start giving awards for nicest rider or rider who really wanted his buddy to win because he was having a bad hair day, then we need to realize the risks that come with the highly ambitious and protect them. Quite simply, if we want this to change, we have to actually enforce the rules so that these hardened and respectable young men and women can stop having to chose between “being first loser”(now society is at fault too) and saying no to doping..
Following Lance Armstrong and Jan Ullrich at the 2003 Tour de France
I’ve been referring to “we” a lot in this rant. “We” means those of us working in professional cycling. But here comes the part that we need to be responsible enough and man enough to step aside for: This is the one part that “WE” can’t do. WE need to step aside and pay for someone, totally outside cycling, to be in charge of enforcing anti-doping rules. WE were the problem, WE cannot be in charge of fixing the problem. But we sure can pay for it. Meaning this: right now teams spend less than 1% of our total budgets on anti-doping. For the biggest problem in cycling, less than 1%. That won’t ever work. You can’t fix a problem this big with something so small. WE, including me, need to pay.
Cycling needs to step aside, the UCI needs to step aside, Pat needs to step aside, teams and riders need to step aside, I need to step aside. We’ve had 100 years to figure this out, with limited success, how about WE let someone else have a shot? Someone who has no race to worry about, no sponsorship to think of, no conflict of interest at all. None. WE (those of us with a conflict of interest) need to escrow much, much, much more than 1% of funds available, give it to a totally independent entity that specializes in anti-doping and nothing else - and then let them do their work. We race bikes, you guys (WADA? AFLD? USADA?) make sure we are doing it straight. Period. Of course, WE can help. WE can tell them how we doped, we can give them total honesty to help their work. It takes one to know one, right? But WE cannot be in charge of this. At 8% of every teams’ and every races organizers (yes, they need to help more too) budget, we’d be looking at a pool of $40M annually. Sounds a lot better than the current pool of $4M. Ask any scientific researcher around the world what he is limited by? Funding. Ask any police force what limits them? Funding. How would it be spent? Testing? Science? Investigative efforts? I don’t know. Leave it to the experts how the funding is used. But give them the tools, and never let cycling’s biggest problem be held back by lack of funding. All of the issues you hear about the testing not being good enough, the science is behind, not enough tests...All of that can end. All of the excuses can end. All of the blame game can end. WE just have to stop trying to be the solution and instead step aside and start paying for what WE did. Literally.
Then we (you guys too) all can get back to loving bike racing.



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Monday, December 17, 2012

IF I WERE PRESIDENT !

Presidents are required to demonstrate LEADERSHIP ! Behind the holders of these Positions , are a variety of people , who do the actual work , needed to create the Success Story , that the populace, they preside over during their stewardship , expected when they  voted them into Office  .

Currently i am watching Two Major Incidents , that have a substantial impact on my life .

Cycling and the UCI .

Gun Control Issues in the USA .

Cycling is going through a Crisis , which should have been dealt with in 1999 , as most people had thought , resulting from action caused by the " Festina Affair "! Seems there was little done then , so for a decade and half , Racers have been able to utilise EPO and Blood Doping to their benefit . Since 1998 , crisis after crisis , have plagued Cycle Racing , so much so , that ALL results from 1990 have been suspect . Even Greg LeMond's 1990 Tour de France Triumph is questioned by a " vocal minority " in the Cycling News Clinic . My impression is that they are deranged , trouble makers . Miguel indurain has had mud thrown at his efforts also , by these same people as well as in other Cycling Forums . Bjarne Riis , has admitted his behaviour and Jan Ulrich has paid out a Substantial amount to the German Government to make a Prosecution cancelled .

We all know of Marco Pantani's unfortuate death from Drugs and his being sent home from the 1999 Giro d'Italia , whether he was using at the 1998 " Le Tour " is suspect . Everyone is aware that Lance Armstrong has been stripped of his 7 TDF Titles as was Flandis in 2006 .  In place of Flandis , the Spaniard Oscar Periero was awarded the TDF Victory , a questionable background there , however . Contador was the 2007 " Le Tour " winner but he has been stripped of some of his Victories in recent years due to a " Tainted Meat ingestion "! Carlos Sastre , a Spaniard with a good reputation , won the 2008 " Le Tour ", his Team Managers , however , have questionable reputations . In later years we have Contador , Schleck, Evans and Wiggins all winners of the Tour de France , being splattered with " Mud " by Social Media .

Cycling is a Sport , dominated by the Annual Tour de France , but even the other Annual Grand Tours , Giro d'Italia and Vuelta Espana , have had cases of " Musical Chairs "! With the 3 Major Events , there are supporting Acts , in the form of the " Tour de Suisse , Dauphine Libere and lately the Tour Down Under & Tour of California  " being tainted by those seeking " Unsporting advantage by PED usage . Most of these events are UCI Pro World Calender , Sanctioned  Events with UCI controlling the " Anti Doping Controls "!

Were i President , i would immediately request the WADA Management to take control of the " Anti Doping  Testing " ! Racers would be subjected to a " Truth and Reconciliation Commission " , before they are granted the necessary licence for the New Season . Back Room Staff would ALSO be required to submit to this process , since so many of them were Racers , that have retired from Active Competition .

Teams would be required to continue to meet the current standards that ensure their Licence , but they would be held to a higher standard in respect of communicating " Contractual Agreements with Staff "!

###

 So many Racers this year are finding out by default , that they have no contract for 2013 . There should be a Website , available to ALL , showing the state of play at 30th September each year .

Winnings by Racers would be placed in a " Suspence Fund " , which would allow them to withdraw Monies after their " Honourable Retirement "! Those that choose to use PEDs to enhance their career , will forfeit ALL Winnings to that point ! Since most Pro World Racers have a Salary in excess of the UCI " Minimum Salary Level , there would be no reason for them to be inconvenienced by this Change of Procedure .

Currently i am aware of the efforts of www.changecyclingnow.org and their Petition , to inspire change in the UCI . Today i became aware of @Gaudryt becoming the President of the Oceania Division of UCI and meeting recently with CCN.org . I would hope this leads to her being persuaded to challenge for the Presidency of the UCI at an early date .

GUN CONTROL ISSUES :

If i were in President Obama 's shoes , i would be , TODAY , calling to the White House the Leaders of both Houses of Congress . I would be asking them to call a Joint Sitting of Congress , TOMORROW , bringing back the Bills repealed in 2004 , and any other GUN CONTROL Bills , that have been set aside in recent years . The Leaders of the Joint Sitting , have the ability to see these Bills are voted back into LAW , at the EARLIEST time possible . As i am not a Citizen of the USA , i am unfamiliar with the procedures that need to be observed , however , there is a " Political Will " available at this time .

The US Public will back this action , since they will agree with Mayor Bloomberg's assessment , that 48000+ people could lose their lives in the immediate future through " Firearms Misuse "!  There is nothing to be gained by delaying Legislation of Bills that have been repealed . New Bills will be required to cover a multitude of Issues that need to be addressed by Congress and these should be drafted as a matter of Urgency .  Examination of the Laws passed in the Australian and British Parliaments after their " Gun Outrages " will provide a wealth of information to be used as a base for a " US Gun Control Bill "!

Copy Cat Killing Sprees come about because some of their Perpetrators are seeking " Postumous Notoriety "! Why should these misguided people be recognised in history ? Each " Atrosity " from this time forward should be governed by a decision by the Media to call the perpetrator " Person X " , thus depriving the public of a way to identify with their exploits . When the perpetrators  commit " suicide " , what benefit do they gain by the enquiries generated by the Media ? With the " Newtown Incident " , the perpetrator appears to have been carrying the brother's " ID " , does the family have to suffer , the public retribution for an incident , of which they had no part ?  Media delved into areas that had no benefit to the Law Officers , who were trying to control the Information flow , so that they could finalise their investigations in a satisfactory manner . What benefit to you or I , was the Interview of a young neighbour about the personality of the perpetrator ?

 Personally i could care less about the perpetrator , knowing his motives are of no value , it does nothing to help bring back those that died . More time seemed to be spent by CNN on the perpetrator than on the Victims . Only after president obama paid tribute to the young victims , did we see more about them . I guess part of this may have been due to the Law Enforcement Officers , trying to shield the Families from Intrusive efforts from the Media ?

Over too many years , the " National Rifle Association " has bought the allegiance of " Politicians " , they are Human Beings , that are lucky not to have had Tragedies in their Families !  How many of the " Board Members of NRA " would forgive the " shooter " for killing their Family "? The 2nd Amendment was incorporated in the Constitution , in the belief that it was the right thing to do , when the US Constitution was Created .  That was the 18th Century , when Americans were trying to throw off the yoke imposed on them by King George and his Troops . This is the 21st Century and circumstances have changed . The USA is the Policeman of the World , it has a Professional Armed Service , not a rag tag bunch of people who would be called to arms when danger threatens !

Would that i could , i would require ANY Owner of a Gun , that can discharge more than one round without  being reloaded , to be on a National Register , the weapon to be kept in a Locked Cabinet , preferably requiring two key holders . Those that have Weapons in their homes should be required to turn over to the National Guard , the Magazines of those weapon , for safekeeping , until their " New Permit " has been issued .

The National Data base , would be loaded from existing State Registers , there would be additional information required of each Gun Holder . To obtain the " New Permit " , my belief is that TWO separate Agencies should be involved in investigating the background of those seeking to obtain the necessary " New Permit " . By this procedure , most of the " Old Boy Networking " could be voided .  Health Checks should Also be subjected to an Independent Panel , avoiding placing Family doctors in an Invidious situation !

Law Enforcement Personnel and those involved in the Security of Higher Level Political Entities would be exempt , initially from these requirements , but in the fullness of time be required to meet the Annual Review .

Currently the " Gun Control " situation appears to be laughable , since , a " NRA spokesman " advised last night , on the " Piers Morgan Show of CNN , that there is a register of those " Banned " from owning a weapon "! Was he joking ? I can understand that " Criminals and those subjected to medical Sanctions ",  SHOULD NOT be allowed to possess weapons , but who else are added to this register ? Regardless of any actions taken , there will always be the problems of the " Criminal Elements " gaining possession of Weapons !

Australia initiated a " Buyback scheme for weapons " , that had a very successful result . To encourage people to turn over their weapons to the National Guard , i would offer each household the option of a " TAX rebate " of Twice the Monetary Value of the weapon  in the first month of the scheme  , 150% in the second month and 100% in the third month ! Those choosing to try to obtain their " New Permit " , should have to pay a substantial Upfront Fee for the " New Permit " , increasing in expense in relation to the calibre and size of the magazine ! " New Permits " should be available from a decision made within six months of application  .

Gun Shop Owners will of course be screaming " Blue Murder " as will the " NRA " , but if they had to walk the halls of the " Newtown Elementary School " and seen the carnage , i am sure they would prefer to suffer a financial loss rather than be the " Victim of a shooting incident "!

Whatever i have missed , in my inexperience in such matters , i am sure there are many , that can add to my knowledge and sensible additions to this post would be welcomed .



Once again my Sympathies to the Families of People that have lost Family/ies and Friends in Past Outrages !

Updating my thoughts on " Copy Cat situations "!  last night i watched the Newtown Catholic Church evacuated because of a " Bomb threat " and just now , CNN report the " Lock Down of A neighbouring Town's Schools , as a result of Suspicious behaviours !

In the next months it is my belief that there will be too many more of these situations !

Would like to wish ALL the Compliments off the Season and a PEACEFUL NEW YEAR !


Those wishing to make a point , can sign my Petition :



http://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/president-of-united-states-of-america-repeal-the-2nd-amendment
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