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The PPC hearings -- FCA Amendments -- The big picture
Essays by GOSA members.
by Brett Nortje » Tue, 2006-08-22 10:56
Dear Comrades
Revolutionary greetings.
Molon Labe!
It seems everyone has lost sight of the big picture as the farcical 'amendment' of the Firearms Control Act plays itself out. The Institute for Security Studies is responsible for cutting and pasting various gun laws from across the world into the unimplementable Bill. They got loads of taxpayer-money for it. If the ANC led Parliamentary Portfolio Committee was really intent on properly conducting the people's business the first question Chairperson Ms Sotyu should have asked the ISS' Guy Lamb is: "where is the cash?" Surely the only business Parliament has left with the ISS is to convince it to do the honourable thing and give back the money it got for drafting the unimplementable Act which has caused such chaos and administrative collapse?
Instead, everyone plays out the charade that it is business as normal. ANC Committee members listen politely as Lamb prattled on about prescribing eye tests for gun owners! No jokes. Lamb's hubris is such , he has such an arrogant, coercive, intrusive world view that he is advocating the state reach into my life and force me to get my eyes tested to retain possession of what is mine. Lamb is too obtuse to take a minute to look through the grounds for unfair discrimination in S9 of tthe Constitution. Sheer and utter hubris! The committee's hubris must be contageous.
The single most convincing submission to the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee was made by the 600 000 refuseniks, who shunned the renewal charade. That is right. The figures are in. Non- compliance during the first round of renewals (which everyone knows is confiscatory in intent) is higher than 75%. How could that not be the dominant, overwhelming theme of the hearings? In 2005, 600 000 gun owners told the Department for Safety and Security they can take their "strict measures to control the ownership of guns" and shove it. It was a feat of incredible bravery, considering the fact that they had been bombarded throughout the year with lies and misinformation.
Amendment of the Act is not the product of any kind of audit. No-one knows what can be salvaged or what the damage is. The Committee is completely in the dark regarding the extent of the chaos and collapse following the unsuccessful attempt to implement the Act. Regardless, oblivious to the reality of the spectacular failure of implementation, they dive in to create more busiwork. It is a recipe for disaster.
Roy Jankielsohn, while Democratic Alliance spokesman on safety and security said neither the government nor civil society were prepared for the Act when it was launched by Safety and Security Minister Charles Nqakula on July 1 1994: "The police are struggling to implement it. Only a fraction of those who have to renew have done so because the bureaucratic process is so costly and time consuming."
The first round of proposed amendments ripped the guts out of the Act, drastically reducing the administrative burden on the police, not least by abolishing relicencing. The second round of amendments leave the Act substantially unchanged except that muzzleloading firearms are re-regulated. My local DFO tells me there has been no known abuses of muzzleloaders. The point though, is that it is unimaginable that the legislator applied its legislative mind, and came up with the first round of amendments, then applied its mind some more and came up with the second round of amendments, the implication being that the ISS made a spectacular mess cutting and pasting the de-regulation of muzzleloading arms and nowhere else. That is not the legislative failure that needs to be addressed. Anyone believing that is the fix for the FCA is delusional. The collapse in implementation of the FCA has nothing to do with 150-year-old guns or their clones. The whole thing stinks to high heaven.
THE ROAD TO THE PARLIAMENTARY PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE HEARINGS ON AMENDMENTS TO THE FCA
""1994 .......In the months leading up to the elections, Peter Storey, then a Bishop of the Methodist Church of Southern Africa, began to articulate his concern that easy access to and excess of guns in our society was one of the biggest threats to our emerging democracy. Just the gut feeling that guns were beginning to dominate the scene in every way. That's all." The response to this threat was the 'gun free South Africa' campaign...."" (Adéle Kirstendrivel p3 - The Role of Social Movements in Gun Control: An international comparison between South Africa, Brazil and Australia - Centre for Civil Society Research Report No. 21) That is the kind of Shamanism that gave birth to the FCA.
More reality.
According to S 205 of the Constitution the objects of the police service are to prevent, combat and investigate crime, to maintain public order, to protect and secure the inhabitants of the Republic and their property, and to uphold and enforce the law. On the face of it, the police have no power to issue licences or permits or regulate the possession of firearms. That is the objective reality.
"Firearms law 'destined to flop'" by Hugo Hagen" The Citizen 19 Sept 2005, "Firearm control in SA is failing dismally - DA", The Citizen July 22 2005, etc, etc, etc, refers: On 30 June 2004 Minister for Safety and Security, Charles Nqakula released a gloating media statement. Minister Nqakula said: "It was alleged that the full implementation of the Firearms Control Act, 2000 and the Regulations would result in numerous difficulties or chaos...." "The Court after hearing arguments,
dismissed the application with costs, i.e. costs on an attorney-client scale in order to display the displeasure of the Court...." "It is clear that in the period preceding the application misinterpretation and incorrect information has been spread through the media, in an attempt to derail the implementation process...."
Nqakula also told parliament the Act would be fully in place from July 1. "We have allocated to the firearms control project R63 199 956 to cater for the purchase of 458 vehicles, 1 153 computers, 728 scanners and 573 printers." He repeated the same now-discredited misinformation that night on TV3's Interface. The court case Nqakula was referring to was the unsuccessful attempt by gunowners, gun dealers, professional hunting organisations and the security industry to prevent the implementation of the Firearms Control Act which industry role-players could see was years away from being ready for successful implementation.
To stop the law from coming into operation, gunowners had to prove that President Thabo Mbeki had acted irrationally when he promulgated the new law, because the State would not be able to implement the FCA. A story did the rounds in the legal community that the judge originally assigned to hear the Court challenge was kicked off the case two days before the scheduled hearing and replaced with a judge who had twice unsuccessfully made a bid for a seat on the Constitutional Court.
Business Day, Thursday 11 November 2004: "CAPE TOWN - Government did not consider the economic effect of the Firearms Control Act, and will not consider changing the law if it was found to be adversely affecting certain businesses in the country, Safety and Security Minister Charles Nqakula has said. Nqakula, in reply to a written question from Democratic Alliance (DA) MP Roy Jankielsohn, said: "No economic impact study was done.""
Just before the implementation of the FCA on 1 July 2004 an unsuccessful attempt to avert disaster was made in the Pretoria High Court. Possibly the world's most gullible jurist, Judge Ben du Plessis found no merit in the gunowners' application and criticised its late filing. The judge found that the applicants failed to prove they would suffer irreparable harm if the Act came into effect. Du Plessis awarded a special cost order to "show the court's displeasure" at the "ill-advised" application, "I think the Act means what it means and people must live with it. I am not persuaded that the implementation of the Act is irrational." Du Plessis accepted the argument of the State that interim provisions were in place to deal with matters arising during the transitional period.
Ninety percent of SA's gun dealers have been driven out of business and lost their livelihoods after the implementation of the Firearms Control Act. That is the reality, Judge Du Plessis.
On 20 June 2005 FF Plus Spokesperson on Safety & Security Mr. Pieter Groenewald issued the following press release regarding the Minister's written answer to a Parliamentary question: "The Minister of Safety and Security, Mr. Charles Nqakula, says he will not compensate legal gun owners for the loss of weapons when licenses are reissued..... The Minister contravenes sec. 137 of the new Act on the Control of Weapons (Act 60 of 2000). This section in the law specifically provides for the compensation of persons who hand in or forfeit their weapons to the State. Sec. 137 (5) of the same Act furthermore places an obligation on the Minister of Safety and Security to introduce, in conjunction with the Minister of Finance, guidelines for the payment of compensation.
The Minister, Charles Nqakula, is busy neglecting his duties and is quite clearly not aware of sec. 137 of the Gun Law,"...." The government in this way deprives legal gun owners of their property rights without compensation. In our view this is a further contravention of sec. 25 of the Constitution which guarantees property rights. Section 25 (1) of the Constitution stipulates amongst others that nobody may be deprived of his/her property and no legal regulation may arbitrarily allow the
dispossession of property," Groenewald said.
Die Burger of 13 October quoted SAPS Commissioner Jackie Selebi: "KAAPSTAD - Geen vergoeding gaan betaal word aan vuurwapeneienaars wat hul gelisensieerde vuurwapens inhandig nie, het die polisiehoof, komm. Jackie Selebi, gister gesê. Selebi het gereageer op 'n vraag deur die DA-LP mnr Roy Jankielsohn in die portefieljekomittee oor veiligheid en sekuriteit."
More than a year ago I applied in the prescribed manner for compensation for several firearms. All I have to show for it is a couple of snotty memos from the CFR saying they are attending to my application. The Minister and Commissioner of the SAPS have effectively carried out a coup d'etat. They are thumbing their noses at the legal and constitutional order.
During November and December editors of The Citizen, Rapport, Nova and Business Day made known their misgivings that all was not well with the implementation of the FCA and called on Nqakula to extend the process. For months, the SAPS had been threatening those who failed to comply with the farce of renewing firearms licences. News24 featured a statement by Captain Thembinkosi Kinana warning gun owners that they would be prosecuted for possession of unlicensed guns.
Back at the Central Firearms Register, Nqakula's bullyboys told Rapport "Ons gaan nie speel nie". (Lui wapeneienaars se tyd is mín by LIZEL STEENKAMP 29/10/2005 ). The CFR threatened to open dockets, arrest and prosecute half a million gunowners who have not yet applied to renew existing gunlicences, even set up special Courts to deal with the massive number of principled gunowners who are set on non-compliance with the FCA, in the biggest display of civil disobedience the country has seen since women were made subject to the pass laws.
Gun owners to take their case to court. By Christelle Terreblanche
A constitutional court case is looming over the state's inability to process all firearm licence renewals ahead of the month-end deadline, which will criminalise up to 400 000 gun owners. The pending case follows remarks by Phuti Setati, the South African Police Service spokesperson, that those who failed to renew their licences by December 31 would be prosecuted, which could spell jail sentences of up to 12 months for thousands of law-abiding citizens. The deadline was set for the first group of firearm owners - those born between January 1 and March 31 - to renew their licences in accordance with the new act, but owners' associations and opposition parties have warned repeatedly that the police do not have the capacity or training to ensure that all renewals are issued in time.
In answer to a question in parliament, Charles Nqakula, the safety and security minister, stressed that "action would be taken against individuals who neglect or refuse to renew their firearm licences, permits or authorisations. "The SAPS will investigate each case, based on its own merits, and criminal charges will be laid against those in violation of the law," he said, while giving assurances that all possible police infrastructure was being used to ensure that people would be able to renew their licences.
But gun-owner organisations say most gun owners, particularly those in rural areas, and pensioners, have been unable to comply. Martin Hood, the South African Gun Owners' Association (SAGA) spokesperson and legal adviser, said the case would be based on inconsistencies between the new Firearms Control Act (FCA) and regulations issued by the government. "The act said that all licences were valid for five years, which means those existing when the act came in force should really expire only in 2008," said Hood. "This is inconsistent with the minister's regulations, which stipulates that the renewal process had to start this year.
"The regulations can never override the act and cannot say gun owners are committing a criminal offence if they fail to renew their licences through no fault of their own." He said the constitutional challenge would fall away should Nqakula issue a postponement. He claimed that only 10 percent of the estimated 600 000 guns had been re-licensed, and he estimated that at least 150 000 people would not be able to comply in time.
Last month (Sept 2007) Nqakula acknowledged that the act had "many loopholes" and said it might be reviewed to close those, mainly those pertaining to collectors of military-style weapons. Shortly after that, the Democratic Alliance said it presented a report to Nqakula detailing other concerns about the implementation of the act. "Gun owners should not be criminalised because of the government's failure to implement the FCA," Roy Jankielsohn, a DA MP, said.
"Hundreds of thousands of firearm owners have yet to renew their licences. Only a fraction of firearm owners have applied for renewal. In the meantime, Jankielsohn has handed a detailed memo to the minister about the more than 10 problems encountered by those trying to comply, including lack of access to police stations, shortage of money, too few accredited training providers, a bottleneck with appeals to refusals and a lack of police training. "A credible alternative to the current chaos could be an extensive audit of all current firearms, licences and owners," he told the minister. "This would be the most logical step in the first five years, instead of a costly mass renewal process.
"The premise is that the individual has been issued with a legitimate licence to own a firearm by the state and that as long as he or she is a responsible firearm owner, the state should protect this property. Furthermore steps should be taken to make the renewal process more affordable and user-friendly for individuals such as pensioners." This week Jankielsohn said he had still had no reply from Nqakula. Asked for comment, the minister's spokesperson, Trevor Bloem, insisted that the document had reached the ministry by mail only this week.
"There is no response from the minister as the document will have to go through various processes and has been referred to the police," Bloem said. "Once attended to, the reply will come to the minister for his approval and comments. At this stage it is premature to say what his response will be." Hood said thousands of complaints from renewal applicants were streaming into the association daily, with many underpinned by incorrect decisions and responses by the police. "The most common basic complaint is that the police don't have a standardised procedure. Second, that there is corruption in the system itself and third, there is bad training," Hood said.
About 13 cases about bad police decisions and appeal-board failures were pending in the Pretoria high court in addition to the threatened constitutional challenge. "We have also made presentations to the minister and told him in no uncertain terms that the current process was not going to work and we believe he was considering radical amendments based on what we told him, but he has not made a decision on whether to postpone it," said Hood. "Notwithstanding our concerns that this has big potential to turn into a confrontation between gun owners and government, we still want to talk to the minister in a constructive manner and tell him the act won't work without our co-operation."
Published on the web by Sunday Independent on December 3, 2005. The Jankielsohn report on the FCA to the minister. The Firearms Control Act - some facts.
The Democratic Alliance believes that the control and responsible management of firearms is important in any society and is especially important in a society as violent as South Africa's. Legislation is necessary in order to control the use and possession of firearms. A gun free society would be ideal, but as long as we experience high rates of violent crime and huge resource constraints within the SAPS to deal effectively with crime, our citizens must have an alternative
method of securing themselves, their families, and their property. Furthermore our country has a thriving hunting industry that is important for both conservation and tourism.
The purpose of firearm legislation should however be to control and manage legal firearms and not to disarm law-abiding citizens. In this context the Firearms Control Act (FCA) fails miserably as it targets legal firearm owners and does not adequately address the millions of illegal firearms that remain in the hands of criminals who stalk our streets. Furthermore the current problems surrounding the implementation of this legislation have left firearm owners confused and unaware of what is expected of them. The heavy handed manner in which collectors and museums have been treated confirmed the view that government does not want to regulate but remove legal firearms from society. Together with the disbanding of the commando system, this legislation will leave rural areas particularly vulnerable to criminals, especially to forms of cross border crime such as arson, stock theft, poaching and other forms of violent crime against individuals.
2. Renewal of firearm licenses
The schedule for renewal is according to dates of birth and will take place as follows:
? 1 January and 31 March in 2005
? 1 April and 30 June in 2006,
? 1 July and 30 September in 2007
? 1 October and 31 December in 2008.
If firearm licences owners do not keep to this schedule they are liable for an administrative fine and it could imply that they are illegally in possession of firearms. The process of renewal that has to be followed is as follows:
? A theoretical test has to be carried out with an accredited training provider in order to qualify for a proficiency certificate.
? Application must be made at a SAPS firearm-licensing centre for both a competency certificate and renewal of the firearm license. Motivation must also be supplied regarding the purpose of the firearm.
? A complete set of fingerprints and two colour passport photos have to be submitted.
? The costs are R70 for a proficiency certificate, R70 for the license, and the costs of training.
? The SAPS then have to carry out safe inspections and do background checks on all applicants in order to determine whether they are fit to possess a firearm.
Individuals who do not wish to renew their licenses may carry out the following other options:
? Sell the firearm to another person who may lawfully possess the firearm.
? De-activate the firearm by a licensed gunsmith.
? Sell the firearm to a licensed dealer or hand the firearm in to such a dealer to be sold on his/her behalf.
? Voluntarily hand in the firearm to the SAPS for destruction.
People who are abroad may renew firearm licenses within 60 days of returning to South Africa. The SAPS should be informed of this so that individuals storing such firearms are given permits to do so in the absence of the owner.
3. The economic implications of the act.
The Act has negative implications for various businesses such as firearm dealers and gunsmiths as well as the film, professional hunting and private security industries. The implementation of the act has already resulted in business closures and the loss of jobs, with the prospect of many more people losing their jobs as more of these businesses are forced to close as result of the FCA. Therefore the act will have a potentially devastating economic impact which appears not to have been properly assessed by the government before it was implemented. The minister for safety and security, Mr Charles Nqakula, replied to parliamentary questions (8 November 2004) on the economic implications of the act by stating that "no economic impact study was done" prior to the implementation of the act and that: "The Firearms Control legislation has made provisions for firearm dealers, the professional hunting industry, the film industry and the private security industry to be regarded as business entities. It is the responsibility of these entities to adapt their business models to comply with the provisions of the Firearms Control legislation and to comply with their social responsibility as South Africans".
The legislation has already impacted negatively on the 554 firearm dealers and 160 gunsmiths in South Africa, Some (?) of whom have already closed their doors. Certain rural provinces have already begun to experience a decline in foreign hunters due to bureaucratic problems and long delays at ports of entry into South Africa.
A further parliamentary reply from the minister (7 October 2005) indicates that since 1 July 2004 a total of 11 038 foreign visitors applied to import firearms into South Africa. Of these 399 were refused because the concerned firearms were either prohibited in terms of section 4 of the FCA, or the applications did not have the necessary supporting documentation as required in terms of Regulation 62(7)(g) of the Firearms Control regulations, 2004.
4. Confusion over statistics
The SAPS Central Firearms Registry (CFR) and the minister have been contradicting each other by giving conflicting statistics and reports to parliament about the manner in which the Firearms Control Act (FCA) is being implemented. In a reply to a parliamentary question (7 October 2005) the minister stated that 3 925 applications for renewals of firearm licenses had been received. The CFR however reported to the parliamentary portfolio committee for safety and security less than a month before ( 14 September 2005) that a total of 18 787 applications for renewals had been received by the SAPS by August 2005.
Furthermore, the minister stated that a total of 1773 applications for new licenses have been received under the FCA of which 392 have been granted and 17 refused. The CFR however reported that 4224 had been received of which 776 had been granted and 37 refused. If discrepancies exist between statistics provided to parliament by the minister and the SAPS, then even crime statistics supplied by the same institutions could be viewed with suspicion.
The minister also indicates that none of the 71 applications for renewal or 38 applications for new licenses under the FCA in the Northern Cape have been processed. At the same time the 446 applications for renewal of licenses in the Free State, 698 in Kwazulu Natal, 191 in Limpopo, and 37 in Mpumalanga have yet to be processed. The CFR reported to the portfolio committee last year (8 September 2004) that 2,5 million firearm owners owned 3,6 million firearms in South Africa. This
implies that an average of 625 000 individuals would have to renew 900 000 firearm licenses every year for the next four years.
Both the minister and the CFR have now denied these statistics saying that it is much less. They are not however able to say how many licensed firearms are owned by individuals in South Africa. The fact remains that the FCA has failed to meet even a fraction of the targeted renewals for 2005. The Minister launched this act before the SAPS or civil society was able to implement it.
5. The right to appeal
In terms of the FCA everyone whose license is refused has a right to appeal the decision. Although the process is time consuming, the DA urges individuals to use this right if their licenses are refused. There are still many outstanding appeals as a result of the fact that the minister only instituted an appeal board on 3 January 2005, seven months after the Act was launched. The appeal board consists of Justice J.A.M. Khumalo, Ms Z.N. Nhlayisi, Mr S.D. Majokweni and Mr P.A. Mongwe. By July 2005 the backlogs of appeals were standing at 14 365. It is clear that the appeal board will take years to carry out an effective appeal process on all these outstanding appeals. Meanwhile firearms are pilling up in safes of firearms dealers.
6. Mass refusal of licenses
Many applications for licenses have been dismissed with the words "lack of motivation" over the past two years, with no other explanation being offered. In reply to a parliamentary question (7 October 2005) the minister stated that since July 2004 a total of 33 890 licenses had been refused (76%), 9590 granted (21%) and 1209 (3%) still outstanding under the Arms and Ammunition Act (no 75 of 1969). This alarming amount of refusals has strengthened allegations of mass refusals by the CFR.
7. Accredited training providers
The training providers responded more speedily to the act than the SAPD and POSLEC SETA (currently SASSETA). By 14 September 2005, 202 shooting ranges and 225 training providers had been accredited in South Africa. There are still a number of unresolved issues such as confusion relating to acceptable unit standards regarding training. Reports of obstructionism on the part of the SAPS to deal with the matter of accreditation of both training providers and shooting ranges have also been received. In the Free State province the CFR refuse to allow individuals who are part of accredited service providers to provide training in rural areas. This implies that individual firearm owners are forced to travel long distances to obtain the necessary training. Many rural areas do not have accredited training institutions to supply required training to obtain proficiency certificates. The costs of travelling, training and licensing will also make the process unaffordable for many people, especially pensioners. Some local police stations appear to be ignorant of their role in the process of accreditation which caused a number of delays.
8. Amnesty
The amnesty that was recently declared for people in possession of illegal firearms was first declared in October 2004, but had to be withdrawn because the minister did not have parliamentary approval as required by the Act. The first amnesty period ran from 1 January to 31 March 2005. It was then extended for another three months until 30 June 2005. All firearms forfeited in terms of the amnesty are sent for ballistic examination in order to determine whether they were used in any criminal activities. The amnesty does not apply to any crimes committed using the firearm and therefore criminals would obviously not hand in such firearms. These firearms remain on our streets.
In reply to a parliamentary question (26 October 2005) the minister stated that a total of 30 221 firearms had been handed in voluntarily during the amnesty periods. Of these 18 222 were legal and 11 999 illegal firearms. All these firearm underwent ballistic testing and 369 positive connections have been made to case dockets so far.
9. The costs of implementing the FCA
The initial cost budgeted for the implementation of the FCA was R63 million. The Canadian government has however budgeted an equivalent of about R2 billion for the implementation of similar legislation in that country. The costs of implementing the FCA to both firearms owners and the state has not been calculated and is expected to run into billions of rands.
10. Police training
Local police stations are meant to have a designated firearms officer (DFO) with a vehicle to implement the FCA. However these police officials also have other responsibilities such as implementing the liquor legislation as well. In many instances they are unable to assist individuals effectively regarding the various aspects relating to the act. In Paul Roux which I visited, the DFO was taking current licenses away from individuals as they submitted their applications for renewals. This left them without licenses and liable for arrest. Regular police officers have also asked me how they must go about renewing licenses for private firearms. An alarming aspect is that even though police officers handle firearms on a daily basis, they are incompetent to handle private firearms in terms of the FCA and have to complete additional training in this regard.
11. Compensation
Individuals may apply for compensation in terms of section 137 of the FCA. The minister stated in a reply to a parliamentary question (11 October 2005) that an individual may apply for compensation for a firearm that is surrendered or forfeited to the SAPS but not for costs incurred during the application process. No clarity has however been given on criteria used to determine such compensation. Individuals who voluntarily surrendered weapons during the amnesty period were not informed of, or given this opportunity.
A credible alternative to the current chaos could be an extensive audit of all current firearms, firearm licenses, and owners. This would be the most logical step in the first five years, instead of a costly mass renewal process. If this is however not acceptable and government is adamant about renewals, then all existing licenses should be accepted for renewal with the exception of those whose owners have proved to be incompetent to own firearms. The premise being that the individual has been issued with a legitimate license to own a firearm by the state and that as long as he or she is a responsible firearm owner, the state should protect this property. Furthermore steps should be taken to make the renewal process more affordable and user friendly for individuals such as pensioners. Safe inspections by strangers should be replaced by an affidavit from the owner and if necessary another credible individual.
The manner in which the FCA has been implemented and the confusion among the public over this issue has caused many firearm owners to question the motives of government in this regard. Government is seen to want to disarm law-abiding citizens through a costly process. Many people are angry since some firearms have been in families for generations and are seen to be cultural artefacts. Inheritance is not recognised as a reason to own a firearm. The cultural significance of firearms is ignored by the FCA. Through this legislation government has only increased the potential for civil unrest in South Africa.
We would however encourage all individuals who can afford to do so to apply for renewal of licenses and for new licenses in terms of the act. Should applications be refused then individuals must make use of the appeal process. Lodge appeals to: The Chairperson of the Appeal Board, Private Bag X 811, Pretoria, 0001, Facsimile: 012-353 6036. Any public enquiries regarding renewals or applications for new licenses can be made to the firearms registry call centre at 012- 353 6111.
Roy Jankielsohn MP, DA spokesperson for safety and security.
Gun owners start queueing for licences. By Hanti Otto
Christmas shoppers were not the only ones queueing in Pretoria on Wednesday – a veritable throng formed outside a number of police stations where firearm owners began standing in line from before 6am to renew their licences. Gun owners born between January and March have to renew their licences before December 31 in terms of the Firearms Control Act and some of them on Wednesday waited for as long as eight hours to do so. Asked why they waited so long before they applied, some said there was no guarantee that they would be helped on day 1.
At all the police stations that have firearm licence renewal centres, people were advised to turn up before 6am, although the centres only opened at 7.30am. 'I either have to lie to keep them by saying I hunt or I have to destroy them'. At the Pretoria North police station people queued past the court building next door. Those who were helped within four hours were counted lucky. Although the gates of the centre were officially closed by 7pm, officers were still helping applicants until 10pm.
Officers even took orders for water and soft drinks and had it delivered from nearby shops to the waiting applicants. One elderly woman in the queue was close to tears. She was in possession of her late husband's collection of old rifles.
"This is very traumatic. For 21 years I have been looking after these. It is my property and has sentimental value. Now I either have to lie to keep them by saying I hunt or I have to destroy them. The last time these antiques were used was during the Boer War," she sobbed. 'I will buy a gun on the black market, where it is easier and cheaper'. At the Brooklyn police station officers made a list of the names of the first 130 people and sent the rest home, saying they were only able to help 130 a day.
By 4pm on Wednesday the queue had shrunk to 20 people, most of whom had been waiting since before 6am. At most stations people sat on camping chairs and shared books and newspapers. Some complained about how "ridiculous" the new law was. "They are disarming the innocent citizen, leaving us defenceless against those who have illegal firearms," one man said. Like the others, he did not want to be named, fearing it might jeopardise his renewal application. One woman compared it to a "money-making business", while her husband said: "If my renewal is not approved and my appeal is not successful, I will buy a gun on the black market, where it is easier and cheaper."
Inside one of the centres a police officer patiently explained on the phone what the caller should bring, adding: "Don't forget a chair and a book. And be here by 5am. If not, bring your Bible. You will need something thick to read and a lot of patience." Firearm trainer providers did not have much sympathy. They said people had since June 2004 to renew their licences. They said the public should remember they and the police were also sacrificing their holiday to help the "late-comers".
This article was originally published on page 3 of The Pretoria News on December 15, 2005. It is clear that the meeting the CFR, SAPS Legal Services and the SAPS' political commissars had with the National Prosecuting Authority late last year was a monumental blow to the implementation of the FCA. It appears the Department of Safety and Security went to the meeting to convince the NPA to back them with show trials in the face of more than 90% non-compliance with the licence renewal process.
Apparently the SAPS Legal Services Department and the National Prosecuting Authority recommended the Minister cool it and start abiding by the rule of law. The Minister was warned continuously that the ruinously expensive Firearms Control Act was unconstitutional and unimplementable. After all, the SAPS' legal team admitted the SAPS could not administer the Arms and Ammunition Act in the pleadings in the Hamilton case. He did not listen. The CFR have turned the Minister into a serial jester.
The Minister was forced to issue a statement mid December
tacitly conceding that the threats of prosecution were lies, hyperbole
and bluster, vindicating gun owners' interpretation of the Act.
The lies and threats about lengthy prison sentences by members of the
SAPS were just that. Gun licences for those who do not renew remain valid
until 2009.
The media statement issued by the Minister is a gem.
MINISTRY: SAFETY AND SECURITY
EMBARGO: NONE
DATE: 15 DECEMBER 2005
MEDIA STATEMENT BY THE MINISTER FOR SAFETY AND SECURITY ON THE FIREARMS
CONTROL ACT, 2000
The Minister for Safety and Security, Charles Nqakula, today announced
the extension for the application of renewal of firearms licences for
people born between 1st January and 31st March.
Explaining the reasons for the extension the Minister said, "I have
received representations for the extension of the said date, and I
believe that there are numerous persons who still wish to renew their
licences but would not be able to do so before 31 December 2005.
"I have accordingly signed today, a Notice for publication in the
Gazette, in terms of which the date is extended with three months until
31 March 2006," Nqakula said.
Discussions were held by the South African Police Service and the
National Prosecuting Authority on the validity of licences issued under
the Arms and Ammunition Act, 1969, and especially in cases where a
person would fail to apply for the renewal of a licence. There is
consensus that the position in this regard is as follows:
Any licence which was issued in terms of the Arms and Ammunition Act,
1969, and which was valid immediately before the date of the
commencement of the Firearms Control Act, 2000, remains valid for a
period of five years from the date on which the Firearms Control Act,
2000, came into operation (1 July 2004), unless such licence is
terminated, cancelled or surrendered in terms of the Firearms Control
Act, 2000.
The holder of a licence to possess a firearm in terms of the Arms and
Ammunition Act, 1969, must, before 1 July 2009, in a lawful manner
dispose of any firearms in his or her possession in excess of the number
that he or she may lawfully possess in terms of the Firearms Control
Any person who was obliged to apply for his or her licence by a date
determined by the minister, and who fails to so apply, and applies after
such date for renewal, might be liable for prosecution for such failure,
depending on the circumstances of such failure. Such prosecution will
however, be restricted to the failure to renew the licence within the
stipulated period, and not for the illegal possession of a firearm. A
person who does not apply for renewal of a licence within the period
determined, because he or she wants to legally dispose of the firearm in
question, may be legally in possession of such firearms until 30 June
2009. After that date a person who has not applied for renewal of the
licence and has not disposed of the firearm may be prosecuted for the
illegal possession of a firearm.
Licence holders who wish to terminate or cancel their licences by for
example selling the firearm or surrendering it to the South African
Police Service, may do so until 1 July 2009.
The other time-frames determined for renewal of licences issued under
the Arms and Ammunition Act, 1969, still apply.
Then, after vindicating gun owners' position in December, the Minister
announced he was ordering changes made to the Act in January:
"Deficient Arms Act to be changed" by Kim Helfrich, The Citizen, January
"SAFETY and Security Minister Charles Nqakula admitted there were
difficulties with the Firearms Control Act , and said he would table an
amendment to the controversial legislation by May.
Delays of up to a year in renewing firearm licences, and the
unacceptable backlog in appeals estimated to number about 6 000, were
not only causing concern among legal firearm owners but also harming the
arms and ammunition sector.
Only 200 arms and ammunition dealers are estimated to still be operating
nationally out of more than 600 three years ago.
During a ministerial consultation on the contentious law at the Police
College in Pretoria yesterday, Nqakula was told that "indifferent
service and arrogance" at firearms control centres had contributed to
the problem.
"By extending the date for renewal to the end of March you have only
moved the problem three months further along," a representative of the
Arms and Ammunition Dealers' Association said.
"To have to wait up to 18 months for an appeal to be heard or a licence
to be renewed is totally unacceptable," said SA Gun Owners' Association
spokesman Martin Hood.
A representative of the Black Gun Owners' Association suggested the
Minister look at paying people to hand in illegal weapons, which he said
were "much more of a problem than legal firearms"."
This was Business Day's reaction
"Welcome reprieve
SAFETY and Security Minister Charles Nqakula has very sensibly
extended the first period for the relicensing of legal firearms by
three months. This means that those 500000 or so people who were
required to reapply for their licences have until March 31 to go
through the process instead of being forced to try to meet a December
31 deadline.
The bottleneck was predicted a year ago. The Central Firearms
Register and the apparatus needed for competency tests and dedicated
firearms officers were nowhere near ready last December and are
little better placed this December.
Remember there are about 2,5-million legal gun owners. Assuming that
their birthdays are spread evenly throughout the year, this means
that about 500000 have to reapply for their licences every year over
four years.
The first such period was this year for those whose birthdays were in
January, February or March. Only about 64000 have reapplied, meaning
there are at least 400000 outstanding. But as the three-month
extension granted last week starts to tick away from January 1, it
must be remembered that the next batch of 500000 will step up to the
counter, and so it will carry on for the third and fourth years.
It was most unfortunate that police officials started threatening
those who have failed to reapply this year with prosecution and a
possible one-year jail term. This had the potential to create a
massive new class of criminals at a time when the criminal justice
system is only just coping with those who have committed far more
serious crimes.
Thankfully, Nqakula listened to the advice of the National
Prosecuting Authority that all valid licences should remain valid
until June 30 2009 and that, if they had not re-applied by then, gun
owners would be guilty of an administrative offence and not a crime.
Less welcome is the possibility, if not probability, that Nqakula has
been getting bad advice from the South African Police Service. For
example, it is reliably understood that the period of grace was to be
six months and was cut to three on the advice of the police. Even
more alarming is the fact that for almost a year the police have been
telling the minister that the relicensing process is succeeding.
Indeed a disbelieving parliamentary committee has questioned progress
at regular intervals throughout the year.
A legal quagmire is also in the process of developing. At issue are
constitutionally entrenched property rights and the withdrawal of
legally held rights without any offence being committed.
Already some in the process may have a legal claim. Consider those
who responded to the threat of criminal prosecution, now ruled out by
the minister, and handed their firearms in to the police without
compensation. They have good reason to feel aggrieved now that it has
been ruled that their licences would have remained valid until mid-
2009 and that the offence would have been administrative.
Section 25 of the constitution says that no law may permit arbitrary
deprivation of property. It further says that no property may be
expropriated without compensation and that compensation should
be "just and equitable, reflecting an equitable balance between the
public interest and the interests of those affected".
Another legal principle is that which says a legal right cannot be
withdrawn without an offence having been committed. So, it is
arguable that unless a gun owner demonstrates incompetence or breaks
the law, there are no grounds to refuse his reapplication.
Given that illicit gun-dealing appears to be on the rise as a result
of the act and that few legal gun owners commit crimes with their
weapons (as opposed to guns that are stolen from legal owners and are
then used in crime), the relicensing process seems to be needlessly
wasteful of valuable resources.
Guns must be controlled because they are instrumental in profound
misery and suffering. But we must concentrate on the guns that do the
harm. Let us hope that the period of grace will be used to consult
further with the industry and that the changes to the law promised by
Nqakula will iron out the practical difficulties being experienced
and the legal wrangles being predicted.
If we don't get this right, the system will break down and benefit
only those who use guns illegally."
http://www.businessday.co.za/articles/o ... BD4A130602
The renewal date extensions were attributed to representations
the Minister had received "at the last Firearms Consultative Forum
between the Minister and stakeholders".
The Firearms Consultative Forum was oblivious to what should, to any
reasonable person, have been its core preoccupation: That during 2005,
600 000 ordinary gun owners of South Africa, who are not gun collectors,
or part of the hunting Afrikaner elite, or sport shooters, told the
Minister - under threat of the direst consequences, bombarded throughout
the year with lies and misinformation- that he could take the Firearms
Control Act and shove it. By simply refusing to re-licence their guns.
By 2009 (just before the World Cup) 2 500 000 gun owners will have told
the Minister to stick his Act.
At the end of February the Minister for Safety and Security published
proposed amendments to the Firearms Control Act that would have seen
half the Act being deleted. The outstanding feature of those amendments were the
concessions to the gun industry. The guts would be torn out of the Act
to make it easier for dealers to do business.
The Minister was not playing Father Christmas out of a sense of charity.
It is common cause that implementation of the Act has been a spectacular
failure and that there is a massive campaign of civil disobedience
underway which saw 600 000 gunowners refusing to re-licence their
property in 2005.
The first step in amending the Firearms Control Act is obvious. Audit
the implementation of the Act to establish how great the damage has been
and how much can be salvaged.
The Minister, however, reacted like a petulant child to the lukewarm
reception his proposed amendments received.
With the exception of four or five sections all the current Firearm
Control Amendment Bill is concerned with is the re-regulation of
muzzleloading antique arms. The Amendment Bill is nothing but an
elaborate scam designed to try and redirect attention from the
managerial failings of Minister Nqakula.
I asked a Designated Firearms Officer whether he had heard of any abuses
of muzzleloaders since de-regulation. Not one case of abuse of a
muzzleloader is known.
In May the Canadian Government announced that it was abolishing
the Firearms Registration Act, (the blueprint for the FCA).
According to the Canadian Minister the legislation was costing the
Canadian taxpayer billions of dollars, it was cumbersome, ineffective
and impossible to enforce properly.
It took away too many police resources from their primary task,
that of crime prevention, law enforcement and protection of the public.
While the Canadian Government was announcing that it is abolishing their
Firearms Registration Act, (the blueprint for the FCA) SA's Cabinet announced
that it had approved Amendments to the Firearms Control Act and that the
Amendment Bill was being sent to Parliament.
We know that, for the ANC, there is no such thing as an 'objective
reality'. The original circumstances necessitating amendment of the gun
laws are still waiting in the wings. Angry gunowners are not going to be
distracted from the issues by media farces.
Same cancerous growth. Canada's Government opted for radical amputation
while South Africa's leadership announced it will stick on a band-aid
and kiss the patient's booh-boohs to make it better.
Actions have consequences. The political commissars and mandarins of the
Central Firearms Register and Department for Safety and Security have
burnt up all the goodwill and credibility they might have enjoyed among
gunowners.where their television screens show defiant, good, upstanding
The time has come for the Minister to take Ministerial Responsibility for the failed implementation of the Act, fire the top management of the CFR and resign himself. It is time for President Thabo Mbeki to get serious about this issue and personally intervene.
It is time for YOU to speak up.
B Nortje
Brett Nortje
Joined: Fri, 2006-03-10 21:11
Return to Essays


text:
News Articles by Cindy Kerr
Cindy Kerr
Biblical archaeology: heart-changing not Indiana Jones glitzy, prof says
By Cindy Kerr, posted January 24, 2001 in
FORT WORTH, Texas (BP)–He doesn't swing on vines through winding caves, dodge massive boulders or narrowly escape pits of poisonous vipers. He isn't hunting for the lost Ark of the Covenant while being pursued by thieves and evil governments. And he doesn't carry a bullwhip or pistol in his quest for ancient artifacts. But Thomas […]
Understand 'how the world thinks,' Hollywood producer urges Christians
By Cindy Kerr, posted April 24, 2000 in
FORT WORTH, Texas (BP)–Christian media must take a cue from the Jewish Swiss pen maker who fashioned Hitler's Mont Blanc pen, said Phil Cooke, an award-winning film, television and video producer who visited Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary April 12. That cue — subtlety. Hitler commissioned the pen maker to design the ultimate pen for a […]
People at work & at home need dedicated chaplains, he says
FORT WORTH, Texas (BP)–A $20 bill, even one crumpled and ripped, is still worth $20. Gil Stricklin made that point during a Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary chapel service April 5. After crumpling, stepping on and almost ripping in half a new $20 bill, Stricklin offered it to a nearby seminary student who accepted it. The […]
Global missions call is for all, missions leaders tell seminarians
By Cindy Kerr, posted April 7, 2000 in
FORT WORTH, Texas (BP)–While the March 28 tornadoes in Fort Worth missed Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary by a few miles, the sweeping message that all Christians are called to take the gospel to the nations made a direct hit on campus during Global Missions Week March 27 through 31. "You are probably very much aware […]
15-year Navy cook, now a pastor, learning recipes for ministry
By Cindy Kerr, posted March 24, 2000 in
FORT WORTH, Texas (BP)–He once made meals for boatloads of people. Literally. Now this Colorado pastor's family of four gets to enjoy the culinary delights he dishes out. Accustomed to feeding 2,000 sailors daily, Bob Gitschlag, former U.S. Navy cook and seminary student and current pastor of First Baptist Church, Cheyenne Wells, Colo., has to […]
Worship is a daily lifestyle, conference speakers remind
By Cindy Kerr, posted March 3, 2000 in
FORT WORTH, Texas (BP)–Worship is a lifestyle, and Christians worship only through living daily in God's presence, said Bruce Leafblad, coordinator of the Worship 2000 conference held Feb. 14-18 at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. "A denomination that looks to annual revivals for renewal has still not figured it out," said Leafblad, Southwestern professor of church […]
Exhortations to 'fly,' 'honk' voiced at women's consultation
By Cindy Kerr, posted February 24, 2000 in
FORT WORTH, Texas (BP)–Women need to fly like bees and honk like geese to minister effectively in the 21st century, said speakers at the Women's Leadership Consultation, Feb. 10-12 at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Fort Worth, Texas. They also need to be hard workers, obedient to God, compassionate and willing to sacrifice for the sake […]
Jazz enthusiast has 'gone at it the right way,' seminary prof says
By Cindy Kerr, posted February 1, 2000 in
FORT WORTH, Texas (BP)–Music, especially jazz, has more to do with God than meets the ear. And that's something Robert Elkins is basing his life on. "Jazz relates to the spiritual," said Elkins, who began incorporating jazz into church music while in high school. "It is a craft of improvisation which allows you to create […]
Former entrepreneur helps Olympians find prize more valuable than gold
FORT WORTH, Texas (BP)--His father abandoned him before he was born. His teenage mother married a "dirt-poor" farmer who died tragically just 13 years later.
Wide range of chaplaincy skills key to Southwestern training
By Cindy Kerr, posted August 5, 1999 in
FORT WORTH, Texas (BP)–A man is in the hospital for at least two weeks, and he'll spend it alone. A woman has tried to reason with her husband to stop gambling. He won't, and she intends to take the children and leave as soon as she gets home from work. An 18-year-old soldier watches a […]

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


On Friday 10th November the team was faced with the biggest possible challenge, a home match in the Sarkar Cup against a Pendlebury team that won both the 1st Division and the Sarkar Cup last season. A tough night was in prospect for our pairings of Mike Nicholson & Des King, Clive Wood & Steve Fanning.
Steve and Clive got off to a nervy start, with Steve leading out of turn on the first board and Clive forgetting their agreed bidding system soon afterwards. Fortunately neither of these errors made any difference on the scoresheet and both Steve and Clive soon recovered their composure.
At the halfway stage the match score was very tight, with our team leading by the tiny margin of 2 IMPs with all to play for in the second half.
Things took a turn for the worse on the 16th board of the evening when the visitors bid and made an optimistic slam against Mike & Des which Steve & Clive didn't find.
However after that low point, our team came crashing back into the lead on board 17. Clive bid and made 3♥x (with Steve wisely keeping out of the auction altogether on this occasion) while Des & Mike gained a large score when their opponents had a bit of a bidding mix-up (Steve's counterpart unwisely getting involved!), ended up in an improbable contract that was doubled and comfortably defeated for a big swing in our favour.
Then followed a string of good boards for our team and we ended up winners by the large margin of 39 IMPs. This was a great performance that will undoubtedly be noticed by the other teams in the league.
The team's first match of the season was at home against the team captained by Nil Ghosh and was played on Friday 6th October 2017. Our team comprised Mike Nicholson & Steve Fanning, with Clive Wood & Paul Mercer. It is worth noting that the majority of the opposing players are very experienced and played in the league's first division last season.
After a slight delay at the start of the evening due to some traffic problems experienced by two of our opponents, play got underway at around 7:30pm.
At the halfway stage we were 20 IMPs behind but battled back well to win the second half by 9 IMPs. The overall defecit of 11 IMPs corresponds to a 13 - 7 VP defeat using the VP scale adopted by the East Lancashuire Bridge League.
Our next match will be in the Sarkar Cup, at home against the Pendlebury team (who won the first division last season!).


Marten Law, a national leader in energy and environmental law, continues its expansion with the addition of Merissa Moeller.
"Merissa brings great breadth of experience with environmental, energy and natural resources issues. She strengthens our ability to serve the growing needs of our clients in the areas of litigation, regulatory and transactional work," said Richard Allan, Portland Office Managing Partner.
Merissa advises clients on environmental and land use matters, using her experience working for state and regional natural resources agencies, the private sector, and the courts. Those diverse experiences help Merissa to place complex legal issues in a real-world context to deliver practical solutions for clients.
For additional information, please find Merissa's complete bio here.


text:
Sōsaku-hanga "creative prints" was an art movement in early 20th-century Japan. It stressed the artist as the sole creator motivated by a desire for self-expression, and advocated principles of art that is "self-drawn", "self-carved" and "self-printed". As opposed to the shin-hanga ("new prints") movement that maintained the traditional ukiyo-e collaborative system where the artist, carver, printer, and publisher engaged in division of labor, creative print artists distinguished themselves as artists creating art for art's sake.
The birth of the sōsaku-hanga movement was signaled by Kanae Yamamoto's (1882–1946) small print Fisherman in 1904. Departing from the ukiyo-e collaborative system, Kanae Yamamoto made the print solely on his own, all the way from drawing, carving and printing. Such principles of "self-drawn", "self-carved" and "self-printed" became the foundation of the creative print movement, which struggled for existence in prewar Japan along with other art movements, and gained its momentum and flourished in postwar Japan as the genuine heir of the ukiyo-e tradition.
Katsuyuki Nishijima (1945-)
'Houses in Hacho'
In 1910, Kōtarō Takamura's (1883–1956) "A Green Sun" encourages artists' individual expression: "I desire absolute freedom of art. Consequently I recognize the limitless authority of individuality of the artist ... Even if two or three artists should paint a "green sun", I would never criticize them for I myself may see a green sun". In 1912, in "Bunten and the Creative Arts" (Bunten to Geijutsu), Natsume Sōseki (1867–1916) states that "art begins with the expression of the self and ends with the expression of the self". These two essays marked the beginning of the intellectual discussion of the "self", which immediately found echo in the art scene. 1910 witnessed the first publication of a monthly magazine called White Birch (Shirakaba), the most important magazine shaping the thought of the Taishō period. Aspiring young artists organized its first exhibition in the same year. Shirakaba also sponsored exhibitions of Western art.
In its early formative years, the sōsaku-hanga movement, like many other art movements such as the shin-hanga movement, futurism and proletarian art movement, struggled to survive, experiment and sought a voice in an art scene dominated by mainstream arts that were well received by the Bunten. Hanga in general (including shin-hanga) did not achieve the status of Western oil paintings in Japan. Hanga was considered as a craft that was inferior to paintings and sculptures. Ukiyo-e woodblock prints had always been considered as mere reproductions for mass commercial consumption, as opposed to the European view of ukiyo-e as art, during the climax of Japonisme. It was impossible for sōsaku-hanga artists to make a living by just doing creative prints. Many of the later renowned sōsaku-hanga artists, such as Kōshirō Onchi (also known as the father of the creative print movement), were book illustrators and wood carvers. It was not until 1927 that hanga was accepted by the Teiten (the former Bunten). In 1935, extracurricular classes on hanga were finally permitted.
The wartime years from 1939 to 1945 was a metamorphosis for the creative print movement. The First Thursday Society, which was crucial to the postwar revival of Japanese prints, was formed in 1939 through the groups of people who gathered in the house of Kōshirō Onchi in Tokyo. The group met once a month to discuss subjects of woodblock prints. First initial members included Gen Yamaguchi (1896–1976) and Jun'ichirō Sekino (1914–1988). American connoisseurs Ernst Hacker, William Hartnett and Oliver Statler also attended. They revived Western interest in Japanese prints in the form of creative print movement. The First Thursday Collection (Ichimoku-shū), a collection of prints by members to circulate to each other, was produced in 1944. Such a group and publication provided comradeship and a venue for artistic exchange and nourishment during the difficult war years when resource was scarce and censorship severe.
Postwar creative print movement
Portrait of Hagiwara Sakutarô (Onchi Kôshirô, 1943)
The rebirth of the Japanese print coincided with the rebirth of Japan after World War II. The 1951 San Francisco Peace Treaty ended the American Occupation in Japan. During the occupation, American soldiers and their wives bought and collected Japanese prints as souvenirs. It can be said that Japanese prints became one of the components of postwar economic reconstruction. With the aim of promoting "democratic art", American patronage shifted from shin-hanga to sōsaku-hanga. By 1950, abstraction became the mode of the creative print movement in Japan. Japanese prints were perceived as genuine blending of East and West. Artists such as Kōshirō Onchi, who had shown passion for abstract expression since his early years, turned completely to abstract art after the war (abstract art had been banned by the military government during wartime). The 1951 São Paulo Art Biennial was Japan's first postwar submission to an international exhibition. Notable artists such as Shikō Munakata (1903–1975) and Naoko Matsubara (b. 1937) worked in the folk art tradition, and held one-man shows in the United States.
Contemporary Japanese prints
Contemporary Japanese prints have a rich diversity in subject matter and style. Tetsuya Noda (b. 1940) employs photography and produces everyday qualities in his prints in the form of photographic diaries. Artists such as Maki Haku (1924–2000) and Shinoda Toko (b. 1913) synthesize calligraphy and abstract expression and produce strikingly beautiful and serene images. Sadao Watanabe worked in the mingei (folk art) tradition, synthesizing Buddhist figure portrayal and Western Christianity in his unique Biblical prints.
From the 1960s onwards, the line between fine art and commercial media became blurred. Pop and conceptual artists work with professional technicians, and possibilities for innovation are endless.
Online source 'Wikipedia'
The 1951 São Paulo Art Biennial witnessed the success of the creative print movement. Both of the Japanese winners, Yamamoto and Kiyoshi Saitō(1907–1997) were printmakers, who outperformed Japanese paintings, Western-style paintings, sculptures and avant-garde. Other sōsaku-hanga artists such as Kōshirō Onchi (1891–1955), Un'ichi Hiratsuka (1895–1997), Sadao Watanabe (1913–1996) and Maki Haku (1924–2000) are also well known in the West. The creative print movement was one of the many manifestations of the rise of the individual after decades of modernization. In both artistic and literary circles, there emerged at the turn of the century expressions of the "self".


Voices of Immigrants Demonstrating Achievement (VIDA) is a resource center for friends, allies, and all students affected by issues of immigration or citizenship status. We are located in the Student Union building in room 104A. Come by and meet the people who make VIDA a welcoming student hub.
Founded in 2012, VIDA is a product of the hard work and dedication of previous generations of undocumented youth activists at City College. We are proud to be a part of the greater network of undocumented student resource centers located throughout the state of California. With the help of staff, faculty, and administrators, VIDA is growing and always welcoming new student involvement.
Our Vision: VIDA is a place of acceptance where students will find a sense of belonging, build community, and expand their network. We encourage open dialogue about citizenship status to create an empowering environment where undocumented students can achieve their educational goals!
Every Wednesday from 10:00am-2:00pm throughout the semester we have in house financial aid counseling. Come and get your financial aid questions answered by Karen Colom, our financial aid specialist.
Below is the link to our sign up sheet where you can sign up for a 30min appointment.
Below is a small sample of the type of events and engagements we organize for our student community.


Are you recognized for being creative? Do you've gotten a unique sense of non-public type or recognize the fantastic arts, music and dance? An innate sense of creativity is extremely important within the trend world. Together, artistry and creativeness can provde the instincts necessary to show uncooked materials into a beautiful finished product.


Tap The Thumbnail Bellow to See Related Gallery of "Purple Area Rugs On Shag And Trend 912 Rug Home Pertaining To 9x12 Prepare 7"
Image Title: Purple Area Rugs On Shag And Trend 912 Rug Home Pertaining To 9x12 Prepare 7. Filename: purple-area-rugs-on-shag-and-trend-912-rug-home-pertaining-to-9x12-prepare-7.jpg. Image Dimension: 1000 x 658 pixels. Images Format: jpg/jpeg. Publisher/Author: divinodessert. Uploaded Date: Tuesday - February 20th. 2018 01:06:13 AM. Category: Architecture. Image Source: digsdigs.com.


text:
Enrollment Strategies
Getting Creative to Drive Out-of-State Enrollments
Joel Wincowski | Vice President for Enrollment Management, University of Maine
Sometimes a little creativity is all it takes to buck troubling enrollment and labor market trends.
Public and private institutions across the United States tend to covet out-of-state enrollments, especially when the number of in-state high school graduates begin shrinking. The impact of these shrinking numbers means more than just budget shortfalls at universities. They can predict long-term challenges for the state's labor force and economy. However, sometimes a little creativity goes a long way. In this interview, Joel Wincowski reflects on the Flagship Match program that aims to drive out-of-state enrollment numbers at the University of Maine's flagship campus.
The EvoLLLution (Evo): What was the impetus behind creating the Flagship Match program?
Joel Wincowski (JW): The impetus behind creating the Flagship Match program was a desire to attract more out-of-state students to the University of Maine and keep the discount rate down. Flagship Match was created with the intent to attract students away from other universities by offering them a UMaine education for the same cost as their home state flagship university.
The University of Maine is a vibrant and beautiful institution with vast academic offerings. By making a compelling offer of affordability to out-of-state students, we diversify our student body, increase enrollment, and help support the Maine workforce since 22 percent of college graduates go on to stay and work in the state they studied.
Maine is the oldest state in the country and our college-age demographic is shrinking. By attracting young people to Maine to attend the University through Flagship Match, we help mitigate that demographic aging trend.
Another added benefit from launching the Flagship Match program was the high visibility that the University of Maine received in the press. By establishing this program, we created a presence in the media that was not there before, further heightening awareness of our university throughout the country. Moreover, the identification with other flagship schools enhances our image significantly; it puts us in comparison to with schools ranked higher than us.
Evo: What were some of the most significant roadblocks you faced in making this program a reality?
JW: We had tremendous support from the administration for this program after they understood the potential enrollment and discount advantages.
Trying to restructure how financial aid is done on a merit basis rather than a need-based basis poses challenges for a university system. Questions also arose regarding whether this would really yield us our class or will we come in with lower enrollment? How to market the program and create an awareness of the benefit took thoughtful analysis of trends, messaging and outreach.
There were naysayers, of course. But getting the support and buy-in from the campus community through collaborative team building helped counter any doubt. We had support from our provost, Jeff Hecker, and this helped with our internal messaging.
Evo: Since launching, what kinds of results have you been seeing as a result of the program?
JW: Since launching Flagship Match, we have seen an uptick in enrollment figures, applications, campus visits, senior inquiries and transfer students.
Total applications for 2016 were 14,623 compared to 11,552 in 2014. Enrollment saw a 38-percent increase of 399 additional non-resident students for the fall of 2016. We will see a strong increase in tuition generated revenue due to this growth.
Our discount rate has dropped to 22.7 percent for in-state students and 33.6 percent for out-of-state students, down approximately 4 percent.
Our graduate school numbers are growing as well. We also received notice in the press. Notable publications that covered Flagship Match include the Boston Globe, The Chronicle of Higher Education, University Business Magazine, The Hartford Courant and the Washington Post.
Evo: How do you see the Flagship Match program expanding and evolving over time?
JW: We have an aggressive branding and media campaign squarely focused on our current Flagship Match target audience across New England—in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont and Connecticut—as well as in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
This campaign will remain agile and modern and will evolve to attract our target audience in those states. Moreover, in 2017, we will extend Flagship Match to other states including Rhode Island, Illinois, and California. Accepting students from those states will further diversify our student body, continue to lower our discount rate and help support the Maine workforce.
By matching the in-state tuition rates at flagship public institutions in nearby states, the University of Maine has increased demand for its programming from out-of-state learners.
As the population of Maine is aging, increasing the number of out-of-state graduates will vastly improve the quality of prospective employees entering Maine's labor market.
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The Prom is probably one of the biggest moments in high school. You have to decide if you are going to have a date or go alone, what to wear, where to go before or after, and so many other important decisions. I wanted to dedicate this blog to fun and interesting ways to ask someone to the prom – whether or not as a date or a friend.
Social media is a big part of our culture these days and you could create a video by yourself or with friends to ask your date in an inventive way.
Send flowers with a note attached – all girls love flowers and I think boys even appreciate them at times!
Say it with balloons – either attach balloons to their car with the question written on it or have your friends hold balloons which spell out the question.
Decorate a locker and have the question inside their locker – it may take getting their friends in on this one!
Decorate their room – however, you will definitely need their parent's permission on this one!
Send them some cupcakes or cookies with the question spelled out on each one.
Don't forget to check out our Pinterest Account for ideas on dresses, hairstyles, makeup and much more! Good Luck!


text:
from shapely.geometry import Polygon
from shapely.geometry import Point
from shapely.geometry import LineString
import numpy as np

def _normalized(v):
    norm = np.linalg.norm(v)
    return v if norm == 0 else v/norm

class Obstacle(object):
	def __init__(self, exterior_points, buffer_size=30):
		""" exterior points = list of [x,y]
		"""
		self.polygon = Polygon(exterior_points)
		self.buffer_size = buffer_size
		self.dilated_polygon = self.polygon.buffer(buffer_size)

	def get_center_xy(self):
		return self.polygon.centroid.x, self.polygon.centroid.y

	def get_coordinates(self):
		return self.polygon.exterior.coords

	def get_dilation_coordinates(self):
		return self.dilated_polygon.exterior.coords

	def get_repulsive_vel(self, xy):
		"""
		xy = [x, y]

		return repulsion vector pointing away from the centroid
		of the obstacle. vector is scaled from 0 to 1 for strength of
		repulsion.
		"""
		point = Point(xy)
		if not self.dilated_polygon.contains(point):
			return np.asarray([0.0,0.0])

		vector_from_center = np.asarray([point.x - self.polygon.centroid.x, point.y - self.polygon.centroid.y])
		repulsion = _normalized(vector_from_center)

		# okay, now how much?
		#
		#                \              .            x - point
		#                 |              .           o - center
		#   o ------------|------> x ====.           = - distance from force_field
		#                 |              .        ---> - line from center
        #                /              .         ---| - line to boundary
        #             boundary       force_field
        #
        #  we want repulsion to be proportional to distance from force_field
        #  0 < repulsion < 1
        #  0 at force_filed
        #  1 at boundary or closer to the center
        #

		line_from_center = LineString(((point.x, point.y), (self.polygon.centroid.x, self.polygon.centroid.y)))
		line_to_boundary = self.polygon.intersection(line_from_center)

		distance_to_boundary = line_from_center.length - line_to_boundary.length
		# note that if the point has penetrated the boundary, the two lengths would be equal

		# note this is approximate because penetration may not have been at normal angle
		distance_from_force_field = self.buffer_size - distance_to_boundary
		distance_from_force_field = max(distance_from_force_field, 0) # buffer size assumed normal penetration

		# alright. now I have a distance_from_force_field that should be between 0 and buffer_size
		# rescale to 0, 1.0
		repulsion_scale = distance_from_force_field / self.buffer_size
		repulsion_scale = repulsion_scale ** 2
		return repulsion * repulsion_scale

def obstacle_from_point(xy, buffer_size=30):
	x, y = xy
	d = 5
	perimeter = [[x-d, y-d], [x+d, y-d], [x+d, y+d], [x-d,y+d]]
	return Obstacle(perimeter, buffer_size)

if __name__ == '__main__':
	o = Obstacle(((0,0), (10,0), (10,10), (0,10)))
	p = (17,17)
	print o.get_repulsive_vel(p)

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


A Detroit-based group has a container project in mind for a blighted chunk of land near Wayne State University. News of the project hit the press this morning and local citizens didn't quite know what to expect (see comments). The project is currently being called "Exceptional Green Living on Rosa Parks" and would feature containers stacked four high with windows and doors cut out into various places. In total, the 17-unit condo project would have units ranging in size from 960 – 1,920 and price from $100k – $190k. Pretty good price for a modern, green pad.
The architect, Steven Flum, designed the condos to be large and open inside. The $1.8 million project has a quasi-industrial, contemporary look to it — the colors aren't my favorite — but in addition to the design, the container condos will have a green angle as well: insulating paint, high-efficiency water heaters, and energy-saving systems, etc.
It's kind of exciting to see the number of container condo projects growing … this is definitely something we really haven't seen much of just yet.
You can read more about the project at Power of Green Housing, which website is currently under construction. Via Treehugger.
The thought of all these units going green will be a great boost to saving the Planet.
What a great way of reusing containers. Creating gree, affordable living spaces for people will not only create awareness in the industry but also raise curiosity.


text:
Violin Concerto No. 1 (Bruch)
by Max Bruch
G minor
April 24, 1866 (1866-04-24)
Max Bruch's Violin Concerto No. 1 in G minor, Op. 26, is one of the most popular violin concertos in the repertoire[1] and, along with the Scottish Fantasy, the composer's most famous work. It has been recorded often.
1.1 The fate of the score
3 Movements
4 Lasting popularity
The concerto was first completed in 1866 and the first performance was given on 24 April 1866 by Otto von Königslow, with Bruch conducting. The concerto was then considerably revised with help from celebrated violinist Joseph Joachim and completed in its present form in 1867. The premiere of the revised concerto was given by Joachim in Bremen on 5 January 1868, with Karl Martin Rheinthaler conducting.[2]
The fate of the score[edit]
Bruch sold the score to the publisher N. Simrock outright for a small lump sum — but he kept a copy of his own. At the end of World War I, he was destitute, having been unable to enforce the payment of royalties for his other works because of chaotic world-wide economic conditions. He sent his autograph to the duo-pianists Rose and Ottilie Sutro (for whom he had written his Concerto in A-flat minor for Two Pianos and Orchestra, Op. 88a, in 1912), so that they could sell it in the United States and send him the money. Bruch died in October 1920, without ever receiving any money. The Sutro sisters decided to keep the score themselves, but they claimed to have sold it, and sent Bruch's family some worthless German paper money as the alleged proceeds of the alleged sale. They always refused to divulge any details of the supposed purchaser. In 1949, they sold the autograph to Mary Flagler Cary, whose collection, including the Bruch concerto, now resides at the Pierpont Morgan Public Library in New York City.[3]
Instrumentation[edit]
The work is scored for solo violin and a standard classical orchestra consisting of two flutes, two oboes, two clarinets, two bassoons, four horns, two trumpets, timpani, and strings.[2]
Movements[edit]
This section possibly contains original research. Please improve it by verifying the claims made and adding inline citations. Statements consisting only of original research should be removed. (April 2012) (Learn how and when to remove this template message)
The concerto is in three movements:
Vorspiel: Allegro moderato (in G minor)
Adagio (in E-flat major)
Finale: Allegro energico (in G major)
The first movement is unusual in that it is a Vorspiel, a prelude, to the second movement and is directly linked to it. The piece starts off slowly, with the melody first taken by the flutes, and then the solo violin becomes audible with a short cadenza. This repeats again, serving as an introduction to the main portion of the movement, which contains a strong first theme and a very melodic, and generally slower, second theme. The movement ends as it began, with the two short cadenzas more virtuosic than before, and the orchestra's final tutti flows into the second movement, connected by a single low note from the first violins.
The slow second movement is often admired for its melody, and is generally considered to be the heart of the concerto. The themes, presented by the violin, are underscored by a constantly moving orchestra part, keeping the movement alive and helping it flow from one part to the next.
The third movement, the finale, opens with an intense, yet quiet, orchestral introduction that yields to the soloist's statement of the energetic theme in brilliant double stops. It is very much like a dance that moves at a comfortably fast and energetic tempo. The second subject is a fine example of Romantic lyricism, a slower melody which cuts into the movement several times, before the dance theme returns with its fireworks. The piece ends with a huge accelerando, leading to a fiery finish that gets higher as it gets faster and louder and eventually concludes with two short, yet grand, chords.
Lasting popularity[edit]
Bruch also composed two more violin concertos, but neither has gained as much fame as his first, which continues to be very popular in both repertoire and audience terms. In 1996, it was voted the number one work in the Classic FM (UK) Hall of Fame by the station's listeners.[4] In its profile of Bruch, Classic FM described the violin concerto as "one of the best works of the Romantic period".[5]
In October 2019, the concerto was the subject of BBC Radio 4's Tales from the Stave with Joshua Bell seeing the original manuscript for the first time.[6]
^ Ezard, John (April 25, 2000). "Bruch still No 1 in classic hall of fame". The Guardian. Retrieved June 18, 2017.
^ a b Steinberg, M. The Concerto: A Listener's Guide, OUP (1998)
^ "Knoxville Symphony Orchestra program notes – Beethoven & Bruch". Archived from the original on July 13, 2011. Retrieved June 18, 2017.
^ Nicholas, J. Classic FM Guide to Classical Music (1997), page 329.
^ Nicholas, J. Classic FM Guide to Classical Music (1997), page 97.
^ "Tales from the Stave: Max Bruch's Violin Concerto". BBC. Retrieved 10 October 2019.
Violin Concerto No.1, Op.26: Scores at the International Music Score Library Project (IMSLP)
Potter, Tully (2016). Bruch: Violin Concerto Nº. 1 & other works (PDF) (CD). Hyperion Records. CDA68060.
Steinberg, Michael. "BRUCH: Concerto No. 1 in G minor for Violin and Orchestra, Opus 26". San Francisco Symphony Orchestra. Archived from the original on 2013-04-17. Retrieved June 18, 2017. Interesting program notes by Michael Steinberg about Joseph Joachim's evaluation of this and a few other violin concertos.
Bruch Violin Concerto No. 1 in G minor, Op. 26 played by Ida Haendel: Movement 1, Movement 2, Movement 3. 2005 recording with orchestra conducted by Igor Gruppman.
Concertos by Max Bruch
No. 1 in G minor, Op. 26
No. 2 in D minor, Op. 44
Other concertos
Concerto for Clarinet, Viola, and Orchestra in E minor, Op. 88
Concerto for Two Pianos and Orchestra in A-flat minor, Op. 88a
List of compositions by Max Bruch
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Violin_Concerto_No._1_(Bruch)&oldid=920608647"
1866 compositions
Compositions in G minor
Articles that may contain original research from April 2012
All articles that may contain original research
Works with IMSLP links
Articles with International Music Score Library Project links


Bookworms would testify that every book is a trip to another dimension. In one chapter you can be in Hogwarts or another flip of the page you could already be in New Delhi, India.
Books can literally take you in a whole variety of adventures with your imaginations.
However, books are not necessarily for entertainment use only.
If you read the right book, it can offer you more than entertainment. Well-researched novels that based chapters in facts are the best tutorial books the world can offer. Not only will you be entertained but you will also pick something up from the character's point of view to the description of the setting.
There are thousands of books in the market that would want you to buy their travel book. But actually only a few them are worth the glance. To help you narrow down the choices of what book fits your traveling buds, here's a list of travel books that could help give you tips on your next journey.
Written by one of the pioneers of Beat Generation, Jack Kerouac sets the travel theme of the novel "On the Road" in a friendly tune. It is filled with a sense of adventure and care-free attitude characters.
Sal Paradise and his friend Dean Moriarty travels across the USA. Both living a pretty morally ill life with drugs and deceitful behaviors, they try to live a life of what they deemed as "freedom." It's probably one of the books about travel and self-discovery. It will make you reflect and dream.
If you are one of the people who sought to see the realities of the USA in another picture, this book could prepare your heart. How about retracing the travels of Sal and Dean with your own gang? Just be extra mindful of your own actions and manners and don't copy those two.
If you are more into breath-taking and thrilling adventures, Dan Brown's Inferno should do the trick. The adventures and the travels of the Harvard Professor Robert Langdon in the trails of Europe is an epic you can't miss. Dan Brown used famous landscapes rediscovering and reinterpreting the histories surrounding these places.
This thrilling book is well-researched. It is hard to say if Dan Brown is still referring to fictional events or facts. He used an introduction stating how essential factors used in his book are true. It can scare you, but it can also open another point of view inside you.
Surely, it would be enough of a teaser to make you go look for the clues of inferno yourself. If you've been to the said places in the books, perhaps it would make you want to visit it again and see the whole venue in another picture. The other Dan Brown novels have equally interesting plots of chasing and being chased; perhaps better than Tom and Jerry.
Do you love to play Little Detective without missing the fun? Are you attracted to friendzone-themed novels? Then pick up and read John Green's Paper Town. Although the plot is best understood in a three-book series, the storyline is definitely worth it.
From how devoted Quentin is to follow the clues that Margo left behind for him to the mysteriousness that enveloped Margo herself.
The storyline is said to be addicting, and it embodies a lot of youthful traveling pictures. It teaches the value of friendship and wonders of falling in love while searching the worlds with a minivan.
Heading to the East, this book narrates the diversified society of India. Unlike the other books mentioned in this article, this story is much more based on Macdonald's experience in India rather than imagination.
The travels of the young journalist in the country witnessing different religion from one street to another, she describes the different traditions in the country.
If you want your eyes to be open with the plurality of this world in so many things, this book would surely help. India itself is a county of varying belief and superstition. This country is very much one of the best examples of diversity, especially in today's time.
And of course, diversity isn't just something that is in India.
Diversity is in everywhere. And if you plan to travel abroad, be prepared to meet this diversity. Be open to culture clashes and other similar situations that may happen while traveling.
The story revolves around the life of a young man with not much in his hand but with a heart full of confidence to seek adventure. Laurie Lee was able to capture the pictures of Spain before the Spanish Civil War in the eyes of a young man wandering in its borders. This book is said to have best portrayed the wonders of Spanish society.
And what makes "As I walked out One Midsummer Morning" one of the best travel books of all time is that it embarks a sensation of want to the reader – a desire. A desire to go out there and explore the world beyond your box.
How the young man only has a violin, a blanket, and a phrase of Spanish with him enjoyed his exploring in Spain. And its outskirts speak volumes of a traveler's heart. It is one of the most recommended books out there to awaken your heart's desire of exploring defeating fear inside you.
Books can be your ticket to another dimension. Your imagination can do the trick on an adventurous trip. But, isn't it better to feel all those imagined things before you? Imagining the description given by these artistic authors is one thing. But feeling the experience yourself is on a different level of adventure.
These books would not only be a trigger to the wanderlust inside you. But it would also help you reimagine the story embedded in the settings of the stories. The minor details about the venue of the story would also prepare you to the society in the locals.
Don't be stuck in your imaginary paradise. Book that ticket. Board that plane, and start an adventure yourself. Do you have any best books about travels you want to share with us?


text:
College Girl Kills Newborn, Puts Body in a Plastic Bag, and Throws it in Trash Outside of Sorority House
29 Jul, 2015 by	Cassy Fiano
There may be nothing more horrific than the murder of a baby. But that's allegedly what one college girl did just moments after giving birth — she murdered her newborn by putting her in a plastic bag, and then dumped her in a trash can outside of her sorority house.
The identity of the mother accuse of killing her newborn daughter at a college in Ohio has been revealed.
Emile Weaver allegedly put her baby in a plastic bag shortly after giving birth and then threw her in a trash can outside of her sorority house at Muskingum University in Zanesville.
The baby was still alive at the time, and ultimately suffocated to death.
The Columbus Dispatch reports that campus police questioned Weaver on April 22 just hours after the baby was deposited in the bin outside the Delta Gamma Theta house.
Weaver, 20, was a member of the sorority.
She was indicted last Wednesday on charges of aggravated murder, as well as abuse of a corpse and two counts of tampering with evidence.
Weaver was arrested at her house shortly after and is being held on $1million bail.
She is facing life in prison.
Causing further outrage is the fact that since 2001 Ohio has had a Safe Haven law, meaning that mothers are protected from prosecution if they leave their baby at a fire station or with a police officer or hospital worker within 30 days of the child's birth as long as the baby exhibits no signs of abuse.
Furthermore, mothers can drop off their baby anonymously.
'It's extremely hurtful,' said Dave Boyer, director of Muskingum County Children Services.
'What a hurtful tragedy to think that a newborn could be given a chance at a healthy, stable life by doing nothing more than saying, 'I can't do this. Can you take her?' It's breathtakingly tragic.'
There was literally no reason that this baby had to die, and yet she did — that someone could be so monstrous is terrifying to contemplate. No infant should be robbed of their life before they've even had the chance to live.


text:
Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit Reunions
(Southestern Records) Buy it from Insound
On Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit's last tour, he premiered Overseas, one of the most heartbreaking songs he's ever written—one that opened with a wailing guitar lead, humming keys, and a tone that felt more concerning than anything he's put out in years. There's a lot to be distressed about these days, but this new song made that confusion sound personal. It seemed as if something was going on at home with our newest capital-G Great American Songwriter. That worrying song has a remarkable hook that repeats "My love won't change," like the narrator is trying to convince his partner and himself of this half-truth. Featured on Reunions, his seventh album, it's a first-rate release of anxiety, fear, and hope.
Isbell recently discussed those worries that built Reunions in a fascinating New York Times article, but it didn't affect the album's quality. While the crazy highs of 2015's Something More Than Free and 2017's The Nashville Sound aren't necessarily here, each song is firmly excellent in a way that most songwriters and bands can't dream of. At 41 minutes, this album covers every type of song Isbell does best; from tight rockers to disappointed country tunes, Reunions hits the spot. Opener What've I Done to Help tries to stay positive in a period of crisis, but trucks ahead with apprehensive energy. By the time the wall of harmonies and textured backing from the 400 Unit comes in, there's a swelling sadness that makes it unforgettable. The aforementioned Overseas is probably the album's best rock straightforward tune, but the hopeful It Gets Easier gives it solid competition. Isbell's relationship with alcohol is well documented, taking an approach that could be saccharine if anyone less than a master was writing it. On the chorus, Isbell tries to convince a drinker that "It gets easier but it never gets easy" over heartland rock that would make Tom Petty proud.
Still, it wouldn't be Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit without some wistful country songs, and Reunions delivers in spades. The nostalgic and slightly bittersweet Dreamsicle is one of the album's strongest moments, supplemented by touches of pedal steel on the chorus, Amanda Shires' great harmonies, and rustling drums, but the main draw here is a striking tale of having to drift through childhood. The song is supported by some of Isbell's best imagery ever, led by specific youthful details meandering their way through the story. The same can be said for Only Children, which is just as good, with a sharper instrumental approach and a happy chorus that gives away to distinct melancholy. Isbell manages to pull off a minor miracle on album closer Letting You Go, taking a cliched topic and turning it into a moving song. With cozy electric guitars and a kindly vocal delivery, he directly addresses his daughter and what it's like to watch her grow without letting the content ever seem standard. It's somehow one of the most heartfelt songs he's ever written.
Reunions feels most understandable through the lead single, Be Afraid, which has the giant rallying call of "Be afraid, but do it anyway." Jason Isbell is a man of many demons, and each of those are noticeable throughout the album, but he tries to engage with them in a healthy way. He talks about uncertainty in his marriage on the haunted Running With Our Eyes Closed, and finds it difficult opening up on the comforting River, but it never feels like it comes from a helpless perspective. He talks about moving forward and working on these issues, leading to a beautiful thing that's communicated on Reunions. He's afraid, but he'll do it anyway.
20 May, 2020 - 04:33 — Ethan Gordon