I've been trying to gather the courage to post this up all day. I'm not going to tag anyone, but I'd appreciate if those that follow me would offer opinions and such if they see it. So, this entire day has been spent replying to an idiot that posits that one can not defend oneself from an attack by an unarmed person with deadly force. That we are not allowed to defend against a 'punch' and that the 'smaller man' just has to 'take a beating'. I've had to battle with my anger and passion over this topic, which has come out in my posts, so I feel the need to explain why and gain some measure of catharsis in so doing. I have PTSD and severe depression. There are many contributing factors to this, but I am going to tell you about the major incident that completely ruined my life and was the formation of my strong feelings on the topic of self defense. So here goes... Idiots who belittle the right to defend oneself or sayu 'you have to take a beating' are pushing the same mindset as my 'chain of command' when I was savagely beaten and sexually assaulted in the barrack showers as a teeenager fresh in the military. Not only was I told that my assailant was not a threat and I had to learn to 'take a beating' but I was threatened with consequences if I didn't keep my mouth shut on the topic. I was threatened with being sent to Leavenworth, because it was the 80s, I was fighting with my sexuality (I'm LGBT and primarily gay), and my assailant had seen me in town earlier talking to a man who was hitting on me. So he waited till I was in the barrack showers, unable to see (I wore glasses at the time) then rushed in there, beat me bloody as I couldn't see to fight back, kicked me several times with the boots he was wearing, then attempted to and partially succeeded in sexually assaulting me with a foreign object. I reported it, expecting justice and understanding, but instead we both got Article 15s (nonjudicial punishment) for 'fighting in the barracks. I was told if I fought back against that or demanded a court-martial, I'd be investigated, dishonorably discharged if it was found I was homosexual, and sent to Leavenworth for my sexuality (which again, I was fighting against / trying to deny already). Just the thing a person who'd just turned 18 in the Military wanted to experience (I'd joined at 17 to escape a physically abusive family). That unit was very proactive in going after perceived gays, because later on (while we were in Germany) they discharged and sent an NCO to Leavenworth for being caught out as gay. So I spent my early years in service not only fearful of what would happen to me if I dared be who I really was, but also learning to 'take a beating'. As one can imagine, that incident and my career in the military has not only given me PTSD but also severe depression at this stage in my life.... Not to mention making me particularly acerbic when someone claims a person is 'required to take a beating' from them or wants to violate my inherent rights. If you have thoughts, please feel free to share them, though I will hide and block personal attacks. If you want to know what state I am in these days and how I am coping, please feel free to check out this post:

@noahreineke @cailleach_feasa @TaraBull808 A free people do not answer to you nor your religion cupcake. We don't need your approval or permission to read / view literature / imagery. Deal with and cry more.

@CTr0bot @TruthSeekingDi @John_Beckham14

@Freefromantics @ConInsurgent @cailleach_feasa @TaraBull808 Maybe because a free people don't answer to you nor do they need your permission you utter fucktard?

@piyushmittal

@WynnTheImp @piyushmittal

@JoJoFromJerz

@OstateJay @BenKingNTU @FuturistDog @waltywang @repdarrellissa Did I fucking stutter you fucktard? We aren't gonna let you hide your grift, theft of taxpayer dollars, and corruption behind a facade of 'rule of law' any longer. Cope some more about it bitch.

RT @dawgg69: @Oilfield_Rando Jesus, what are putting in crayons these days????

@QandFrends @JohnStag86404 @lamps_apple @JessicaTarlov That was already done you utter fucktard:

@BenKingNTU @FuturistDog @waltywang @repdarrellissa The 'judge' is a partisan hack and there are plenty of legal minds telling him he is full of shit. But nicely pathetic attempt at an appeal to authority cupcake. It was good for a laugh. Keep coping though.

@BenKingNTU @FuturistDog @waltywang @repdarrellissa Here's the thing: It's not illegal.

@QandFrends @JohnStag86404 @lamps_apple @JessicaTarlov You are so wrong it is actually funny. Try again cupcake.

@CavalrySportsc1 @utamav @lamps_apple @JessicaTarlov Yup...but if any further access was needed, Trump could simply grant it to him. These idiots think that some unnamed board of bureaucrats are the sole / highest authority to grant clearances...and can somehow override the President.

@FletcherHe36611 @lamps_apple @JessicaTarlov As President, it is definitely within Trump's power to grant anyone security clearance. Even if Elon Musk and his team didn't have clearances before, Trump could give them access now with the stroke of a pen, which is perfectly legal and constitutional. Did you not know that?

@JohnStag86404 @lamps_apple @JessicaTarlov As President, it is definitely within Trump's power to grant anyone security clearance. Even if Elon Musk and his team didn't have clearances before, Trump could give them access now with the stroke of a pen, which is perfectly legal and constitutional. Did you not know that?

@JohnStag86404 @utamav @lamps_apple @JessicaTarlov As President, it is definitely within Trump's power to grant anyone security clearance. Even if Elon Musk and his team didn't have clearances before, Trump could give them access now with the stroke of a pen, which is perfectly legal and constitutional. Did you not know that?

@utamav @lamps_apple @JessicaTarlov As President, it is definitely within Trump's power to grant anyone security clearance. Even if Elon Musk and his team didn't have clearances before, Trump could give them access now with the stroke of a pen, which is perfectly legal and constitutional. Did you not know that?

As President, it is definitely within Trump's power to grant anyone security clearance. Even if Elon Musk and his team didn't have clearances before, Trump could give them access now with the stroke of a pen, which is perfectly legal and constitutional. Did you not know that? I wouldn't call anyone else 'dumb' if I were you.

@fxshea62 @lamps_apple @JessicaTarlov As President, it is definitely within Trump's power to grant anyone security clearance. Even if Elon Musk and his team didn't have clearances before, Trump could give them access now with the stroke of a pen, which is perfectly legal and constitutional. Did you not know that?

@JbarGarden @IamBlake19 @JessicaTarlov False. The President can grant a security clearance to anyone he wants....did you not know that?