by Jack Cashill, American Thinker: Incredibly, U.S. Capitol Police captain Michael Byrd, the cop who shot J6 protester Ashli Babbitt, appears to have been extorting the Democrats for favors, including a promotion.  Even more incredibly, leading House Democrats have obliged him.  Much of this bizarre saga Rep. Barry Lourdermilk (R-GA) has documented in a detailed letter to U.S. Capitol […]

by Doug Mainwaring, LifeSite News: ‘The scale of this surveillance is staggering,’ warns a startling new report from the House Judiciary Committee. ‘The federal government used sweeping terms like ‘MAGA’ and ‘TRUMP’ to flag Americans, even treating the purchase of Bibles or firearms as signs of ‘extremism’.’ WASHINGTON, D.C. (LifeSiteNews) — A startling report from […]

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If a recent survey is any indication, significant numbers of American voters are shockingly ill-informed about the reality of gun violence. The survey—conducted by RMG Research Inc. on behalf of the Napolitan News Service—asked registered voters whether they believed that school shootings or gang violence led to more gun deaths every year. A staggering one-third (35%) of respondents blamed school shootings for more gun deaths, while an additional 11% were unsure which factor bears more responsibility for fatal gun violence.  That’s a problem. First, it’s clear that gun control groups are leading Americans to both greatly overestimate just how often school shootings occur and underestimate just how safe the nation’s students and teachers are when it comes to gun violence on campus. Despite the enormous and understandable media attention garnered by shootings on school campuses, those events are far too rare to plausibly constitute a leading cause of gun deaths. That’s true even when using the intentionally overbroad definitions of “school shooting” that many gun control groups have pushed in recent years to inflate the number of school shooting deaths. Take, for example, the database of “gunfire on school grounds” compiled by the gun control group Everytown for Gun Safety, which includes within its parameters any discharge of a firearm that occurred on property owned by any educational organization, at any time of day, and under any set of circumstances. According to that database, in 2023, 45 people died as a result of a gun being fired on school grounds. While all 45 of those deaths are tragic in their own right, they amount to less than 1/10 of 1% of the more than 46,000 Americans who, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, died from gunshot injuries that year. That’s all the more remarkable, given the number of people on a school campus on any given day. Nearly 55 million students attend the nation’s 115,000 private and public K-12 schools, which employ millions more teachers, administrators, and staff members. Combine that with the 19 million students enrolled in more than 3,500 degree-granting colleges and universities (as well as their 3 million employees), and well over 90 million Americans—more than a quarter of the entire population—spend significant portions of their waking hours on or around property owned by an educational facility. Moreover, many of these 45 deaths occurred under circumstances that bear shockingly little resemblance to a “school shooting,” as ordinary Americans commonly understand that phrase. Everytown’s death tally includes suicides, unintentional discharges, and legal interventions, as well as numerous cases in which adult suspects fatally shot adult victims during criminal confrontations that just happened to take place on property owned by a school district, college, or university. Many times, no one involved in the shooting was affiliated with the school, and no one affiliated with the school was ever endangered. A significant number of the fatal shootings happened well outside of classroom hours—overnight, on weekends, or during times when the school otherwise wasn’t in session and no students or staff members were present. Perhaps no incident included as “gun death on school property” could better exemplify how unmoored these numbers are from any true measure of student safety than the lone death on a K-12 campus in Georgia in 2023. A man with a history of domestic violence kidnapped his 19-year-old ex-girlfriend at gunpoint from a restaurant. He led police on a high-speed car chase into a neighboring county before officers used a precision immobilization technique (PIT) maneuver to disable his vehicle, which then stalled at the entrance of a middle school parking lot. The man fatally shot the victim during a subsequent shootout with police. It was 11 p.m., on a Sunday night in July. Was this woman’s death tragic and likely preventable? Yes. But it tells us absolutely nothing about the relative risk of gun violence to students and staff during the school day. And, relevant for purposes of the Napolitan poll in particular, Everytown’s death total also includes at least four gang-related shooting deaths that incidentally occurred at or near a school. Two of those deaths, for example, occurred during a January double homicide outside of an alternative educational program facility in Des Moines, Iowa, that prosecutors say stemmed from “rival gang affiliations.” Several other fatal shootings that weren’t specifically labeled as “gang-related” nonetheless involved suspects with known gang affiliations or extensive criminal histories. Second, it’s clear that many Americans still misunderstand just how significant a role gang violence plays in the nation’s overall gun violence problem, especially compared with school shootings. Major jurisdictions that track homicide motives routinely report that substantial percentages of homicides every year are attributable to gang members and gang violence. In 2023, the city of Los Angeles identified 154 of the year’s 327 homicides as “gang-related” deaths. That same year, the Chicago Police Department reported that of the 411 homicides in the city for which a motive could be discerned, 148 could be categorized as “gang altercations.” Assuming that three-quarters of these gang-related homicides were, as with all homicides, carried out using firearms (likely an underestimation, given that gang-related violence is more likely to involve firearms compared with other types of violent crime), that would mean that those two cities alone suffered from an estimated 226 gang-related gun deaths in 2023. That’s roughly five times the number of all gun deaths on school property recorded by Everytown’s database that year for the entire nation.   Nor is 2023 unique in this regard. Between 2019 and 2022, the Chicago Police Department reported 943 criminal homicides for which “gang altercation” was identified as the underlying motive. The real number is almost certainly higher, as at least some percentage of the additional 880 deaths for which no motive could be established were also likely gang-related. During that same period, Everytown’s database recorded 173 deaths due to gunfire on school grounds across the entire United States. The fact that so many American voters so drastically misunderstand the nature of gun violence in this country is disheartening. When voters don’t understand the reality of a problem, it’s significantly harder to get them—and policymakers—on board with public policy solutions that actually address the real issues and thereby increase public safety. It’s why we as a nation routinely bite hook, line, and sinker into blanket calls to “just do something” after any tragedy involving firearms. If we don’t understand what’s wrong, it’s easy to be persuaded that anything is a “solution.” The post Survey Confirms Americans Still Shockingly Ill-Informed About Gun Deaths appeared first on The Daily Signal.

The Husqvarna Svartpilen 401 scrambler (above) and Vitpilen 401 roadster have been updated with a new engine, chassis, and tech. (Photos by Kevin Wing) When the Husqvarna Svartpilen 401 and Vitpilen 401 debuted back in 2018, they stood apart from the usual crowd of new bikes with hard-to-pronounce Swedish names and minimalist neo-retro styling. Their sculpted body panels that ran from the tank to the subframe and stubby tailsections were modern, but their single round headlights and spoked wheels had an old-school vibe. The Husqvarna Svartpilen 401 (right) and Vitpilen 401 (lef) are the same except for styling, wheels, and tires. While their names might sound like a set of bookcases you’d find at Ikea, Svartpilen means “black arrow” and Vitpilen means “white arrow” in Husqvarna’s Swedish mother tongue. To avoid any confusion, the Svartpilen comes in black/gray and the Vitpilen comes in white. Both are built on the same platform as the KTM 390 Duke, which got a major update for 2024 that carries over to the ’Pilens. The ‘Pilens are powered by the same 399cc LC4c Single found in the KTM 390 Duke. Their shared single-cylinder engine has a 4mm-longer stroke, bumping displacement from 373cc to 399cc and boosting output to 44 hp (up from 43) and 28.8 lb-ft of torque (up from 27). The engine also has a new cylinder head, revised fuel injection, and an updated airbox. Gear changes are smoother thanks to changes to the 6-speed transmission, which is mated to a slip/assist clutch. And the Easy Shift up/down quickshifter is now standard equipment. The tubular-steel trellis frame is stiffer, and the rear shock has been moved to the right side of the bike. Wrapped around the engine is a new steel trellis frame with more torsional rigidity than its predecessor. Both the frame and the new curved cast-aluminum swingarm were designed so the rear shock could be mounted on the left side of the bike, which enables a lower seat height (32.2 inches, down from 32.9) and space for the new exhaust system’s chamber ahead of the rear wheel. The Svartpilen 401 has spoked wheels that require tubes and Pirelli Scorpion Rally STR adventure tires. Both bikes are equipped with WP Apex suspension, with 5.9 inches of travel front and rear. The 43mm inverted open-cartridge fork has separate damping functions, with compression in the left tube and rebound in the right tube. Convenient tool-less fork-top adjusters allow five clicks of damping adjustability, but spring preload is fixed. The rear shock allows five clicks of rebound adjustability with a flathead screwdriver, and it has a ramped collar that allows 10 steps of preload adjustment using a spanner (both tools are in the toolkit). Atop the fork caps are convenient finger-turn clickers for rebound and compression adjustment. The rear shock is adjustable for spring preload and rebound damping. In addition to the lower seat height, the Vitpilen’s clip-on handlebars, which were mounted below the triple clamp in the past, have been replaced with an upright handlebar like the Svartpilen’s, though with a slightly lower rise to suit its roadster style. This gives both bikes a comfortable upright seating position. Both bikes have a tapered aluminum handlebar, and the Svartpilen’s (shown) has a slightly taller rise. The main differences between the ’Pilens are styling and wheel/tire fitment. The Vitpilen leans into the roadster theme with 17-inch cast-aluminum wheels shod with Michelin Power 6 sport tires. The scrambler-ish Svartpilen rolls on 17-inch spoked wheels wrapped in Pirelli Scorpion Rally STR knobby tires. With short wheelbases, sporty geometry, and low weight, the 401s are feisty little canyon carvers. Gear Up Helmet: Arai Corsair-X Jacket: Joe Rocket Alliance Airbag Vest: Alpinestars Tech-Air 5 Gloves: Joe Rocket Seeker Pants: Joe Rocket Anthem Jeans Boots: Joe Rocket Sonic X 2024 Husqvarna Svartpilen 401 Husqvarna hosted a launch for the 401s that allowed us to ride one bike in the morning and the other in the afternoon. After loading up on caffeine and carbs at the breakfast bar, I threw a leg over the Svartpilen. The Husqvarna Svartpilen 401’s scrambler style includes spoked wheels, knobby tires, and a small skid plate. Bikes like these always feel diminutive for a 6-foot-1, 210-lb guy like me, but by no means do they feel cramped. Their handlebars have just the right amount of height and width, and their narrow seats make it easy to flat-foot at stops. As naked bikes, they are free from the visual mass of a fairing. Weighing just 341 lb for the Vitpilen and 351 lb for the Svartpilen, they are slender, compact, and purposeful. The Svartpilen’s spoked wheels, chunkier tires, flyscreen, skid plate, and passenger grab bar account for its extra weight. The 5-inch TFT color display has vivid graphics that make it easy to navigate settings and menus. For bikes priced at just $5,899, the ’Pilens are equipped with some nice tech features. In addition to the quickshifter, they have throttle-by-wire that enables two ride modes (Street and Rain), lean-sensitive traction control with three modes (Street, Rain, and Off), and cornering ABS with two modes (Road and Supermoto; the latter disables rear ABS). They also have a 5-inch bonded-glass TFT full-color instrument panel, a Bluetooth connectivity system, a USB-C charging port, and LED lighting. Deer Creek Road, which rises steeply from the Pacific Coast Highway, is a fantastic road for testing bikes. The launch for these bikes was in California’s coastal Santa Monica Mountains, aka the Malibu hills, which are north of Los Angeles and have been used as one of our go-to testing and photography locations since Rider was founded in 1974. Familiarity with these roads allowed me to focus more on the bikes than what was around the next bend. In Street mode, the Svartpilen has quick throttle response, and the 399cc Single spins up quickly. The WP Apex suspension on the ‘Pilens is quality hardware, and the adjustability is a real plus at this price range. With a modest 44 hp that peaks at 8,500 rpm, keeping the engine revved up is essential for fast cornering. Comimg out of a corner in a gear too high or allowing the revs to drop kills one’s drive, so it pays to keep the throttle cranked and to give the quickshifter a workout. Therein lays the appeal of the ‘Pilens: rider engagement. On bigger bikes you can short-shift and get lazy, but the 401s demand the rider’s full attention and input to squeeze the most out of them. With a short wheelbase, sporty steering geometry, and narrow tires (110/70-R17 front, 150/60-R17 rear), the Svartpilen bends into and out of corners effortlessly, and it transitions from side to side with confident ease. The entire exhaust system is tucked under the bike, helping to keep mass low and centralized. With rear preload set for my weight and the clickers clicked for a firm ride, the suspension smoothed out the dips and cracks that are so common in the Malibu canyons. 2024 Husqvarna Svartpilen 401 The Pirelli Scorpion Rally STRs have large tread blocks that gripped the pavement well, and they weren’t noisy like some knobbies can be. Single-disc brakes front and rear with steel-braided lines are supplied by ByBre, with an opposed 4-piston radial front caliper pinching a 320mm disc and 2-piston floating rear caliper pinching a 240mm disc. Braking power and feel were satisfactory, but given my husky weight and the pace of competitive, caffeine-addled motojournalists, I swear I could hear the brake pads groan in pain each time I gorilla-gripped the lever. The Vitpilen 401’s Michelin Power 6 tires give it a slightly sportier edge over the Svartpilen. 2024 Husqvarna Vitpilen 401 Nearly all the riding impressions above also apply to the Vitpilen. Except for the color of their bodywork and the Svartpilen’s slightly taller handlebar and wee screen peaking above the TFT instrument panel, you can’t tell the difference between them from the saddle. They sound the same, feel the same, and respond the same. 2024 Husqvarna Vitpilen 401 What it really comes down to is tires. The Vitpilen’s Michelin Power 6 tires are smoother, grippier, and have a more responsive profile than the Svartpilen’s Pirelli knobbies. Both are premium tires, so the difference isn’t night and day. But the Michelins sharpen the steering and feel more stable when leaned over in corners, which imparts more confidence to the rider. The single-disc front brake could use more power, or maybe I should just lose some weight. Both bikes are a lot of fun to ride and are suitable for a wide range of riders. Their size and price naturally make them seem like they’re intended for new or young riders, but an experienced old guy like me would love to have one in my garage. But which one? They’re priced the same and they offer nearly the same riding experience, so what it comes down to is styling preference – and tubeless versus tube-type tires. I love scramblers, so the Svartpilen would be my first choice based purely on styling. But its spoked wheels require tubes, which are a real headache when it comes to roadside flat repair. Black arrow or white arrow? You can’t go wrong with either one. For my money, I’d buy a Vitpilen, and then I’d dig into Husqvarna’s accessory catalog to turn it into a street scrambler. I’d add a flyscreen, headlight protector, crash bars, radiator grille, and lever protectors, and when the Michelin Road 6s wear out, I’d replace them with some semi-knobby tires to complete the look. 2024 Husqvarna Svartpilen 401 / Vitpilen 401 Specs Base Price: $5,899 Website: HusqvarnaMotorcycles.com Warranty: 2 yrs., unltd. miles Engine Type: Liquid-cooled, transverse Single, DOHC w/ 4 valves per cyl. Displacement: 399cc Bore x Stroke: 89 x 64mm Horsepower: 44 hp @ 8,500 rpm (factory claim) Torque: 28.8 lb-ft @ 7,000 rpm (factory claim) Transmission: 6-speed, cable-actuated slip/assist wet clutch Final Drive: Chain Wheelbase: 53.9 in. Rake/Trail: 24 degrees/3.7 in. Seat Height: 32.2 in. Wet Weight: 351 lb / 341 lb Fuel Capacity: 3.4 gal. The post 2024 Husqvarna Svartpilen 401 and Vitpilen 401 Review appeared first on Rider Magazine.

Thousands of renowned doctors and medical specialists from around the globe are calling for the immediate suspension of mRNA vaccines, citing alarming health risks, including a significant rise in heart attacks, blood clots, and an [...] The post Thousands of Doctors Demand Suspension of mRNA ‘Vaccines’ Due to Surge in Turbo Cancer and Excess Deaths appeared first on The People's Voice.