ChrisKnight – Page 52 – The Wacky World of Chris Knight

2007/12/162008/07/22

What ever happened to Proximate Cause?

This is just nuts. Involuntary manslaughter is a charge associated with a direct action that has a harmful effect, such as an automobile accident. There is no way that a reasonable human being could have forseen that running away would have caused the police officer to have a heart attack. The way the story reads, the officer didn’t even try to chase him down; he had his heart attack while cuffing one of the suspects who remained at the scene.

I have to wonder… Had this police officer ended his shift without incident, and proceeded to the local strip club for a little ‘relaxation’, would charges had been filed if he had his heart attack while getting a lap dance? Who would they charge? The dancer? The club owner?

What if he had his heart attack watching Monday Night Football? Do you charge the NFL with his death, or Direct TV, or the maker of his television set?

How about the deli owner that served the guy a bacon and three-cheese sandwich for lunch for the last six years? Let’s charge him with involuntary manslaughter a well.

There are a hundred factors that lead to heart conditions, including genetics. Will they press charges against the officer’s parents if they have a history of heart disease?

Maybe they should charge the doctor who failed to detect the heart condition and order him to desk duty?

I’m not saying the guy should have run, but it is vindictive and petty to charge him in the officer’s death.

-Chris

Suspect Tried to Help Stricken Deputy

By MEG KINNARD, Associated Press Writer
12-14 21:58 PST Columbia, S.C. AP —

A passenger handcuffed after a car chase with police early Friday tried to save a sheriffs deputy who had suffered a fatal heart attack moments after arresting him, authorities said.

Police later arrested the driver of the car, who fled after the 5:30 a.m. chase. He has been charged with involuntary manslaughter in the deputys death, authorities said.

Deputy Darral Lane, 41, tried to stop the car after noticing some suspicious activity at a convenience store, authorities said. The car sped off and stopped behind a house after about two miles.

The driver ran into a nearby wooded area, and Lane drew his gun and ordered the other two men inside to the ground, said police, who watched video taken by the camera in Lanes cruiser.

Lane handcuffed one man and then crumpled to the ground, Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott said. “He falls to his knees and then he falls to the ground,” Lott said.

One of the two men ran off, but the man who was handcuffed tried to help once he realized the deputy was in trouble. He tried to keep Lane talking and tried to use the police radio to call for help, Lott said.

“He tried to talk to him,” the sheriff said. “Ive got to give him credit.”

Deputies who already had been dispatched after Lane radioed about the chase arrived and tried to resuscitate him. He was pronounced dead at a hospital about an hour later, Lott said.

The passengers, whose names were not made public, were picked up by other deputies and will not be charged, Lott said.

The driver, Matthew Denny Hooks, 34, was arrested without incident at a Columbia motel late Friday, authorities said. It wasnt immediately clear whether he had a lawyer, but a message was left late Friday with sheriffs Lt. Chris Cowan.

Deputies consulted with prosecutors and charged Hooks because the chase led to the stress leading up to Lanes heart attack, Cowan said earlier.

Hooks is also charged with possession of stolen car tags and failure to stop for a blue light, he said.

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2007/12/122008/07/22

GovTrack: H. Res. 847: Text of Legislation

It should be a hanging offense for a politician to knowingly, and willfully, violate the separation of church and state…

GovTrack: H. Res. 847: Text of Legislation
H. Res. 847: Recognizing the importance of Christmas and the Christian faith
Bill Status
Introduced: Dec 6, 2007
Sponsor: Rep. Steve King [R-IA]
Status: Passed House Bipartisan support.
Go to Bill Status Page

You are viewing the following version of this bill:

Introduced in House: This is the original text of the bill as it was written by its sponsor and submitted to the House for consideration.
Text of Legislation

HRES 847 IH

110th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. RES. 847

Recognizing the importance of Christmas and the Christian faith.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

December 6, 2007

Mr. KING of Iowa for himself, Mr. AKIN, Mrs. BACHMANN, Mr. BAKER, Mr. BARRETT of South Carolina, Mr. BISHOP of Utah, Mr. BOOZMAN, Mr. BRADY of Texas, Mr. BROUN of Georgia, Mr. BURTON of Indiana, Mr. CARTER, Mr. CONAWAY, Mr. DAVID DAVIS of Tennessee, Mr. DOOLITTLE, Mr. FEENEY, Mr. FORTENBERRY, Ms. FOXX, Mr. FRANKS of Arizona, Mr. GINGREY, Mr. GOHMERT, Mr. HAYES, Mr. HERGER, Mr. ISSA, Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas, Mr. JONES of North Carolina, Mr. JORDAN of Ohio, Mr. KINGSTON, Mr. KLINE of Minnesota, Mr. KUHL of New York, Mr. LAHOOD, Mr. LAMBORN, Mr. LAMPSON, Mr. DANIEL E. LUNGREN of California, Mr. MCCAUL of Texas, Mr. MCINTYRE, Mrs. MCMORRIS RODGERS, Mr. MILLER of Florida, Mrs. MUSGRAVE, Mrs. MYRICK, Mr. NEUGEBAUER, Mr. POE, Mr. SALI, Mr. SHADEGG, Mr. SMITH of Texas, Mr. STEARNS, Mr. TERRY, Mr. TIAHRT, Mr. WALBERG, Mr. WELDON of Florida, Mr. WILSON of South Carolina, Mr. DAVIS of Kentucky, and Mrs. DRAKE submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs

RESOLUTION

Recognizing the importance of Christmas and the Christian faith.

Whereas Christmas, a holiday of great significance to Americans and many other cultures and nationalities, is celebrated annually by Christians throughout the United States and the world;

Whereas there are approximately 225,000,000 Christians in the United States, making Christianity the religion of over three-fourths of the American population;

Whereas there are approximately 2,000,000,000 Christians throughout the world, making Christianity the largest religion in the world and the religion of about one-third of the world population;

Whereas Christians identify themselves as those who believe in the salvation from sin offered to them through the sacrifice of their savior, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and who, out of gratitude for the gift of salvation, commit themselves to living their lives in accordance with the teachings of the Holy Bible;

Whereas Christians and Christianity have contributed greatly to the development of western civilization;

Whereas the United States, being founded as a constitutional republic in the traditions of western civilization, finds much in its history that points observers back to its roots in Christianity;

Whereas on December 25 of each calendar year, American Christians observe Christmas, the holiday celebrating the birth of their savior, Jesus Christ;

Whereas for Christians, Christmas is celebrated as a recognition of Gods redemption, mercy, and Grace; and

Whereas many Christians and non-Christians throughout the United States and the rest of the world, celebrate Christmas as a time to serve others: Now, therefore be it

Resolved, That the House of Representatives–

1 recognizes the Christian faith as one of the great religions of the world;

2 expresses continued support for Christians in the United States and worldwide;

3 acknowledges the international religious and historical importance of Christmas and the Christian faith;

4 acknowledges and supports the role played by Christians and Christianity in the founding of the United States and in the formation of the western civilization;

5 rejects bigotry and persecution directed against Christians, both in the United States and worldwide; and

6 expresses its deepest respect to American Christians and Christians throughout the world.

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2007/12/112016/10/20

My letter to Mazda

Mazda North American Operations
Attn: Customer Assistance
Mazda North American Operations
7755 Irvine Center Drive
Irvine, CA 92618-2922

December 10, 2007

To Whom It May Concern:

Subject: Lemon Law Return of my RX-8

I am writing you today in regards to my 2007 RX-8, which has spent more time in the shop for warranty work than I have spent driving it. I’m not kidding. My car has been in the shop a dozen times for warranty work. It has been in the shop four times alone for failures in the passenger airbag system. It is still in the shop for its fourth attempt to repair the airbag system, and as of this moment it has spent FIFTY-FOUR (54!!!) days in the shop on this one problem alone. My patience has run out.

The only thing more outrageous than my car’s time in the shop has been Mazda’s failure at customer service. While the folks at the shop have been helpful, professional, and sympathetic; they are just as frustrated as I at my vehicle’s frequent problems. When I ask what Mazda is going to do about my problems they say it is out of their hands and I need to talk to the dealership or call the 800 number. I talked to the service department manager, who said to let him know if there was anything he could do; but when I asked what he could actually do he admitted that he had no leverage with Mazda and couldn’t really do anything to help me. I talked to my salesman, and asked if he could help me get out from under this lemon without me having to hire a lawyer; and after a few days of research and phone calls he told me there was nothing he could do and that I would need to call the 800 number. Finally, I called the 800 number and as soon as I said I was tired of how often my car was in the shop, and that according to California law my car was a lemon, I was told that they couldn’t talk to me anymore and that I needed to write a letter. Given my experience so far, I have found my customer service interactions less than satisfactory. Good thing I haven’t sent in that survey yet…

So, here we are. In no uncertain terms, my car clearly meets the guidelines and criteria for lemon law return as listed on the California Attorney General’s website. I am going to return this car to Mazda via the lemon law protections guaranteed to California consumers. Take an hour, download my service history for the above referenced VIN, and marvel at the many problems I have had. Then give me a call and let me know whether or not Mazda is going to stand behind their claims of superior customer service and customer satisfaction, and follow the California lemon law guidelines, and offer buy my car back. If I don’t receive a phone call from Mazda within 48 hours of receipt of this letter, as noted on the return receipt, I will be hiring an attorney as this has gone on more than long enough.

Chris Knight