Free Republic

In the politically-charged and likely protest-filled streets of Tampa, Fla., during the Republican National Convention in August, water guns will be strictly prohibited. Concealed handguns, on the other hand, will be perfectly legal. Florida Gov. Rick Scott said this week that banning handguns from downtown Tampa during the convention, as the city's Mayor Bob Buckhorn requested, "would surely violate the Second Amendment." ... Buckhorn said last month that the state law, which prohibits the city from temporarily banning handguns, makes the city "look silly" because officials can prohibit water guns but not real ones, The Associated Press reported. "There is...

Manassas, VA, February 11, 2012 -- Although he will not appear on the Virginia Presidential primary ballot on March 6, it did not stop Manassas Tea Party members from selecting Rick Santorum as the overwhelming winner in a straw poll conducted at its monthly meeting of members last evening. In the straw poll which also contained the U.S. Senate Virginia seat and Manassas City Council races, Santorum swept the Presidential poll with 67% of the vote but equally interesting was Mitt Romney received no votes. Newt Gingrich was second in the poll with 27% and Ron Paul last with only...

Three West Virginia coal plants just announced they will close this year. Metro News reported: Ohio based FirstEnergy Corporation announces it will close three coal fired power plants in West Virginia by this fall. The closings come directly from the impact of new federal EPA regulations. The plants to close are Albright Power Station, Willow Island Power Station, and the Rivesville Power Station. The company says 105 employees will be directly impacted. The three plants produce 660 megawatts and about 3-percent of FirstEnergy’s total generation. In recent years, the plants served as “peaking facilities” and generated power during times of...

Yet again, a number of young people have been arrested in the Iranian capital. Their crime: engaging in a water fight. The evidence: water guns and bottles. The accusations against them: violating Islamic principles and norms. It sounds absurd, but sadly it's the reality in the Islamic Republic of Iran where, among other things, having a bit of fun can also land one in prison. The young women and men had gathered last week in a Tehran park, ironically named the Garden of Water and Fire, and splashed water at each other. The event, planned and organized on Facebook, had...

The nation's largest teachers' union on Monday endorsed President Obama's reelection 16 months before Election Day 2012, but then most Republicans already have a negative opinion of the National Education Association. Democrats, on the other hand, are big fans.   A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 42% of all Likely U.S. Voters hold at least a somewhat favorable opinion of the NEA, with 17% Very Favorable. Thirty-seven percent (37%) regard the teacher's union at least somewhat unfavorably, including 22% with a Very Unfavorable view. Twenty percent (20%) are not sure what they think of the group. (To...

On the heels of his recent opinion holding that "self-defense" is "good and sufficient reason" to carry a gun to church, Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli now says that state colleges like the University of Virginia cannot ban the carriage of concealed handguns by proper license holders. The opinion was written in response to a question by Senator Emmett Hanger (R-Mount Solon). . . . According to OpenCarry.org's campus carry map, most states are just like Virginia and do not generally prohibit by law gun carry on college campuses by visitors or students. . . .

INDIANAPOLIS -- Some mothers said Friday they disapprove of a controversial state law that goes into effect July 1, making it legal to carry guns in Indianapolis city parks and playgrounds, which is currently banned by a city ordinance. The new law generally prohibits local governments from regulating firearms, 6News' Joanna Massee reported. Mothers who brought their children to Garfield Park told 6News that they disagree with the law. "Why would you need a gun at the park? You're supposed to come to the park to play with your children," said Eyvonna Hyatt, who has a 3-year-old daughter and a...

An OPEC report suggests that world demand for its oil is outstripping the present supply. The monthly demand forecast from the Organization of The Petroleum Exporting Countries says estimated OPEC crude production last month averaged 28.97 million barrels a day. It also says that demand this year for OPEC oil is expected to average a daily 29.9 million barrels. The report was published Friday, two days after an OPEC meeting ended in disarray, with Saudi Arabia and other Gulf members unable to push through demands to lift production ceilings. OPEC members opposed were led by Iran. World oil demand is...

Summer is here (pretty much) and with it comes a slew of fun stuff, like beaches, BBQs and water gun fights. Since the world's water situation isn't in the greatest shape at the moment, we recommend reusing bathwater or old milk to make sure wastefulness is kept to a minimum (and pranking is kept to a max). Either way, be prepared to send some of your hard earned cash squirting out the window after you see some of these ridiculous creations. Here are 29 pictures of awesome water guns ...