Government set to ban texting by truck and bus drivers

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Transportation Department on Wednesday proposed a ban on text messaging at the wheel by interstate truck and bus drivers, following up on its call to reduce distractions that lead to crashes.

The proposal would make permanent an interim ban announced in January by Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, applying to drivers of buses and commercial trucks over 10,000 pounds. The drivers could face civil or criminal penalties.

(Full story)

Arrested for collecting guns

NEW YORK (UPI) - Members of a New York family charged with stockpiling 30 guns and other weapons are antique collectors, not criminals, a friend says.

Thomas Siano, 57, Kathleen Siano, 58, and their son, Vincent Siano, 29, were charged with criminal possession of weapons.

(Full story)

Obama, Sarkozy push for U.N. sanctions on Iran

WASHINGTON (AP) - With the president of France at his side, President Barack Obama declared Tuesday he hopes to have international sanctions against Iran in place "within weeks," not months, because of its continuing nuclear program. But he acknowledged he still lacks full support at the United Nations.

"Do we have unanimity in the international community? Not yet," Obama said. "And that's something that we have to work on."

(Full story)

Militia probe included undercover agent

(WSJ) - The leader of a Michigan militia group charged this week with conspiring to kill law-enforcement officers was described Tuesday as a private, family-oriented man who nurtured a festering mistrust of governmental authority, according to people close to the family.

"On the inside of this man's brain, something evil lurks, and until you get to know him, you don't know it," said Andrea Harsh, who was engaged to David Brian Stone Sr. until the couple broke up last year.

(Full story)

Department of Education is buying shotguns

(WorldNetDaily) - Civil libertarians are viewing with alarm a decision by the government to purchase dozens of shotguns for representatives of the U.S. Department of Education offices in Washington and Philadelphia, even though the government attests that the 12-gauge weapons are simply to replace other guns.

"Viewed in conjunction with the destruction of the Bill of Rights through Patriot Act type legislation, we can see a pattern developing of an emerging Homeland Security state and a total surveillance society," said attorney and former Marine Corps officer Darrell Castle.

(Full story)

Welcome to Liberty Sentry

The purpose of this blog, plain and simple, is to help safeguard liberty by keeping a watchful eye on government. In order to do that, we must remain actively informed.

While you will find among these pages the occasional original essay or commentary, this site will mostly feature links to news stories that document the immediate dangers posed to freedom-loving citizens. Among these are the ever-increasing encroachment on civil liberties and the abuses of power on the part of those who refer to themselves as "public servants."

We, the people, must be vigilant and hold our government accountable. As Irish statesman John Philpot Curran once said, "The condition upon which God hath given liberty to man is eternal vigilance; which condition if he break, servitude is at once the consequence of his crime and the punishment of his guilt."