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It's been quite a few busy, crazy years since I became more active in politics and government through the DC Project and BamaCarry. With DC Project, I first became a delegate, representing my state of Alabama along with other women across the United States. Last year, I agreed to volunteer as the director for my state. And with this organization, I have traveled to Washington D.C. four times in the last five years. I visit with representatives from all over the nation, share stories of responsible gun ownership and build relationships with other women who have a passion for the Second Amendment. I joined BamaCarry as a board member nearly two years ago. BamaCarry is the largest gun-rights group in Alabama, and I have been proud and humbled to learn more about what's happening locally … and what else can be done to ensure our rights are not infringed.
Along with this, I had the opportunity to speak before committee in Montgomery and talk directly to my representatives about supporting permitless carry in Alabama. Advocates and trailblazers have been working for the last six or more years to get Alabama included with the 20 other states that currently enable the legal carrying of a handgun — open or concealed — without a license or a permit. And I hope that our continued efforts will soon be rewarded with a favorable decision.
To get the attention of and the understanding from Alabama representatives, I have shared with them my thoughts about two seemingly insignificant things: fabric and plastic.
Let me explain.
I share with them that I teach thousands of women about self-defense and firearms safety. These women are friends, strangers, conservatives and liberals, young and old — women from all walks of life who just want to protect themselves and their loved ones.
But many of these women — some of whom may be victims of violence or abuse — can learn about protection and then, in their times of need, NOT be able to protect themselves. Why?
Even though we're an open-carry state and these women could go through background checks while purchasing guns and holster those firearms on their hips, many — like me — prefer the safety, security and privacy of concealed carry.
Yet in Alabama, without a CCW permit, adding a piece of fabric would mean we are breaking the law.
Permitless? No Plastic.
The thing is: Good people don't break laws. But criminals do. They don't care about laws. Places with the strictest gun control show this time and time again. There are violent people, and violence starts long before a weapon is in anyone's hands. Evil doesn't participate in safety training, fill out forms to purchase guns or apply for CCW permits.
But law-abiding citizens do. Responsible gun owners do. Victims do.
I can't help but think of Carol Bowne. In 2015, she was stabbed to death by her ex-boyfriend outside her own home. She waited for months for her permit. And she did everything a law-abiding citizen could do. She got a restraining order, installed security cameras and attempted to legally obtain a firearm. But Carol was left waiting. And she was violently and senselessly killed.
Carol chose a means of protection, but she wasn't able to carry it out because she was waiting on a piece of plastic.
As part of the more victimized gender (and the fastest-growing segment of the firearms industry), I have asked that Alabama support permitless carry for upstanding citizens like me.
We should not let a piece of fabric determine who is law-abiding and who isn't.
And we should never let a piece of plastic decide if someone lives or dies.


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The Government of India, in its attempt to bolster the securities regulation regime, has affirmed that fraudulent investment schemes would be dealt with an iron hand. The proposed Bill has adopted a three-pronged approach to target Ponzi schemes and other fraudulent practices. First, it expands the jurisdictional expanse of the SEBI Act, 1992. Second, it provides additional powers of enforcement to SEBI, and third, it facilitates the speedy disposal of cases. The Bill has provided sweeping powers to SEBI, in relation to calling for information, regulating collective investment schemes, disgorgement, search and seizure, settlement of administrative and civil proceedings and recovery of penalties.
Although the Bill has addressed certain uncertainties that existed regarding the scope of SEBI's enforcement powers such as those questioned in Karvy Stock Broking Ltd. v. SEBI, there are several concerns that are yet to be addressed in relation to the new powers that have been vested in SEBI.
The broad and inclusive meaning given to Collective Investment Schemes has resulted in some confusion regarding the scope of the term. Further, the Bill proposes a mechanism which is heavily dependent on delegated legislation which should be passed promptly to avoid uncertainty.
The Bill proposes to insert a new provision which provides that any amount disgorged be credited to the SEBI Investor Protection and Education Fund. SEBI should now clearly provide that the disgorged amount be made available to victims of the fraud/insider trading violations. Merely taking away ill-gotten gains is not sufficient to redress the grievance of investors who must be made whole where possible.
While providing extensive powers of investigation to SEBI, the Bill has removed certain checks and balances that were hitherto in effect. For instance, the requirement to approach a judicial magistrate in relation to search and seizure has been removed. Further, to recover penalties, the Bill proposes to empower SEBI with unfettered powers of attachment and sale of a person's movable/ immovable property, attachment of a person's bank accounts and even arrest and imprisonment. There is a need for some internal checks and balances to be put in place by SEBI.

subset: commoncrawl


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Copenhagen ranked among world's most liveable cities
This article is more than 6 years old.
Danish capital ninth in Economist Intelligence Unit's Global Liveability Index
According to the newly-published Global Liveability Index, Copenhagen is one of the most liveable cities in the world.
The index, published annually by Economist Intelligence Unit, ranked Copenhagen ninth overall for 2018, making it one of only two European cities in the top 10 this year. Last year it failed to make the top 10.
READ MORE: Tivoli ranked eighth best amusement park in the world
Australia, Canada and Japan
Vienna was ranked top of the pile, ahead of Melbourne, Osaka, Calgary and Sydney, while Vancouver, Toronto and Tokyo (tied), Copenhagen and Adelaide completed the top 10. Perth, Auckland, Helsinki and Hamburg all dropped out of the top 10 compared to last year.
Other notables included Paris (19), Hong Kong (35), London (48) and New York (57).
The index ranks 140 cities across the world based on a number of parameters, including living standard, crime, education, health, infrastructure and political & economic stability. Copenhagen fared particularly well in the education and infrastructure parameters.
At the opposite end of the spectrum, the city that fared the worst in the index was Damascus, just below Dhaka and Lagos.