The Forge of Freedom

Show Notes Episode 123. What Charles Ponzi’s Scheme and US Entitlement Programs Have in Common In this episode, Alex Ooley shares an article titled 'What Charles Ponzi's Scheme and US Entitlement Programs Have in Common' by Daniel Kowalski. The article compares the structure of Ponzi schemes to the US social security and Medicare systems, highlighting the inherent

Show Notes: Episode 122. Defining a Firearm: The Frame or Receiver Rule at SCOTUS (Garland v. VanDerStok) The United States Supreme Court has accepted a case called Garland v. VanDerStok, which challenges the administrative authority of the ATF. The case focuses on the definition of a firearm and specifically the frame or receiver rule. The ATF argues that incomplete frames or

Show Notes Episode 121. The Danger of the West’s Neglect of Individual Rights Alex Ooley shares an article by Finn Andreen that discusses the neglect of individual rights in the West and the consequences of this neglect. It highlights the violation of property rights, exorbitant fiscal and inflationary pressures, mass surveillance, censorship, and the erosion of freedom of sp

Show Notes: Episode 120. ATF Final Rule on Firearms Sales and What it Means to Be “Engaged in the Business” In this episode of the Forge of Freedom podcast, Alex Ooley and Mike Ooley discuss the ATF's new final rule regarding what it means to be engaged in the business of selling firearms. They highlight the complexity of the rule and its origins in the bipartisan safer

Show Notes: Episode 119. FISA 702 Explained: Is Your Privacy at Risk? In this episode, host Alex Ooley discusses the reauthorization of FISA 702, a provision of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act that allows the government to conduct targeted surveillance of foreign nationals without a warrant. He explains the significant privacy implications of this provision and highligh

Show Notes: Episode 118. Kamala Harris Exploits Tragedy for Gun Control Agenda: The Battle Over Red Flag Laws In this episode, Alex Ooley and Mike Ooley discuss Kamala Harris's visit to Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School and her use of the massacre as a platform to promote gun control. They delve into the concept of red flag laws and the violation of due process and indiv

Show Notes: Episode 117. ‘The Zone of Interest’ in Forgiveness The episode discusses the movie 'The Zone of Interest' and explores the themes of forgiveness and mercy, particularly in relation to the character Rudolf Höss, the Commandant of Auschwitz. It raises questions about the capacity for evil in seemingly ordinary people and the Christian belief in forgivenes

Show Notes: Episode 116. Soft on Crime, Hard on Self-Defense? Indianapolis & the Fight for Gun Rights In this episode, Alex Ooley and Mike Ooley discuss two topics related to gun rights and self-defense. The first topic focuses on the push for soft-on-crime policies in Indianapolis, which is leading to a rise in self-defense cases. The officials in Indianapolis are upset that

Show Notes: Episode 115. What is The Presumption of Innocence? (rerun of Episode 7) In this episode, Alex Ooley discusses the concept of the presumption of innocence and its importance to a civilized society. The presumption of innocence is the legal principle that every person accused of a crime is considered innocent until proven guilty. The burden of proof is on the prosecut

Show Notes: Episode 114. Glock Under Fire: Politicians Attempt to Shift Blame for Violence to Gun Manufacturers In this episode, Alex Ooley and Mike Ooley discuss the lawsuit filed by the city of Chicago against Glock, alleging that the company should be held responsible for the criminal misuse of their firearms. They also touch on the topic of soft on crime policies and the sc