Unsolicited Emails Dragging
Me Down the Wingnut Rabbit Hole
And now join me for another eye-opening, gut-wrenching, sanity-challenged, rage-inducing, downright crazy visit down the rabbit hole.
In my most recent visit to the hole, I examined an unsolicited email that I received, asking me to join the “Patriot Academy’s Constitutional Defense Course,” which includes an “amazing combination of intellectual ammunition and physical training.”
That’s how one past participant, Daniel Horowitz, described the course and he qualifies because he hosts a podcast with such erudite guests as Ron Johnson, “The Senator Who Got Covid Right from Day One” and another enlightening show focusing on “Was Our Intelligence Community Involved in Creating the Virus?”
The “Constitutional Defense Course” offers 16 Hours of firearms training on the range and eight hours of “Intellectual” training in the classroom. Unfortunately, registration for 2022 courses is full so I have no idea why the email lists the dates of the training in 2022.
The unsolicited email notes that the Green family and Patriot Academy created the firearms and constitutional training event in 2018, and that “thousands” have completed the training, which is “taught by the experts, that you won’t find anywhere else in the nation!” Sounds mysteriously like those absurd claims by trump that 1.5 million attended his inauguration. But maybe thousands have taken the gun, constitution course, and that is really alarming.
“Our Constitutional Defense Course is a unique blend of Handgun Defense combined with Constitutional education so that you get both the physical and intellectual training,” the unsolicited email notes. “By the end of this course, you will be able to spot a threat, present your sidearm from concealment and fire two controlled shots to the vital area on the threat in just 1.5 seconds!”
That is right up there with Bob Munden, who was listed in 1980 in the Guiness Book of World’s Records as the world’s fastest gunslinger. It was claimed that he could draw his weapon, shoot two different targets with precision, and holster his gun in a mere .02 seconds. Bet he never took the Patriots Academy course.
The course is “family friendly,” for everyone, whether you have never held a weapon before or are extremely experienced. Minors 11 and older also are welcome to attend but with a parent. And of course, “ladies” are encouraged to sign up because “There is no course better that this one for preparing ladies for carrying a firearm.”
You can even watch an unbiased video of the training for ladies by Kamryn Green, who happens to be the sister of Regan Green and children of Rick Green, founder of the Patriot Academy. Regan and Kamryn, who live in Dripping Rock, Texas, (you can’t make that up) and who also make up a music duo, “Remnant Rising,” singing songs of “Biblical truth” and I assume that includes the 11th commandment, “Thou shalt pack an automatic weapon.”
The Patriot Academy guarantees (cross my heart and hope to die) that participants will be “amazed at how much you will learn about the Constitution and liberty, while also improving your defensive handgun skills more than you can imagine.” Participants will learn all about firearms safety, loading and unloading and shooting along with classroom instruction on the law and deadly force; “the original intent of the 2nd Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and how is it being upheld or ignored today?”; and “What can be done if a judge or president oversteps their constitutional powers?” and that sounds rather sinister.
The three-day class costs just $99 per person although there are other fees like rental of firearms and a mandatory $50 fee for background checks, which I assume focus on whether the attendee is a trumper or not. And then there is the cost of airfare, hotels, food and ammo. Funnily enough but nowhere on the unsolicited email does it say where the training will be offered, other than to say, “Looking forward to seeing you in Nevada!”
Testimonials to the courses include one from Brad Stine of the “Brad Stine Experience.” Stine, a conservative Christian comic, is known for his debut album, “Put a Helmet On!” How did I miss that?
Now let’s cruise deeper into the rabbit hole and information included in the unsolicited email to me.
The Patriot Academy website proudly shows testimonials from “Conservative Leaders” including Rep. Louie Gohmert , R-Texas, who said the academy “equips the youth of America with the firm grounding in our founding principles; necessary to understand freedom, liberty, and the demands required to secure those blessings for our posterity.”
That would be the same Gohmert who tested positive for COVID-19 on July 29, 2020, a day after he attended a House Judiciary Committee hearing without wearing a mask and later claimed he might have contracted the disease from wearing a mask. Gohmert also voted against making lynching a federal hate crime, voted to overturn the election of Joe Biden as president, and was referred to by Lincoln Project founder Steve Schmidt as “America’s craziest and dumbest congressman.” And Gohmert also suggested the Jan. 6 storming of the Capitol was a Democratic conspiracy.
Another glowing testimonial comes from Mike Huckabee, the former Republican governor of Arkansas, who wrote that “America has begun to move away from the principles of freedom that made it great. In order to preserve our liberties, we must have principled leaders willing to take a stand. Patriot Academy effectively equips people to impact the political arena, and become next-generation leaders who will defend faith, family, and freedom.”
Huckabee ran for president in 2016 but withdrew after attracting little support. During his campaign, Huckabee, a minister, said at one point, “I hope we answer the alarm clock and take this nation back for Christ.” Huckabee is a Fox commentator and is the father of former, truth-challenged White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders, who is currently running for Governor of Arkansas.
Last September, the Patriots Academy hosted a benefit with special guests, Texas State Sen. Bob Hall, Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., and Ultimate Fighting Champ (UFC) fighter Beneil Dariush.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Hall promoted misinformation about COVID-19 and vaccines, including the debunked conspiracy theory that COVID-19 vaccines skipped animal testing. He also encouraged people to not take the vaccine.
Boebert, a staunch gun and trump supporter, not necessarily in that order, has supported trump’s totally false claims that he lost the 2020 election because of voter fraud. She voted to overturn the Electoral College results and supported the trump supporters who who stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. She also regularly carries a firearm to her workplace in the Capitol.
Dariush is an Iranian-American professional mixed martial artist who competes in the Lightweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Dariush is a devout Christian.
The Patriot Academy offers so much more than classes on shooting and the Bible. There is the Biblicial Citizenship DDV and thumb drive (limited time offer) was $159.94, now just $119.96; and “Campaign Coach-Digital Access,” was $499 and now a steal at $97. The campaign coach workshop guides participants on how to run and win political office.
And who could not get on board with the “Saving America Begins With You” DVD for $17; A “SIGNED” Kryptek Camo Cap with each $365 donation to the Patriot Academy although it doesn’t note who signs the caps; “Constitution Alive! A Citizens Guide to the Constitution,” $79.99; “The Comedy and Constitution Tour” DVD, with Brad Stine and Rick Green, was $39.95, now just $19.95, and much, much more.
Briefly, I also want to point out another unsolicited email I received from Grassfire, a Chesapeake, Va.-based consulting agency and division of Grassroots Action, Inc., described as “a million-strong network of grassroots conservatives dedicated to equipping you with the tools that give you a real impact on the key issues of our day.” Founded by Steve Elliott, Grassfire also is actively seeking employees to “ensure our 1st Amendment Rights are protected.”
“If you’re a Marxist and hate our system of government, these roles are not for you,” the Facebook ad for potential employees noted.
To commemorate Presidents Day, Grassfire is selling merch to honor trump, “the greatest U.S. president since Ronald Reagan — and perhaps even the best ever!” On sale are prints of trump exiting Marine One with his goofy quote “I will never stop fighting for the American people.” You can get a print for just $30 and for $50, two prints.
“Our ‘Never Stop Fighting!’ print serves as a constant reminder that America’s 45th president just won’t quit,” the unsolicited email notes. “Even in the face of constant attacks from radical Democrats, the Unhinged Left, the ‘woke’ mob, Big Tech, the Deep State, FAKE NEWS, Hollywood ‘elites’ and Establishment RINOs in the D.C. Swamp, President Trump is STILL ‘fighting for the American people’ AND for his America First agenda” and for inflating his bank account and keeping out of jail, I might add in a cynical note.