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NOVEMBER 2025
Echoes of Gettysburg Three men who stood for equal treatment under the law were all assassinated. We can honor them by remembering the principles they preached.
This month marks the 162nd anniversary of President Lincoln’s Nov. 19, 1863, delivery of the Gettysburg Address, which framed the Civil War as a test of the nation’s founding principles of liberty and equality as set forth in the Declaration of Independence. I love the Gettysburg Address for the principles it sets forth. “Four score and seven years ago,” Lincoln began, “our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.” President Lincoln was assassinated just 17 months later, but the proposition he presented that day has lived on in the speeches and commentary of political figures. Recently, I was struck by how relevant it is to our country’s current political tensions and recent events that have dominated the news. It is important to realize that two of the most important political assassinations in the last 60 years targeted individuals who championed the principle Lincoln set forth in the Gettysburg Address, that all men are created equal. That statement was taking from the Declaration of Independence, which said, “We hold these truths to be self- evident, that all men are created equal.” Just a few weeks short of a century after Lincoln’s landmark speech in Gettysburg, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his
famed “I Have a Dream” speech at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. His central premise, and the principle he is remembered for, was the same: “that all men are created equal.” As King’s voice boomed over the National Mall, he reminded the nation of its “promise that all men — yes, Black men as well as white men — would be guaranteed the unalienable rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” King was assassinated less than five years later. Last Sept. 9, when political activist Charlie Kirk opened what would be his final podcast before he died on Sept. 10, he also focused on the proposition of equality. Reading from the Declaration of Independence, he said, “... all men are created equal, that their Creator endows them with certain inalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.” Kirk made the point that citizens’ rights come from God, not government, and that this principle is one of the things that make our country unique. While that idea may be controversial from some points of view, the central principle is one of the greatest propositions that led to our nation’s founding. It is important to reflect on the fact that these three men, Lincoln, King, and Kirk, were all victims of political assassinations. While each had different views and goals, they all held fast to the proposition of equality articulated by Thomas Jefferson in the Declaration of Independence centuries ago.
Our country has long been an experiment in government of the people, by the people, and for the people. In this time of increasing volatility, it is essential to remember that this proposition should unify us. That principle might seem far removed from our daily lives, but it is actually the foundation of the everyday freedoms we all, including professional truck drivers, exercise and enjoy every day. That tenant motivates me daily as I defend our hardworking clients’ inalienable rights under the law and seek to make sure they are treated fairly as individuals regardless of color or creed. I hope remembering this great unifying proposition will help us all remain civil, disagree with respect, and continue to talk with each other about the principles that unite us. As Nov. 19 approaches, I hope you, too, will take a moment to remember just how deeply our direction as a nation depends on it. –Mark Bigger
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Never Doubt a Canine’s Senses
ANCHORS AWEIGH, BELLY RUBS AHEAD Meet the Navy’s First Full-Time Morale Dog
For one special soldier, the mission is clear: Provide comfort, lift spirits, and stand by his crew, four paws at a time. Raider, a 1-year-old Lab mix from an animal rescue in San Diego, isn’t your typical recruit. He’s about to make waves as the first full-time morale dog on a Navy ship, and he could transform life at sea for hundreds of sailors. With a wagging tail and unwavering loyalty, this pup is ready to serve his country in the most heartwarming way. The nonprofit Shelter to Soldier has been training shelter dogs as service animals for veterans since 2012, with a mission to “save lives, two at a time.” Though the organization partners dogs with individual veterans, it began bringing therapy dogs to Navy ships for special training outings
and made a discovery. Crew members felt a special connection with the pups and kept asking, “Can we take this dog on deployment with us?” Raider is the first canine cadet for the job. He was adopted from Labs and More Rescue and has been deep in training since April. This new furry crew member has been working hard on learning to use a “potty patch” on board and special safety gear like booties for his paws and eye protection. Along with getting his sea legs, he’s learning various commands that will help in his role, which is “designed to support the emotional wellness, morale, and mental health of sailors and Marines,”
according to the nonprofit. Raider will join a team of five handlers and live full time on the USS Makin Island in his own room. Crew members will get their wish, and any time the base deploys, he’ll be along for the ride. Known for his goofy personality and affinity for belly rubs, he’s already bringing cheer to the base and inspiring others to follow in his pawprints. The nonprofit is busy training morale dogs for other ships. “Everyone is just really excited to have a furry companion to go with them when they’re underway,” Director of Operations and Training Nicky Moore said, adding, “What makes you happier than a dog?”
of Drivers Roadblocks Ahead
New Federal Limits May Sideline Thousands
A moratorium on employment visas for commercial truck drivers threatens to slow hiring in the industry. Along with other federal government challenges to non-citizen drivers, the moves foreshadow reductions in the trucking workforce. The new federal restrictions cut off visas for non-citizens seeking work in the U.S., including driving commercial vehicles. The Transportation Department is also tightening restrictions on states’ issuance of commercial driver licenses (CDLs) to non-citizens. In addition, the Trump Administration recently tightened language- proficiency enforcement, requiring drivers who cannot pass tests of their English skills to be removed from the road. Industry data show that immigrants comprise roughly 18% of the nation’s 3.5 million commercial drivers. The new employment-visa moratorium applies to three visa categories, including the most common type held by commercial truck drivers, the H-2B temporary visa for non- agricultural workers. About 1,500 H-2B visas are issued to truck drivers each year. The federal moratorium on H-2B visas followed an accident last August in Florida caused by a truck driver who was an Indian national, licensed in California, who did not speak English and
lacked legal authorization to work in the U.S. The driver was charged with making a U-turn on a Florida highway that led to the deaths of three occupants of a vehicle behind him. The driver has pleaded innocent. Under the new rules, non-citizens not living in the country won’t be eligible for CDLs unless they pass a mandatory federal immigration status check and hold an employment visa. Federal officials recently accused several states, including California, of issuing licenses to drivers whose visas had expired. Industry groups and independent truckers’ organizations have disagreed about whether a driver shortage exists in commercial trucking. Industry groups claim 60,000 more drivers are needed, while independent drivers’ representatives say the nation actually has an oversupply of truckers, depressing freight rates and driver pay. Nevertheless, both the American Truckers Association, an industry group, and the Owner Operator Independent Drivers Association have praised the Trump Administration’s visa cutoff, saying it will help remove unqualified drivers who pose safety risks to others from the road.
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Your Referrals Make a Difference! Thanks to your 67 referrals in October, we were able to donate $840 to help fight human trafficking and lead medical missions. INTERNATIONAL JUSTICE MISSION To learn more about International Justice Mission and their mission to protect half a billion vulnerable people from exploitation, please go to IJM.org . MEDICAL MISSIONS OUTREACH To learn more about showing God’s love by providing quality medical treatment to some of the poorest people in the world, visit the Medical Missions Outreach home page at Medical-Outreach.com .
The hazards of using a smartphone while driving are widely known. Don’t make calls. Don’t text. Hang up and drive! The warnings are everywhere, including on bumper stickers. The Danger of Using Your Smartwatch Behind the Wheel Swipe, Tap, Ticket
In contrast, glancing at your sleek, stylish smartwatch while your car is idling at a stoplight seems innocent and unobtrusive enough … isn’t it?
Not necessarily. The law can be broadly interpreted regarding how you communicate with others on your watch. And if you use your other hand to hold the watch on your wrist steady while you swipe? Then you can face charges even for changing your music or doing something other than communicating on your watch. Smartwatches may be especially seductive because they do so many things while remaining inconspicuous. It’s so easy to just check how many steps you’ve taken today, revisit a navigation app, glance at a text or social media alert, or tap a song or podcast while sitting at a red light. But if your motor is running and an officer spots you swiping or tapping to connect a call, or texting, the officer may consider it a violation of Vehicle Code 23123(a) or VC 23123.5, dependent on the manner of the swipe and the activity. The stakes for this kind of ticket are high. A conviction or admission of guilt for a first offense can bring a $162 fine and send your insurance rates higher. A guilty finding on a second offense can lead to a $270 fine and points on your license, plus a much sharper increase in your insurance premiums. However, just because a law enforcement officer writes you a ticket doesn’t mean you have violated the law. While judges tend to side with police officers in court, having an experienced lawyer by your side, fighting the citation, can sharply improve your odds of dismissal or a reduced penalty. Our skilled attorneys have ample experience fighting citations like these based on weaknesses in the state’s case, including vague evidence, erroneous or unclear accusations, or technical errors. If you face a citation for distracted driving, contact us for a free consultation today! We will be glad to help defend your rights.
“Praise the LORD our God; worship before his throne! Holy is he!” PSALM 99:5 (GNT)
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, APC HARMAN CALIFORNIA TRAFFIC DEFENSE ATTORNEYS BIGGER
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Battling for Justice, Champions of Equality May Face Violence............................... PAGE 1
How a Rescue Dog Is Lifting Spirits at Sea....... PAGE 2
New Government Restrictions Set to Shrink the Trucking Workforce......................... PAGE 2
Costly Consequences: Using a Smartwatch Behind the Wheel......................... PAGE 3
When Comfort Collides With Courage: Parenting an Anxious Child............................... PAGE 4
Have a ticket in California? Give us a call, and we’ll help you out! Regardless of the location, we can point you in the right direction free of charge!
Stronger in the Struggle
Help Your Child Manage Anxiety
Watching a child suffer anxiety is hard, and some children worry more than others. Some psychologists say smartphones, social media, and overprotective parenting have made it more difficult for an entire generation of youngsters today to manage their anxiety. Some 21% of kids ages 3–17 have been diagnosed with anxiety, public health data show. At its heart, anxiety is an inability to tolerate uncertainty and a lack of confidence in oneself to handle whatever happens. Gaining courage to face one’s fears and learning to endure unpleasant feelings without letting them control you are areas where children can greatly benefit from a parent’s support and guidance. If your child is prone to anxiety, it’s important to avoid the knee-jerk instinct many parents experience: to offer comfort and try to make things easier. Instead, acknowledge their nervousness and reassure them that feeling a little scared can be normal. Don’t engage in magical thinking by comforting your child with promises that they’ll pass a test, find countless new friends, or perform perfectly in a game or concert. And steer them away from comparing themselves
with others, a habit that undermines their confidence.
Instead, reassure them that they can manage the outcome, regardless of what happens, and that all anyone expects is their best effort. If your child is worried about tryouts for a competitive team, it may help to talk through what might happen if their anxiety about failing comes true. Empower your child to embrace two seemingly conflicting realities: they may feel doomed to fail a test, but those feelings aren’t facts, and no one can foresee the future. Reassure them that if they practice managing their fears, staying calm and collected will become easier. And model healthy responses to your own anxieties, describing your coping mechanisms and self-care strategies. The responses children learn as youngsters are likely to stick with them into adulthood. Taking a thoughtful approach to teaching emotion regulation tools will go a long way toward instilling resilience, flexible thinking, and other hallmarks of good mental health.
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