Another Gun Guy

First pic from the destined-to-be-sucky A Team movie

2009-10-23T14:13:00.001-07:00

I love it when a plan comes together. Sigh. First pic from the destined-to-be-sucky A Team movie:

Mini-14? Check.

BA's van? Check. Mohawk? Check.

Shoulder rigs? Check(?!?)

M4gery with tacticool optix? OK, check.

Cigar. Check.

Anyone care to ID the rest of the hardware? Bigger pic here.

SC survivalist's "arsenal" siezed. Local newspaper sighs relief.

2009-10-23T05:53:00.000-07:00

The Columbia, SC State newspaper breathlessly reports this morning that a recently deceased Lexington County man, thought to be a "survivalist" has an arsenal that included...gasp...100 rounds of .223 and 4000 rounds of .22 LR and a pound of black powder!!

Explosives were inside the house and in storage buildings outside, said Lexington County sheriff's spokesman Maj. John Allard.
The deadly store included:
- Seven live hand grenades
- Two live German World War II-era hand grenades
- One live Japanese World War II-era hand grenade
- 40 hand grenade fuses
- 100 rounds of .223-caliber tracer rounds
- One pound of black rifle powder
- 4,000 rounds of .22-caliber ammunition
- Three kits that could be used to convert AR-15 assault rifles into fully automatic weapons
- 60 practice grenades that can't be detonated
Authorities also found various trip wires, two 4-pound bags of sulfur, two ammunition canisters and a thermos containing an unidentified chemical.

Now I will go as far as saying that having 7 or so live grenades around the house is not only illegal, but generally considered not a great idea. Especially if they're vintage WWII. Live. Grenades. It's odd that they focus more on the ammo than the "kits that could convert assault rifles into fully automatic weapons".

One of the commenters notes that the based on the "reporting" he had nothing to shoot any of the ammo with. My guess is that the nephew should start digging around the back yard looking for the really valuable stuff. Probably at least 3 EBRs and at least 1 .22 buried back there somewhere with some junk silver.

And come on "arsenal" ? - I've probably got 2000 rounds of .22 in the trunk of my car. GASP!

IPDA practice session with the CCSC

2009-10-21T11:06:00.000-07:00

I finally got off my can and shot my G17 at an IDPA practice session that the Central Carolinas Shooting Club does every Tuesday at Sportsmans.

I am so hooked.

Really nice people. Excellent instruction. Capital "F" Fun.

I was a little flaky on the first CoF - this being my first time shooting with a timer. I could come up with 4 or 5 other excuses to go along with that one, but let's just say I did not score well. 3 targets at about 10 yards - 2 shots to the body and 2 to the head. 1 reload. My 2nd shots were almost all 1s or 3s and I missed several head shots. Boo.

I calmed down a bit, slowed down a bit, and started getting some zeros on the remaining Standard Exercises. Consistently. Even on the head shots. Go me!

My shiny moment was finishing a strong-hand/weak hand drill (3 targets - 10 yards - 2 shots strong hand - 1 shot weak per target) with zeros across the board.

Many of the Sportsmans and Aim Right team shooters demonstrated amazing speed and accuracy. I've got a lot to learn before I shoot a qualifier. Because oh yes, I will be shooting a qualifier. I gots me a hobby now.

I thoroughly enjoyed the company of the other shooters and had a great time. I've got to get another cover vest though - mine is a little tight across the back and there's no easy pocket to drop a magazine into after a Reload with Retention or Tactical Reload (Look at me with the lingo).

And...practice.

Congressman Alan Grayson (D-FL) is a sack of crap.

2009-10-09T19:49:00.000-07:00

Florida Democrat Congressman Alan Grayson on the Republican Party: "They're not going to be winning the Nobel Peace Prize themselves anytime soon, they probably wish that there was a Nobel Prize for fear, a Nobel prize for hatred, a Nobel prize for racism, you know then they'd be in the running."

I don't consider myself much of a Republican anymore, but I do consider that Congressman Alan Grayson (D-FL) is a sack of crap.

Cool 24 hours

2009-10-06T08:49:00.000-07:00

Posting has obviously been light. Busy with work and not too much to say.

2 cool things in the mail in the last 24 hours:

and

Now I can carry in Georgia, Alabama, and West-By-God too. Amongst others

Elaborate multi-camera rig elegantly captures giant redwood tree

2009-10-02T09:00:00.000-07:00

Michael Nichols, a National Geographic photographer, rigged up a ridiculous camera setup that was strategically lowered from the top of a 300-foot tree to the ground in order to get an astoundingly tall (and downright breathtaking) shot.

from Endgadget

Affordable quality knife. American Made!

2009-10-02T08:58:00.000-07:00

Mulliga at Shangrila Towers reviews the Kershaw Skyline. $40 at Wal-mart.

Illegal immigrant planned to kidnap little girl for ransom.

2009-10-02T06:00:00.000-07:00

Illegal immigrant, 25 and estranged wife plot to kidnap a little girl (or little girls) for ransom after he saw them while he was painting their house in Cornelius, NC.

Parents originally called police in early September, saying a man was at the bus stop in Cornelius early one morning, said Maj. David King with the Cornelius Department. The parents provided a description of the car, but it left before police could get there.
On Sept. 22, they got another call from parents. This one said the man taking pictures was back, and this time they had a license number.

I think that probably covers roughly half of my paranoia as a father and an American. Good grief.

Great quote of the day from Alan Gura via Joe Huffman

2009-10-01T06:27:00.000-07:00

Joe Huffman quotes Alan Gura:

The freedoms we enjoy as Americans are secured to us against violation by all levels of government. State and local politicians should be on notice: the Second Amendment is a normal part of the Bill of Rights, and it is coming to your town.

Man oh man is that made of Win.

Roman Polanski is a child rapist.

2009-09-30T22:22:00.000-07:00

Marko makes the definitive statement concerning the child rapist Polanski and those who would defend him:

Roman Polanski is a child-raping shitbag, and anyone who puffs up and defends that piece of garbage in any way needs their moral compass severely recalibrated, preferably with a framing hammer.

The whole Polanski affair has just reaffirmed what I’ve known for a long time: When it comes to defending one of their own, Liberals are just as capable of hypocritical excuses for shitbaggery as Conservatives.

Defending the indefensible? Asshats.

Making South Charlotte smell like greasy chips for 30 years!

2009-09-30T12:14:00.000-07:00

Congrats to Frito-Lay on making South Charlotte smell like greasy chips for 30 years!

I enjoy eating almost all of their glycemic-index wrecking, cholesterol maxing, cruddy fingerprint leaving crunchy potato-based goodness, but if the wind is right, there is a 2 mile stretch of my daily I77 commute guaranteed to make you throw up a little in your mouth. Courtesy of the fine folks at Frito-Lay.

SCOTUS to see Alan Gura again

2009-09-30T12:05:00.000-07:00

Taking on a major new constitutional dispute over gun rights, the Supreme Court agreed on Wednesday to decide whether to apply the Second Amendment to state, county, and city government laws.

via everyone.

Range Day! (or Range lunch break, I guess)

2009-09-30T10:52:00.000-07:00

Today I got to take my only friend in Charlotte to the range. I won't call him a first time shooter, but it's been some time since he's shot anything, and by his own admission his last outing was of the "let's shoot those cans with my roommate's Glock" variety.

We met up at Firepower on my lunch break and spent a quality hour in lane #2. After we reviewed the 4 Rules and I was confident he could follow them (and recite them back to me) we started off with the Smith & Wesson 63 to warm up.

I just replaced the J-Frame's factory wood grips with a set of Pachmayr Presentation Grips that I found used for all of $12. This was a major, major improvement to this fine pistol. The factory checkered wood grips look cool and "vintage-y", and the stag grips that came on the pistol look cool too - not so great for the shooting though. Using the budget Federal Bulk-pack ammo I was getting respectable groups all the way to the wall.

My friend warmed up quickly to the revolver, and it turns out he has a bit of an eye for shooting. He'll probably be better than me (not much of a challenge there) before too long, once he gets rid of his flinch and works on his stance and grip. He was getting everything in the 8 ring or better, with a few outliers.

Next up we brought out the G17, and he really took a shine to the Glock. Both of us were shredding the inside of the 9 ring with 2 precious boxes worth of American Eagle FMJ from my cache. My "tacticool" Streamlight TLR-2 laser-flashlight combo turned out to be a little out of adjustment, so we did not use it much, except to get the laser roughly lined up on center.

Then we used the only ammo we bought from Firepower - a box of PMC .38 FMJ ($18.99 - ouch) to see how he did with the S&W 642 that is my current carry pistol. Even after I warned him, he was surprised by the recoil and report, but adjusted quickly and enjoyed the big bang from the lightweight 5-shot revolver. We shot all 50 rounds with the silhouette target at about 15 feet.

After that we switched back to the Model 63, picked up a bullseye target and shot some CCI 22. I am very happy with the new grips on this pistol, and the CCI ammo is much more accurate than the bulk stuff. My friend had some issues adjusting back to the .22, probably the anticipatory flinch - but when he used the last 10 rounds of 9mm in the Glock to finish up our trip he was back on target.

"Anyone who complains about the lack of regulation concerning firearms is a bleeding idiot"

2009-09-29T08:51:00.000-07:00

Linoge:

"...if you ever have interactions with police officers involving charges brought against you, it is highly inadviseable to make any sort of public statement about them until they have been resolved.

In other news, anyone who complains about the lack of regulation concerning firearms is a bleeding idiot."

He's got my vote.

2009-09-28T09:06:00.000-07:00

Republican wants to be South Carolina's next adjutant general launching his campaign with what he called a "machine-gun social."

Link between Brady Campaign and MAIG (Mayors Against Illegal Guns) established

2009-09-25T06:26:00.000-07:00

@Bitterb and @SebastianSH at SnowFlakes have dug up the connection between MAIG & the Brady Campaign.

Nice work!

Charlotte homeowner shoots guy in his garage

2009-09-25T06:11:00.000-07:00

If you're going to be digging through someone else's car, in their garage, at or around 3:30 in the AM - you might get shot.

This guy did.

Great quote on the radio this morning from a neighbor went something like this...

"This never happens in our neighborhood! Well, at least not in this section"

Radio news said the homeowner claimed to have fired at the robber as he fled, which is not the ideal. He hasn't been charged with anything yet.

Maybe he should have gotten in his car and chased him first. That was sarcasm.

The U.N. continues to be an expensive joke.

2009-09-25T06:07:00.002-07:00

Marko accurately describes the goings on at the U.N.

Any organization that turns over the podium to an avowed terrorist sponsor, a bugnuts insane Holocaust denier, and a chunky vest pocket tinpot Marxist has a severe credibility deficit. All that was missing was Kim Jong Il walking in with Fidel’s limp husk in tow, and you would have had 90% of the world’s heavyweight asshole dictators all in one spot.

Read the rest of it.

Go Gamecocks!

2009-09-25T06:07:00.001-07:00

Gamecocks win!

Been busy.

2009-09-24T08:58:00.000-07:00

Newsflash: Ammo shortage. More local regurgitation of "breaking news" from the AP.

No charges against man who shot suspected robber

2009-09-18T13:00:00.000-07:00

I am amazed that this guy isn't facing charges. The dead asshat robber's family is certain to sue though.

A law enforcement source had told the Observer that McClure told investigators he chased the robbers who broke into his home because he wanted to shoot out the tires of their getaway car. He ended up in a confrontation and killed Marcus Fluker, one of at least four teens who broke into McClure's home that Saturday afternoon and held him and his wife at gunpoint, authorities say.

The law is clear that shootings can be justified inside someone's home after someone breaks in. But McClure drove after the robbers, plunging the case into more of a gray area, legal experts told the Observer.
from the CO

This is generally not a good idea. Not getting the "Clean Shoot" tag, but good for Mr. McClure.

Mecklenburg District Attorney Peter Gilchrist this afternoon issued this statement regarding a fatal shooting earlier this month:
The investigation into the shooting death of Marcus Fluker by Mr. C.L. McClure has been completed and turned over to the District Attorney's Office. The investigating officers utilized a procedure established by this office which allows departments to request that we make the charging decision. This procedure can be followed when investigation indicates probable cause to arrest is present but officers have questions and request we review the evidence they have gathered in order to determine whether charges should be brought.
On August 22, 2009, 76 year old C.L. McClure was sitting in his basement room cooling off after cutting his yard. At approximately 12:30 in the afternoon, he saw a young black male walk past the door of this room. He thought it was his grandson coming by to see him. When he didn't come into the room, Mr. McClure walked to the door to see what he was doing. He was greeted by a young man with his face covered and armed with a weapon.
Mr. McClure was told to get on the ground. He was duct taped and robbed of cash and jewelry. Another man entered into the basement as well. Mr. McClure was asked who and what was in the main house. Mr. McClure told them his wife was upstairs and to please not hurt her. One man left the other stayed. Mr. McClure's wife was also a victim of this home invasion when they entered the home and took items from there as well.
After a brief period, the other man left and Mr. McClure got off the ground, retrieved a gun he had in the basement, and went to check on his wife. He saw a number of young men running from his house into the woods. From previous break-ins at his residence he believed that the robbers were running to a vehicle on the other side of the woods. His wife told him she was okay and he got into his vehicle. His intention at that time was to get to their car before they did and to shoot out the tires to immobilize their car until the police arrived.
As Mr. McClure approached the area where he thought a car might be parked, there was no car, and instead he saw all the young men running towards him. At this point he fired a shot in the air in an attempt to scatter them away from him and his vehicle and back into the woods. Instead, they kept running towards him. Some passed in front of his car and some behind. As Marcus Fluker passed his car he began to turn towards Mr. McClure. McClure, an Army veteran, had identified the weapon pointed at him at his house as some type of automatic weapon. When Fluker turned towards him he thought he was about to get “sprayed” by fire from this automatic weapon. He fired at him. McClure did not know if he struck him because Mr. Fluker turned back around and continued to run. At this point, McClure no longer felt in danger and did not fire his weapon again.
After the police arrived they went with Mr. McClure into the apartment complex where the individuals had been last scene. At this point, it was learned that Marcus Fluker had been struck by a single gunshot wound. At the place where he was found there was no gun. This location was not secure until the police arrived.
The investigation of this case recovered two firearms taken from Mr. McClure's home and it is clear that Mr. Fluker was one of the individuals involved in the home invasion robbery. As a result of these events, Mr. McClure's 70 year old wife suffered a heart attack.
In making a decision as to whether to charge Mr. McClure in this case, the District Attorney's Office has considered all of the above facts as well as the law of self defense.
The only eyewitness to this shooting is Mr. McClure. The physical evidence corroborates what he told detectives. His idea to find the vehicle and try to delay the escape of those who invaded his home did not make him the aggressor nor did that take away his right of self defense. Mr. McClure believed that his life was in danger and fired in self-defense. It is the burden of the State in a criminal case to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that a charged individual did not act in self defense. The State cannot meet that burden in this case as it appears from all the credible evidence that Mr. McClure feared for his life.

If you read all of that you may note that the Observer makes it appear as if Mr. McClure chased the robbers in their vehicle before executing one of them. The Observer also fails to mention the fact that Mrs. McClure suffered a heart attack as a result of the home invasion. I sure hope she is OK.

I now gladly add the "Clean shoot" tag .

It's still not a good idea to go chasing after asshats like that.

Must...not...purchase.

2009-09-18T08:34:00.000-07:00

I successfully made it through the entire auction for this Para CCW LDA .45 without bidding or buying now. Whew.

It seems like a good deal though at $649, and I am waiting to hear back from the seller if there is a box and extra magazine included.

I'd really like to get a full size LDA instead, as I don't plan on using this as a carry gun - more of an experiment to see if I like the trigger pull or not. Cosmetics aren't a big deal to me normally, but I suppose I should at least pay attention to the looks if I there is a chance that it may not remain in the cache for very long.

Meh. I really should be looking at more budget appropriate hardware after my Crimson Trace spree last month.

Maybe I should review what I've already got instead.

ACORN trainwreck Roll Call from US House today

2009-09-17T13:02:00.000-07:00

The US House of Reps has joined the US Senate in voting to remove funding from the ACORN hot mess.

Senate vote Monday: 7 Nays

NAYs ---7
Burris (D-IL) Casey (D-PA) Durbin (D-IL)	Gillibrand (D-NY) Leahy (D-VT) Sanders (I-VT)	Whitehouse (D-RI)

House Vote today - the "Noes"

Baldwin
Becerra
Brady (PA)
Brown, Corrine
Butterfield
Capuano
Carson (IN)
Castor (FL)
Cleaver
Clyburn(SC)
Crowley
Cummings
Davis (IL)
DeGette
Delahunt
Doyle
Edwards (MD)
Ellison
Engel
Fattah
Filner
Fudge
Green, Al
Grijalva
Hinchey

Hirono
Holt
Honda
Jackson (IL)
Jackson-Lee (TX)
Johnson, E. B.
Kilpatrick (MI)
Kucinich
Larsen (WA)
Lee (CA)
Lewis (GA)
Lynch
Markey (MA)
McCollum
McDermott
McGovern
Meeks (NY)
Mollohan
Moore (WI)
Moran (VA)
Nadler (NY)
Neal (MA)
Olver
Pallone
Pascrell

Payne
Polis (CO)
Price (NC)
Rahall
Rangel
Roybal-Allard
Rush
Sánchez, Linda T.
Schakowsky
Scott (GA)
Scott (VA)
Serrano
Sherman
Sires
Slaughter
Stark
Thompson (MS)
Towns
Tsongas
Velázquez
Waters
Watson
Waxman
Wexler
Woolsey

Much to my surprise Rep. John Spratt (D-SC) voted "Aye". Jim Clyburn's "No" vote is so utterly non-shocking that it defies description.

Free stuff!

2009-09-17T10:18:00.000-07:00

Huey found a link to a free 1 oz. trial bottle of WeaponsShield CLP

I looked it up online and if you were to buy this it would be $9.95 + shipping. You simply can't beat this deal.

A $9.95 value free for the asking! Click on the pic for the manufacturer's link.

Of course there's always a catch. George is hoping that after the first vial of this you'll want to buy more. I have yet to shoot with it on my weapons but I used it to clean and oil a couple of pistols to test and it seems like pretty good stuff. It has a more dense viscosity than normal military grade CLP.

Head on over to Huey's Gunsight for the oh-so-very-easy instructions. And while you're there, be sure to check out the rest of his blog.

A Walk Through iTunes history

2009-09-17T07:36:00.000-07:00

TUAW has a link to a look at the beginnings of iTunes.

SoundJam is the app that Apple originally bought to turn into the multimedia/handheld software juggernaut we know today.

Eyetooth. Literally.

2009-09-17T07:32:00.000-07:00

A 60-year-old woman blind for nine years has regained useful vision following a rare operation in Miami in which surgeons removed one of her teeth, drilled a hole in it, inserted a plastic lens into the hole and implanted the tooth-lens combination into her eye. It's the first such operation in the U.S., they said.

from The CO

What?!?

The Gormogons: Social Contractors

2009-09-17T06:45:00.000-07:00

Quick: name a utopia that worked.

The Gormogons: Social Contractors

via Borepatch

Win

2009-09-16T18:36:00.000-07:00

Robb has another excellent illustration at http://blog.robballen.com

Weighing In

2009-09-16T14:25:00.000-07:00

For the record: As a lifelong Southerner who somehow managed to grow up not a racist, I can say without any reservation whatsoever that Jimmy Carter is an idiot and an embarrassment to his former office, his country and the region most associated with him.

You, sir, may leave. Any time it suits you is fine.

Movie posters are better in Ghana

2009-09-16T14:07:00.000-07:00

This cracked me up and disturbed me at the same time.

Apparently in Ghana in the 80s, entrepreneurial-minded guys would drive around from village to village with a VCR, projector, and generator and create a sort of mobile cinema.
In order to promote these showings, artists were hired to paint large posters of the films (usually on used canvas flour sacks). The artists were given the artistic freedom to paint the posters as they desired - often adding elements that weren’t in the actual films, or without even having seen the movies. When the posters were finished they were rolled up and taken on the road.

once again from the N(ever)SFW Filmdrunk.

Light posting today - but WTH happened to LGF?

2009-09-16T10:53:00.000-07:00

I haven't regularly read LGF in years.

WTH happened to Charles Johnson?

I saw that there is some sort of brouhaha amongst some of these Big Time Blogger types so I went back for a visit.

Sad.

LGF was a gateway blog for me back in the day. It wouldn't shock me more to go read Lileks and see that he was now devoting his time to furries.

Longtime Charleston SC Mayor Dick Riley oversimplifies Mayors Against Illegal Guns

2009-09-15T14:11:00.000-07:00

Longtime Charleston SC Mayor Dick Riley oversimplifies Mayors Against Illegal Guns:

"We're against illegal guns, so if anyone is opposed to our position, then they are in favor of illegal guns,"

from the Post & Courier

At least Columbia's Mayor Bob isn't running again. One less bigot on the roll.

RIP Patrick Swayze.

2009-09-15T14:09:00.000-07:00

I saw this somewhere-

Overheard in heaven: "I thought you'd be bigger".

I'm a fan.

more Dark Arts for Good Guys

2009-09-15T14:05:00.000-07:00

Matthew has posted more Dark Arts for Good Guys goodness over at Straight Forward in a Crooked World.

updating iPhone to 3.1. Total Monday Excitement

2009-09-14T08:06:00.000-07:00

The highlight of my morning so far is the updating of my iPhone to v3.1. Woo. Hoo.

I would have liked to have been in DC today.

2009-09-12T19:13:00.000-07:00

JayG has lots of 9-12 goodness. I wish I could have been there.

Remember the 2996.

2009-09-11T09:46:00.000-07:00

Remember the 2996.

from Linoge

Lack of posts due not to laziness but authentic family medical issue

2009-09-10T19:45:00.000-07:00

Regular posting to resume tomorrow as Major Family Medical Issue is mostly dealt with at this point.

Continuing the Journalist's Guide to Firearms Meme

2009-09-08T13:23:00.000-07:00

Continuing the Citizens/Journalist's Guide to Firearms meme I am happy to pass along this slightly modified by Robb version :

from Sharp as A Marble - original post Sebastian

Even more Gary Busey

2009-09-08T10:40:00.000-07:00

"The Thinking Man's Nick Nolte". Or is Nick Nolte the thinking man's Gary Busey?

from FilmDrunk (Never Safe For Work or the easily offended)

The Gary Busy Facts

Jacktion!: Gary Busey goes commando when he rides a horse, and wears jockey shorts when he goes to war.
Crapbasket: Gary Busey chops down cherry trees just so he can lie about it.
Michelle07: Gary Busey makes guitar fingers whenever he talks about the Wild Fire.

Jacktion!: Gary Busey’s favorite food is macaroni necklaces and cheese.

Michelle07: Gary Busey sends emails on an electric typewriter. They all say, “Yahtzee!”

Crapbasket: Gary Busey thinks the Navy Seals are what keep water out of submarines.

Donkey Hodey: Gary Busey’s Easy-Bake oven has a self-destruct button.

Påüłÿ Ðąηgęrσűşľγ: Gary Busey throws glass houses at rocks.

Donkey Hodey: When Gary Busey hears a voice played back through an answering machine, he always says “Do I realy sound like that?”, even if it’s not him talking.

Jacktion!: Gary Busey convinced Huey Lewis not to call his band The Jews.

Crapbasket: Gary Busey’s baby ate a dingo.

Crapbasket: Gary Busey’s ringtone is him doing the entirety of Pink Floyd’s The Wall on the kazoo.

Moose: Gary Busey’s motto is: “Never put off today what you’ve already done tomorrow”.

Doing Everything Wrong: My Analysis of the events leading up to the blunt object connecting with my skull.

2009-09-08T09:16:00.000-07:00

As requested, here’s my analysis of the night A Glock 27 Saved My Stupid Ass in 1996. I mentioned several times in the post that it is my sincere belief that I did everything wrong that I could have possibly done, and even one good choice would have prevented the assault on my cranium and subsequent bleeding. Let’s take a look at the long list of bad choices the 22 year old me made back then.

On a whim one night, I decided to walk down to work to see what the hike would be like and maybe catch up with a couple of friends. I had intentions of walking to and from job as parking in 5 Points is terrible in general and an epic fail if you have to work there.

I had worked in bars in 5 Points for 3 years at that point, witnessing many assaults and calling the police on aggressive homeless vagrant types several times myself. I did not think this out very well. I am walking around in Cooper’s Condition White - unaware, unprepared. Oblivious. I should have been paying attention.

I didn't find any of my friends, and after a couple of beers I hoofed it back up the hill that led to my house. Not a bad hike at all.

It’s late, dark, and I had at least 2 alcoholic beverages in an hour. All of this is fine tailgating for a football game, and might not be a particularly big deal in this case if I wasn’t by myself. Taking into account the history of violence in the area, I should have been in Condition Yellow if not Orange. (Being armed with something other than overconfidence would have been nice too. Practice that Krav Maga kids) I decided to walk home from an area somewhat notorious for aggressive panhandling and muggings. By myself. Guess who’s still in Condition White.

Brilliant.

Let’s examine all of these bad calls.

It’s late and dark - I should have called a cab or a roommate to make the short trip to pick me up.
I had 2 or more alcoholic beverages in an hour - alcohol ruins reaction times, promotes a false sense of well being, and impairs judgment. I should have had limited (or eliminated) my alcohol intake knowing that I was going to be walking home.

Almost to my street and displaying a tragic utter disregard for situational awareness, I was caught unawares by a shady looking dude on a BMX bike as he pulled up next to me and asked me if I had change for a twenty.

I displayed a total lack of situational awareness. My memory is too foggy for me to speculate what was running through my mind back then. Probably women or money or how the latter made the former more interested in me. I should have been checking my 6. Instead I get bushwhacked by a lightweight on a kids bike. I realized later at the hospital that if he had been armed with a gun he could have shot me in the back of the head and I never would have seen it coming. For years afterward I got cold sweats thinking about that.

His sudden appearance startled me so that instead of barking at him to stay back, I merely replied "Sorry dude, I've got no cash at all".

It starts getting uglier now. Since he’s already well inside my personal space, I should have immediately faced him, barked a healthy “Stay back!” and circled away until I could put some distance between us. That might have scared him off, or at least given me a few seconds to get into a fighting mindset.

If I had been paying any attention at all, things would likely have not even gotten to this point. But still unbeknownst to me, I was in it.

Instead of watching him take off in the other direction, I confidently crossed the intersection where he had stopped me and made my way up to the next street which was my own.

I all but opened the door for this guy and let him in. Hell, I’d hit me in the back of the head too with this much opportunity! This is what I mean about not making even one good decision (thank you alcohol). I did not choose to confront the bandit until it was already too late and he had and was using the advantages that I had gift-wrapped for him. I should have manned up earlier, or just ran the hell away.

I was lucky that he was a coward
I was lucky that I was close to home
I was lucky that he either did not have a knife or gun or simply did not chose to use one
I was lucky that I had left my pistol unsafely stored in my vehicle

I continue to be lucky by having a thick skull, but these days I make my own luck by being aware of my location, the nature of my surroundings and living in Condition Yellow (for the most part - I will admit to being vulnerable at tailgating parties and the pool).

Robert mentions in the comments from the original post -

“But you did do two things correctly. You didn't shoot when you didn't have a good shot, and you didn't shoot him in the back which probably would have caused you a lot of grief.”

He’s right - but these choices were made after the attack had already happened. By not taking a shot (or 10) at him as he ran I avoided lots of serious headaches later, but these choices didn’t change the fact that I was all bloody in my front yard.

Edit: I forgot a couple of links. James found the first one below in the comment(s). Thanks James.

Finished MHI

2009-09-06T20:34:00.000-07:00

I finally finished MHI tonight. It's made of Win.

Big Boeing Blaster Blows Something Up (finally)

2009-09-04T08:47:00.000-07:00

Laser make something go boom. Still no Blastech DL-44 for me yet.

According to Boeing and the US Air Force, that happened over the White Sands Missile Range on August 30th, when an C-130H aircraft equipped with the Advanced Tactical Laser (or ATL) locked on to an unspecified ground target and fired the 12,000lb high-power chemical laser to make the target disappear from the face of the Earth.

from Endgadget

More Gary Busey

2009-09-04T08:43:00.000-07:00

Gary Busey. I can't get away from this guy this week. Behold the Gary Busey Fractal, complete with "I'm Your Worst Nightmare Butthorn".

from Filmdrunk (NSFW)

PSA #1 - Scareware goes Green

2009-09-04T08:40:00.000-07:00

Oh how I hate "anitvirus" scareware. I must walk at least 1/month FUW (Friend Using Windows) through getting this kind of crap off of their PC...

Malicious pseudo-environmentalists have come up with a new social engineering tactic aiming to improve the profit margins of their fake antivirus software releases - by promising to donate $2 from every purchase for saving the Amazonian green forests.
The new scareware template branded as “Green-AV Premier Edition 3.0” is pitched as the “World’s First Antivirus Which Cares About the Environment” and goes for a hefty price of $99.99, in comparison to other scareware brands whose price tags vary from $49 to $79.

from Zero Day

A Glock 27 saved my stupid ass in 1996.

2009-09-03T13:16:00.000-07:00

After posting my glocklove comment over at his site, Huey asked me about how I once used a firearm to save my life.

I don't think my lifesaving story is too terribly compelling. It's chock full of dumbassery on my part. But here it is, warts and all. Cue the italics.

I was working as a bartender in Columbia, SC and had just moved to a dilapidated old house about 2 blocks up Devine Street (the main drive) from the 5 Points "entertainment district".

On a whim one night, I decided to walk down to work to see what the hike would be like and maybe catch up with a couple of friends. I had intentions of walking to and from job as parking in 5 Points is terrible in general and an epic fail if you have to work there. I understand that this has not changed.

So...I didn't find any of my friends, and after a couple of beers I hoofed it back up the hill that led to my house. Not a bad hike at all.

Almost to my street and displaying a tragic utter disregard for situational awareness, I was caught unawares by a shady looking dude on a BMX bike as he pulled up next to me and asked me if I had change for a twenty.

By shady, I mean all of 5'2 and 125 pounds with crazy hair, a surplus woodland camo jacket 3 sizes too big (this is June in Columbia, SC approximately 112 degrees at 10:30PM) and, of course, sunglasses. At night.

His sudden appearance startled me so that instead of barking at him to stay back, I merely replied "Sorry dude, I've got no cash at all". The truth. And the standard response to the multitude of 5 Points panhandlers.

Here's where I made my 2nd (or 3rd, but there's so many) mistake: Instead of watching him take off in the other direction, I confidently crossed the intersection where he had stopped me and made my way up to the next street which was my own.

As I reached the next corner, I stopped and did (what I now know is) a "Crazy Ivan" to see if he was following me. He had made it about halfway to where I was, stopped his bike and was merely looking at me. Instead of telling him to move along, piss off or get lost (4th mistake) - I decided that I'd be better off confronting him closer to home (soooo young and dumb -at least the 5th mistake if you're counting).

I had my car keys in my pocket and my car was parked about 100 yards away on the right hand side of the street, facing away from me with the drivers side door closest to me. I knew that somewhat unsafely stowed under the drivers seat of my car was my loaded Glock 27.

Foolish young Brian takes a left and walks a bit faster (how many mistakes was that?)...off of the well lit main road and down the poorly lit side street, thinking about the motions that he will have to use to get the car door open. Hands on keys...fingers on car key...take the keys out and put them in the door...open door, leave keys in door and reach for the pistol.

That is what I was thinking when I should have been chasing this guy off.

About halfway there I turn around over my right shoulder to see if he's still following me and WHACK, I'm on my hands and knees in the middle of the street. He's hit me with something, but I have a very large, very hard head and I am not unconscious, but dazed and bleeding profusely. So naturally I begin cussing him.

I cuss him as I get to my feet. I cuss him as I stagger towards my car. I cuss him as I scrape my key up and down the side of the door, trying to get the door unlocked.

He's riding around me in circles, looking around to see if anyone has heard me.

I get the door open (still cussing him) and fall on my knees to dig under the seat for my unsafely stored (in battery too - ugh -sorry SC law) Glock.

I found it and pointed it at him weak handed, but he saw the gun and was already hauling ass back up towards where he hit me (with a @#$% brick, we found out later).

I tried to get a bead on him with the intention of shooting him in the back as he rode away, but fortunately for him I couldn't get a good sight picture due in part to my double vision from the blunt force trauma to my skull.

Rule 4 saved that guys life that night.

That's it really. All of that probably took a minute and a half.

I stuck the Glock in my waistband and staggered up to the porch where I freaked out one of my roommates who was reading a book on the couch by sticking my bleeding head through the front door and asking for some help. She and my other roommates' boyfriend took me to the hospital where they stapled me up. No painkillers because I had those beers earlier. Ouch.

The police never caught the guy. We moved out of the house a couple of months later after getting robbed.

That was 13 years ago this summer. I was very, oh-so-very stupid and very lucky.

I'll never sell that Glock.

Added: I'd like to point out that I did not do even 1 thing correctly as these events transpired. If I had made even 1 better decision this would have never happened. I'll post a list later - I've been uncommonly prolific today.

Criminals getting smarter

2009-09-03T10:44:00.000-07:00

Smash & grab at NJ Apple store - in and out in a little more than 30 seconds with 23 MacBook Pro laptops, 14 iPhones and 9 iPod touch handhelds.

$40K+ worth of AppleStuff probably net $10K on the street. I'd watch the Apple store online and ebay to find someone buying a lot of power supplies and charging cables.

from TUAW

Nebraska has reciprocity with North Carolina too

2009-09-03T09:24:00.000-07:00

Just in from the GRNC: NE CCW reciprocity with NC.

GRNC Update 09-03-09:
NC Permit Now Good in Nebraska

RECIPROCITY AGREEMENT SIGNED WITH NEBRASKA

http://www.ago.state.ne.us/media/Recognition_of_State_Concealed_Handgun_Permits.pdf

On August 31, 2009 Attorney General Jon Bruning of Nebraska issued a memorandum to Colonel Bryan Tuma of the Nebraska State Patrol, informing him that they had completed their review of the fifty states and the District of Columbia and included a list of the states with which Nebraska had reached concealed handgun reciprocity agreements with. North Carolina is now among that number.

The benefits of the concealed handgun reciprocity law engineered by GRNC which passed into law in 2003 continue to accrue even now. The work done by fine members of the General Assembly such as Rep. MARK HILTON who was the primary sponsor and those of you who didn't let their representatives of your support goes rewarded.

Nice.

Want list

2009-09-03T08:27:00.001-07:00

The ever-enjoyable JayG posted his revised want list today and asked his readers what their list looks like. I commented that all I really wanted was a P3AT or LCP.

Upon further reflection I have decided that was a lame comment. I have created a list of pistols and rifles that I could conceivably afford at some point in the far, distant future.

Brian's Want List:

Pistols:

Kel-tec P3AT or Ruger LCP (alternative hot weather carry pistol)
Glock 23 (2nd .40 Glock - already have many G22 magazines)
Glock 17C barrel & slide assembly (to finish off the "Some Day I Will Compete" Pistol)
Glock 34 (a new "Some Day I Will Compete" pistol and 2nd 9mm - plenty of mags already)
Para CCO or CCW (or any of their LDA single stack pistols really for my second .45 1911. Again - lots of mags)
S&W M686 plus 4" .357 Magnum
S&W 325 .45ACP
Ruger Mk III

Longarms:

Mosin Nagant 91 - just to have one
M1 Garand - to replace "The Loaner"
M1903 Springfield
M1917 Enfield
M1 Carbine
Springfield Armory M1A (this would likely cure me of my .308 desire - better start saving now) or instead some sort of reasonably priced AR10 or FAL
Remington 700 .30-06 (I have a lot of old .30-06 stashed)
Remington 700 .308 (rounding out my SurvivalBlog inspired cache)
DDXV Daniel Defense Carbine or even a gas-piston AR type as a backup EBR

Shotguns:

Remington 870 Marine Magnum (backup for my 870)
Remington 870 Combo (for deer, birds, clays etc)

And while I am wishing, I'd love a big, big box of spare parts, magazines/speedloaders and ammo for all of the guns I already own.

Glock

2009-09-03T08:17:00.000-07:00

Huey's got a great love letter to Gaston Glock's love it or hate it (me=love) polymer and steel implement of self defense. His comments on the Manual of Arms:

"Due to the internal safeties system on their pistols, the manual of arms to operate a Glock is fairly straight forwards. Learning it on one pistol pretty much ensures that it is learned on others in the series. Being a striker fired pistol their is no second strike capability on a bad primer hit, so the tap-rack-bang drill is very important to be learned with Glocks, but this also applies to any semi-auto pistol as well."

That's just one of the reasons that my primary carry gun is a G27 and my "Some Day I Will Compete" Pistol is a G17.

Great post.

Must be getting better at this...

2009-09-03T07:35:00.000-07:00

I must be doing something better here as of late as my comment count is up around double digits!

Heh.

Actually I'll take quality over quantity any day of the week. The people who I read daily (and comment like a lurker - meaning not nearly enough) are actually finding their way back here.

Coolness.

So thanks Tam, Sebastian & Bitter, Uncle, Borepatch, James, Dixie, Kevin and last but not least - Kathy

This is what we have to deal with

2009-09-02T13:58:00.000-07:00

Here's my email to Bob Behanian at WMBF who wrote this a couple of weeks ago. (Hey-I've been on vacation alright?)

Mr. Behanian - I write in reference to your article "Criminals travel to SC to buy guns" - http://www.wmbfnews.com/Global/story.asp?S=10861386

This is a particularly good example of bad reporting. Did you actually air this?

I ask because the only number you site is "5th" from the Brady campaign report from last month. Who are all of these "Criminals (who) travel to SC to buy guns". Do you have a specific example of any criminal purchasing a firearm (any firearm) legally in SC and then committing a crime? Are you aware that criminals also purchase knives and baseball bats and may use those to commit crimes in SC too?

If you're going to just use generalizations, why not say something like "Criminals commit crimes with weapons from a variety of sources" which is nearly as lame as the teaser-friendly "Guns are falling into the hands of those who shouldn't have them."

Who are the "some" who "argue South Carolina's laws aren't strict enough"? The Brady Campaign? You can do better than this.

Thank you.
Brian
anothergunguy@gmail.com
http://anothergunguy.blogspot.com/
twitter @another_gun_guy

Gary Busey is BULLETPROOF

2009-09-02T13:38:00.000-07:00

Gary Busey jumping down from the rafters shouting, “I’m your worst nightmare, butthorn!”

The best 4 minutes on teh internets today.

SC Rep Spratt (D) to actually meet with constituents on ObamaCare.

2009-09-02T07:56:00.000-07:00

SC Rep John Spratt (D) to actually meet with constituents on ObamaCare in Sumter today and Rock Hill tomorrow. I am so glad they provided all of the advance notice so constituents could make arrangements to be there.

The York native plans to discuss the health care plans, then take questions. Attendees will be asked to write any questions on a slip of paper at the door and put them in a box that matches their position, whether they're for, against or undecided. A moderator will draw names.

from the Observer

Catching MacThieves

2009-09-02T07:43:00.000-07:00

Here's a tale detailing the process of using Back To My Mac to catch the thief who swiped your Mac.

"...the victim used his replacement MacBook Pro to screen share with the stolen device, and even watch as someone filled out an online form to find a job, displaying an address, social security number and phone number."

Dumbass thief took a pic of himself with the iSight too and left it on the desktop.

from TUAW

Destro and the Barroness playing on their clarinets...

2009-09-02T07:12:00.000-07:00

from the Monster Hunter Nation:

Tam hits 2M. Uncle turns 7.

2009-09-02T07:01:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Tam on 2 Million hits. Uncle's been blogging for 7 years. I am a fan.

Attention AGG Readers

2009-09-02T06:40:00.001-07:00

Borepatch and and JayG are asking their significantly larger reader base to vote for their significantly clever-er MHI patch. The Atomic Nerds pimped their patch on Gun Nuts Radio last night. Linoge has an Eastern TN patch as well and is looking for votes.

This does note bode well for my lousy patch.

Shared via AddThis

I can now legally carry a concealed weapon in Nebraska

2009-09-02T06:12:00.000-07:00

From Joe Huffman's View From North Central Idaho I learned this morning that Nebraska now has reciprocity with South Carolina. I share his sentiment below:

"I don't think I have ever been in Nebraska and I don't have any plans to visit in the foreseeable future but if I did I could carry when I went there. I'll sleep a little better tonight. Not so much because I can now carry in Nebraska but because thousands of other people can and will. That makes them a little bit safer and the anti-gun bigots a little bit more demoralized."

I am disappointed to note that according to SLED:

As of September 12, 2008, states with which South Carolina has reciprocity are:

Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, Texas, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wyoming.

Reciprocity with SC is not a 2-way street though. I'd love to see Georgia and West-by-God Virginia on this list someday.

NC Dem Senator Soles shoots intruder

2009-09-01T09:39:00.000-07:00

I found "NC Senator shoots intruder" buried in my massive, massive backlog of Uncle posts that I missed over my vacation.

A North Carolina attorney representing state Sen. R.C. Soles said his client acted in self-defense when he shot an intruder at his home.
Attorney Joe Cheshire said Monday that Soles used a pistol to shoot the 22-year-old at his home and the incident was recorded by security cameras on the senator's property.

Authorities say Soles shot Kyle Blackburn Sunday night when he and another man tried to kick in the door of Soles' secluded home. Nobody has been charged.

Blackburn was listed Monday in fair condition at a South Carolina hospital.

Soles has had a series of confrontations with former law clients in the past two years. He called for help from local police at least nine times to ward off men who were charged with trespassing.

Soles is a Democrat Senator representing Brunswick, Columbus, and Pender Counties "Down East" (as they say). The shooting is just one of all sorts of incidents connected to the Senator. At first glance this would appear to be a clean shoot - we'll have to wait and see.

How Twilight Should Have Ended

2009-09-01T09:30:00.000-07:00

I haven't read any of the Twilight books or seen the movie. I have no intention of ever doing so. Most of my attempts to avoid anything Twilight related have been thwarted by relatives and neighbors, to whom I present this:

How Twilight Should Have Ended

Monster Hunters International

2009-09-01T08:38:00.000-07:00

My short-awaited signed, autographed copy of MHI and kick-ass patch arrived while I was on the vacay. Looks like Jay G got his copy as well. "Squeee!!!"

I am halfway through the book - up late last night reading instead of blogging.

It is so refreshing to read another fiction author who accurately describes firearms and their use. It's even better that Larry Correia writes great characters that talk like real people too.

I managed to squeak in under the deadline for the patch contest with this remarkably lame offering. Not bad for 15 minutes in Photoshop, but it is not some of my better work. I am still deciding whether to vote for myself or not. Hopefully there will be another contest for the next sequel to MHI and I can come up with something better.

Trying to get caught up with work and blogroll readings

2009-09-01T08:36:00.000-07:00

So much has been going on in my absence. Fear not faithful reader. Normal posting to resume today. Only 74 articles to go on the reader.

All 3 of you might be wondering where I am...

2009-08-24T19:22:00.000-07:00

Blogging and tweetage to be lighter than the normal very light as I am on vacation. I'm 3 days in and haven't even opened my Google Reader to see what's been happening with all of my (gradually reciprocated) blogroll. I'll probably have to pull a "mark all as read" and just catch up piecemeal as sorting through 1000+ posts has little appeal to me right now.

For the record, I am vacationing in a state that has CCW reciprocity with my homestate of South Cacalacky.

Maybe I can make a little dent in it tonight. Shouldn't take but another 30 minutes...right?

Maybe I'll just read Tam.

And Snowflakes and Uncle.

And Borepatch and Tbolt and Robb and this is why I haven't made it into the lobby until tonight.

UPDATE:

An hour and 1 cocktail later...

And Breda and Kevin and Marko and Joe Huffman

and who am I kidding - I normally cannot go a night without reading , Rawles (or JWR, if you prefer not to use the , )

and last but certainly not least James.

oh yeah one more: Steve

Done. Going to go to bed now. Last thought - isn't it a bit odd to refer to these nice people by their first names when I have never met them? Probably.

10 good gun rules

2009-08-18T07:59:00.000-07:00

#10: Repeat after me, “No, I don’t need that many rails. Lead me not into temptation.” Rails on a gun are like a clean shirt: they attract the oddest things.

seen 1st @ Uncle then @ Robb

A Dixie Carpetbagger is now on the roll and in the reader. Adding at least another 10 minutes to daily reading.

Lancaster SC robber gets shot with his own gun. That's one less robber in Lancaster SC. twtd

2009-08-14T16:24:00.000-07:00

Some idiot got shot dead trying to rob a guy and the Observer refers to the dead robber as the victim. Really?

from the Charlotte Observer via the Rock Hill Herald. Emphasis mine

The intended victim of a robbery turned the tables on his attackers early Friday in Lancaster, fatally shooting a man, police say.

The victim was identified by police as Jarkevious Ingram, 18, of Lancaster.

Police say Ingram and two other men tried to rob Edward Patterson Jr., 34, as he arrived at his home on Culp Street about 1 a.m. Friday.

According to police, Ingram and Patterson got into a struggle, and Patterson grabbed the gun, shooting Ingram. Neighbors reported hearing several shots.

Ingram was taken to Carolinas Medical Center, where he died. Patterson drove himself to Springs Memorial Hospital, where he was transferred to Carolinas Medical Center. It is unclear how Patterson was injured.

Police said Friday afternoon that an investigation into the case was continuing.

Victim? No.

Suspect? Yes.

Likely recidivist? No longer.

Senator Lindsay Graham (R-SC) responds to my Sotomayor letter

2009-08-13T11:44:00.001-07:00

Here's Senator Lindsay Graham's response to this letter, asking him NOT to vote for the confirmation of Judge Sonya Sotomayor to the Supreme Court of the United States.

Dear Brian:
Thank you for contacting me regarding Second Amendment rights and Supreme Court nominee Judge Sonia Sotomayor. I appreciate the opportunity to hear from you on these important issues.
I have announced my intent to support Judge Sotomayor, in both the Senate Judiciary Committee and on the floor of the Senate, because I believe she is well-qualified for the position. As you may be aware, Judge Sotomayor's nomination was approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee on July 28, 2009, and awaits consideration by the full United States Senate.
I understand your concerns regarding Judge Sotomayor's record on Second Amendment rights. She was questioned extensively on this point during her confirmation hearings. Judge Sotomayor acknowledged and pledged to abide by the precedent established by the Supreme Court in District of Columbia v. Heller that the Second Amendment confers an individual right of gun ownership. In making my decision to support Judge Sotomayor's nomination, I considered how she might rule on a variety of issues, including gun rights. I weighed her past rulings, education, and statements on judicial philosophy, both in and out of the courtroom, to determine whether she was qualified for the position of Associate Justice. I also considered her character and the uniquely American story that her life presents. Finally, I studied whether there was anything about her past actions which would be serious enough to disqualify her from sitting on the Supreme Court. Finding none, and believing her qualifications to be exemplary, I chose to support her nomination.
I believe my record of supporting legislation which protects the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding Americans is clear. I joined 54 other senators, 250 representatives, and former Vice President Cheney in filing an amicus brief with the Supreme Court to argue that the long-standing District of Columbia (D.C.) handgun ban is unconstitutional. Additionally, I cosponsored an amendment to S. 160, the District of Columbia Voting Rights Act, which would conform D.C. gun laws to the requirements set out in the Heller decision. I have also cosponsored legislation, S. 371, which allows concealed carry reciprocity. Finally I was proud to cosponsor an amendment which restores the right of law- abiding citizens to possess, carry, and transport concealed weapons within a national park area or national wildlife refuge area. This legislation was signed into law by President Obama on May 22, 2009. I assure you I will continue to look for ways to protect the Second Amendment rights of all law-abiding Americans.

Thank you again for taking the time to share your thoughts. If I may be of further assistance to you or your family,please do not hesitate to call on me.

Sincerely,
Lindsey O. Graham
United States Senator

At the end there he mentions his support of the Thune-Vitter amendment (although oddly not by name) like I'd not heard of it - even though I mention it by name in my letter, clearly marking this as his form letter for "gun people". Sigh.

I'll give Lindsay and staff credit for not ignoring me completely and at least having some pro-2nd Amendment credibility. He really dropped the ball on this vote though.

For the record - I prefer the nigh-on instant response from Senator DeMint, via email. As a comparison, it is safe to say that Graham bought it and DeMint did not, safely neutering any influence the Republican Senators from South Carolina might have on the proceedings. This is not the first time this has happened and likely won't be the last.

Charlotte Rifle and Pistol Club

2009-08-13T09:05:00.000-07:00

Sebastian's post about Clubs got me thinking about joining the Charlotte Rifle and Pistol Club. It sure isn't cheap, and on top of the financial commitment, there is a time commitment as well. I will learn more when I actually get to go to an orientation, as I was unable to attend the most recent event and I will probably have to wait until September to get the ball rolling on the rest of the process.

Lot's of potential +pluses. The ranges look magnificent in comparison to what I am used to at the local commercial establishments (which aren't bad at all) and the moderately inconvenient Waxhaw location is just as far as the outdoor rifle range at Pappy's although it's in another direction.

I don't know if I have the time and $ to belong to more than one gun club as the Central Carolinas Shooting Club seems to be more my style. Decisions.

NC Dems trying to kill "Castle Doctrine"

2009-08-13T08:51:00.000-07:00

NC Senate Bill 928, “The Castle Doctrine” (For more on how Castle Doctrine strengthens your right to defend yourself, click here.) remarkably passed the Democrat-controlled NC Senate on 14 May of this year.

It has since languished in the NC House where it will face 3 committees as opposed to the typical single committee hearing where, if passed, it would head for a vote by the full chamber. This is due to the efforts of:

"Rep. Deborah Ross (Wake), the virulently anti-gun chair of the Judiciary I Committee...(who) maintains she is hearing “non-controversial” bills first, but doesn’t explain what should be “controversial” about a bill which simply reinforces the right of lawful citizens to protect themselves from imminent death or serious bodily injury. Indeed, if SB 928 is so “controversial,” why did it pass the Senate by a vote of 42 to 2?"

RTWH over at The Charlotte Gun Rights Examiner, who I just discovered via an email alert from Grass Roots NC. There is some good news at the end of the post.

Act now North Carolinians!

Contact Rep. Hugh Holliman (D-Davidson) at Hugh.Holliman@ncleg.net, 103 Sapona Road, Lexington, NC 27295, or 336-956-1385.

Contact Rep. Deborah Ross (D-Wake) at Deborah.Ross@ncleg.net, 425 S. Boylan Ave., Raleigh, NC 27603, or 919-832-6508.

Finally got to the range yesterday

2009-08-12T12:11:00.001-07:00

For the record: the pretty stag grips on the S&W M63 that I got off of gunbroker are going back in the box.

Dumbass here forgot to swap the "fancies" out for the factory grips before heading to the range for the first time in weeks and the results were not surprising in the slightest. It was hard to work the kung-fu grip on the tiny little things.

I had a great time blowing through my box o' cheap Federal .22LR and once I warmed up and switched to the higher-end Winchester stuff I managed some decent groups.

I need to make some money so I can spring for a trigger job and some nice chunky grips.

Total price for 30 minutes at the range: $12 (+ maybe $5 worth of ammo). I can barely take my other pistols out of the bag for $17. Win.

UPDATED: these are OTW - old set of Pachmayr grips for a square butt K frame for a whopping $14. I hope the factory grip screw works as one is not included with these. Got to dig that green shag carpet though.

Iowahawk: Know Your Town Hall Mob Agitators!

2009-08-07T05:54:00.000-07:00

Iowahawk has a guide for identifying Town Hall Astroturf Agitators. Hysterical.

Remain strong, citizen, for the day of their comeuppance is near! Patriotic spontaneous volunteers from MoveOn.org, Organizing For America, HCAN, SEIU, AFSCME, ACORN, NPR, and MSNBC have all pledged independent grassroots efforts to spread the word about the health-hating tricksters and their transparent astroturf agitation campaign!

In local news, U.S. Congressman John Spratt (D-SC 5th) - a CapNTrader - is surprising precisely ZERO of his constituents by not planning to hold any Town Hall meetings to discuss ObamaCare (another link here). Which is a pity as I'd love to go see some of the people that keep electing him, as I've never met anyone who voted for him.

Of course, I mostly hang out in gun shops.

Aim Right is moving!

2009-08-06T18:39:00.000-07:00

My favorite gun shop is moving closer to my house! Aim Right is moving to downtown Fort Mill.

Well it’s finally going to happen

We are MOVING

The Gun shop will relocate to Main Street Fort Mill.

The new address is 237 Main which is at the top of Main Street.

Should be in and ready to sell guns by the first of September.

We look forward to seeing You there.

Fatjak & the boys

Jack has informed me that the "big moving sale" is "Buy 1 for the price of 2". Ha.

from the Chucktown P&C "Brady Center critical of S.C."

2009-08-06T18:13:00.000-07:00

from the Chucktown Post & Courier "Brady Center critical of S.C."

Now I am jut shocked. SHOCKED I tell you. I simply cannot imagine why the Brady Center would be "Critical of SC"...

In 2006, lawmakers passed a bill that extended legal coverage under the Castle Doctrine, in which residents can use deadly force against intruders to protect themselves and their property. Someone's business or a car in danger of being hijacked became areas covered by the legally recognized defense.

Oh. There is that. And...

South Carolina is not shedding its reputation as a gun-buyers' haven, Brady Center senior attorney Daniel Vice said.
"Unfortunately," he said, "in South Carolina it is very easy for dangerous criminals to get deadly weapons."

Wow. Just like anywhere else, it's easy for dangerous criminals to get "deadly weapons" in South Carolina, just not LEGALLY.

Brady officials consider South Carolina a weak gun-law state because of the ease of getting firearms over the counter. Among their arguments is that there are no limits here on monthly purchases, and the lack of background checks required at gun shows.

Yawn. Nobody listening. Old news.

However this is actually the least biased gun story I've seen in print in some time. Good on you Schuyler Kropf, you've exceeded my expectations by not merely regurgitating Brady talking points, but adding the NRA response without a trace of a sneer.

Love the comments too.

If there are so many pro-gun folks in SC that take the time to write well-thought-out comments to stories like this, why does it seem like there are only 3 or 4 gunbloggers from SC?

More Dark Arts for Good Guys - great stuff

2009-08-04T14:33:00.000-07:00

Another update to the "Dark Arts for Good Guys" series from Straight Forward in a Crooked World (which is made of Win).

Matthew's latest entry:

Dark Arts for Good Guys: Where there's smoke

Dark Arts for Good Guys
Dark Arts for Good Guys :Bribery
Dark Arts for Good Guys : Bribery Part II
Dark Arts for Good Guys Series: Flight & Fight Part 1
Dark Arts for Good Guys Series: Fight & Flight pt II
Dark Arts for Good Guys: Flight Plan

Things you need to know and hope to never have to use.

OK one real post - Paypal hates not just guns, but soldiers too. Boo.

2009-08-01T19:53:00.000-07:00

Online donations through PayPal are a huge part of our fundraising. They shut down our entire account-not just the raffle button—for twelve hours right in the middle of an email fundraising push. Looking at the Terms of Use, we couldn’t understand where we’d gone wrong, but we had to immediately remove the raffle so we could get back online ASAP. This just breaks our hearts because we were so excited about the tremendous fundraising impact the Gun Blogger Rendezvous raffle was already having.

Good grief. Register a protest or something. This is a big deal. Puck Faypal. I'll send a check.

Light posting as I've been on a mini-vacay.

2009-08-01T19:48:00.000-07:00

Bare or bear with me. Managed to pick up a couple of days leave and I ran for the beach. Ran. Outer Banks NC, Hatteras. Beautiful.

More good news for SC shooters

2009-07-29T14:12:00.000-07:00

National Shooting Sports Foundation Awards $245,000 in Grants to Shooting Facilities

NEWTOWN, Conn.-To encourage the development of new marketing strategies that will motivate people to go target shooting and hunting, the National Shooting Sports Foundation has awarded grants totaling $245,531 to 12 shooting facilities around the country. This is the second year that NSSF has distributed funding to qualifying target ranges through its Range Partnership Grant Program.

"Research tells us that millions of Americans would like to try target shooting and hunting, and the place to get started is at one of the thousands of shooting ranges across the country," said Steve Sanetti, president of NSSF, trade association for the firearms industry. "These grants will help shooting range managers implement creative marketing strategies that will introduce newcomers and reactivate former shooters so they can enjoy lifetime activities that are fun and can be shared with family and friends. Time and again we see that when newcomers go target shooting, they like it-a lot. We just need to help get them started."

Said Melissa Schilling, NSSF's manager of recruitment and retention, "These grants will help to test measurable projects that, if successful, will be shared with shooting facilities around the country."

Thirty-eight proposals in all were submitted by shooting facilities nationwide. Some of this year's grant recipients proposed projects in partnership with organizations and agencies associated with recreational shooting and hunting.

The 2009 Range Partnership Grant Program recipients are as follows . . .

Mid-Carolina Rifle Club, Rocky Creek, Harris Springs Sportsman's Preserve and Little Mountain Gun & Supply, Inc. (partnering with South Carolina Department of Natural Resources), Columbia, S.C.--$67,000

Project: Develop model methods for improving public awareness of, and accessibility to, shooting ranges in South Carolina.

There you go.

NRA awards $75,000 to South Carolina—funds that unlocked an additional $225,000 from the DNR’s share of federal Pittman-Robertson funds.

2009-07-29T13:55:00.000-07:00

Great news for SC shooters - (especially those in the Upstate)

The NRA awarded $75,000 to South Carolina—funds that unlocked an additional $225,000 from the DNR’s share of federal Pittman-Robertson funds. The Pittman-Robertson Act, which levies an excise tax on the sale of firearms and ammunition and then returns that money to the states each year for habitat and range projects, requires matching funds at a 3:1 ratio. Thus, each $25,000 grant from NRA will be matched in kind with $75,000 from South Carolina’s Pittman-Robertson appropriations, for a total of $100,000 per range project, or $300,000 in all.

(snip)

One of those grants will be used to build a 50- and 100-yard rifle and pistol range at Woodbury WMA in Marion County, with the possibility of extending the range to 200 yards. The other grant will be used to build three new trap and skeet fields for youth programs at Marsh WMA, also in Marion County, although adults can also use the fields if they make prior arrangements with the DNR.

I need some matching funds from the DNR to help me afford enough gas to get over to the Leeds Range outside of Clover. Man that's a haul!

Judiciary Committee Approves Sotomayor for Supreme Court

2009-07-28T09:56:00.000-07:00

From Foxnews:

The Senate Judiciary Committee has voted to approve Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor to be the first Hispanic justice.
The committee voted 13-6 Tuesday morning to send Sotomayor's nomination to the full Senate, where she's expected to be confirmed easily next week.
Just one Republican, South Carolina's Lindsey Graham, joined Democrats in voting for President Barack Obama's first high court nominee. The panel's chairman, Vermont Democrat Patrick Leahy, called Sotomayor a restrained, fair and impartial judge who has not favored any one group of people over another. But the top Republican, Alabama's Jeff Sessions, said her speeches and some rulings revealed beliefs that conflict with the idea of blind justice and fidelity to the law.

I hope SC voters are paying attention.

Dark Arts for Good Guys continues...

2009-07-28T08:21:00.000-07:00

An update to the "Dark Arts for Good Guys" series from Straight Forward in a Crooked World (which is made of Win).

Matthew's latest entry:

Dark Arts for Good Guys: Flight Plan

Snubby ammo choice

2009-07-24T07:35:00.000-07:00

James @ www.Hellinahandbasket.net has a great post about snubby ammo selection http://www.hellinahandbasket.net/2009/07/quest-for-ammo.htm

I carry a S&W 642 as my CCW. I spend a lot of time in busy, populated places so I load it with 5 of the overpriced Blue Tip Glaser Safety Slugs (not +p). I've got a couple of Bianchi speed strips with Remington Golden Saber 125 grain +P JHP on and/or around my person for reloads.

I have not shot the requisite 100+ rounds of the Glasers, as I could easily purchase another pistol for what that would cost me. Doom on me. I am working my way towards 150 of the aforementioned 125 gr +P JHP, but they kick like the proverbial whipped mule and aren't any bargain to take to the range either.

The Glasers don't get a lot of positive comments on boards. Not at all. I am going to risk a smack-down over on Hellinahandbasket and ask the smart guys what they think about them.

Update: the more I read the more likely that there will be some Glasers for sale on GB soon.

Update 2: My question to James got a whole post as a reply. With polar bear pic goodness.

Fun with your elected official

2009-07-24T07:06:00.000-07:00

Joe Huffman responds to his Senator Murray's "Legislation to regulate the use of firearms is and should remain primarily a state issue."

Since you are of the opinion that legislation to regulate the use of firearms is, and should remain, primarily a state issue I presume I can count on your support of efforts to remove firearm regulations at the Federal level. I would like to suggest you introduce legislation to undo the continuing infringement of our rights inflicted by the following Federal firearms laws:

• National Firearms Act of 1934
• Gun Control Act of 1968
• The Hughes Amendment
• The Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act

Once those are infringements have been successfully resolved I will be glad to provide you with a list of other Federal firearms laws that need to be eliminated as well.

Read the whole thing.

A reply from Senator DeMint's office

2009-07-24T07:03:00.000-07:00

From the Office of Senator DeMint

Dear Mr. and Mrs. M,

Thank you for contacting me to express your concerns over the nomination of Judge Sonia Sotomayor to the U.S. Supreme Court. I appreciate hearing from you on this important issue.

As you may know, President Obama nominated Judge Sotomayor on May 26. It is now up to the U.S. Senate to determine her qualifications to serve on the Supreme Court. Every Senator swears an oath to support and defend the Constitution. Few things are more central to our duty than confirming Supreme Court justices who will uphold the law and apply it equally for all Americans, not rewrite it from the bench based on personal opinion.

After personally meeting with Judge Sotomayor, I didn't hear anything that eased my concerns about her judicial approach. She was unwilling to say the Second Amendment protects a fundamental right that applies to all Americans, which raises serious questions about her view of the Bill of Rights. Additionally, when I asked if an unborn child has any rights whatsoever, I was surprised that she said she had never thought about it. This is not just a question about abortion, but about the respect due to human life at all stages, and I hope this is cleared up in her confirmation hearings.

Those who serve on the highest court in America must have an unwavering commitment to the Constitution and equal justice for all Americans. Please rest assured, I will continue to review Judge Sotomayor's decisions and public statements and will watch her confirmation hearings closely.

Thank you again for sharing your thoughts with me. Please feel free to contact me in the future about any issue important to you or your family. It is an honor to serve you and the people of South Carolina.

Sincerely,

Jim DeMint
United States Senator

Haven't heard anything back from Lindsey yet. Imagine that.

Found some .22LR at the Wal Mart by work today

2009-07-23T13:44:00.000-07:00

4 Federal big box o' 550 22LR at Wal-mart. $17 a box. My new friend Todd at the sporting goods counter (I see him almost weekly, so we are practically friends...really) said that the 4 boxes had been there since...gasp...Monday! Could this be yet another sign that the ammo shortage has calmed down?

I bought 3.

Going plinking this weekend. Yep.

Wet pants happiness from our friend Josh Sugarmann

2009-07-22T11:21:00.000-07:00

Wet pants happiness from our friend Josh Sugarmann at the VPC... we'll get the 2 votes next time pal.

To Violence Policy Center Action Network Members:

Thank you!

Earlier today, the U.S. Senate defeated a National Rifle Association-backed measure sponsored by South Dakota Senator John Thune that would have created a nationalized concealed handgun permitting system--and your calls helped make the difference!

Below, please find the press release issued by the VPC following this important victory.

Click here to see how your Senators voted:

http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=111&session=1&vote=00237

Thank you again for helping make this victory possible.

Sincerely,

Josh Sugarmann
Executive Director

***

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Violence Policy Center Statement on Defeat of Thune Amendment Creating National Concealed Handgun System

Washington, DC--Following today's Senate vote defeating the Thune Amendment, which would have created a nationalized concealed handgun permitting system, the Violence Policy Center issued the following statement by VPC Legislative Director Kristen Rand:

"Today's Senate vote is a victory for those who support a sane national gun policy.

"Concealed carry permit holders have already killed police officers, murdered innocent citizens, and committed mass shootings.

"The Thune Amendment would have nullified laws in states such as New York and California that have tough standards for the issuance of concealed handgun permits. Those states would have been forced to allow the carrying of concealed handguns within their borders by people with permits issued by states with the lowest standards, such as Idaho and Florida. The amendment would have also undermined state assault weapons bans because it would have allowed permit holders to carry concealed assault weapons into the seven states that currently ban these guns.

"The danger of the Thune amendment is demonstrated by the fact that proponents of a nationalized concealed carry system argue that lax concealed handgun laws are the answer to mass shootings, but the hard facts are that concealed handgun permit holders do not prevent mass shootings, they perpetrate them."

Earlier this week, the VPC released a new study (http://www.vpc.org/studies/ccw2009.pdf) showing that concealed handgun permit holders killed at least seven police officers and 44 private citizens in 31 incidents during the period May 2007 through April 2009. Among the study's findings--

o Over the two-year period May 2007 through April 2009, concealed handgun permit holders have slain seven law enforcement officers resulting in criminal charges or the suicide of the shooter. All of the killings were committed with guns. An additional three law enforcement officers were injured in these incidents.

o Over the two-year period May 2007 through April 2009, concealed handgun permit holders have slain at least 44 private citizens resulting in criminal charges or the suicide of the shooter. All but one of the killings were committed with guns. An additional six private citizens were injured in these incidents.

o In six of the 31 incidents (19 percent), the concealed handgun permit holder killed himself, bringing the total fatality count to 57.

o Five of the incidents were mass shootings resulting in the deaths of 23 victims.

***

The Violence Policy Center (www.vpc.org) is a national educational organization working to stop gun death and injury.

--END-

***

If you no longer wish to receive Action Network e-mails from the VPC, please reply to this e-mail with the word "unsubcribe" in the subject line.

For more information on the VPC, please visit www.vpc.org.

No NC provision for briefcases, handbags, purses in the car.

2009-07-22T07:43:00.000-07:00

There is no NC provision for CCW in briefcases, handbags, or purses in your vehicle. Apparently having my pistol concealed in my briefcase on the seat next to me makes it more accessible than having it concealed on my person in a shoulder rig, crossdraw or ankle holster.

However, I can legally leave it in plain view on the seat or the dash. Goofy.

Emphasis is mine.

NORTH CAROLINA FIREARMS LAWS

This publication is only represented to be current as of the revision date on this cover page. Material in this publication may have been altered, added, or deleted since the revision date. Information contained in this publication should not be relied upon as legal advise in a particular scenario. This information is designed as a reference guide only.

ROY COOPER

ATTORNEY GENERAL

JOHN J. ALDRIDGE, III

SPECIAL DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL

NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

LAW ENFORCEMENT LIAISON SECTION

REVISED DECEMBER 2007

Publication Website: http://www.ncdoj.com

Once into the site, click on “Crime & Law Enforcement,” located in the top center of the page;

then click on “Concealed Handguns,” located on the bottom left of the page.
-snip-
III. POSSESSING AND CARRYING FIREARMS
-snip-
D. Transporting Weapons

Given this general prohibition of carrying concealed weapons, individuals must be ever vigilant to ensure their particular situation cannot be construed as concealing a weapon, either on or about them, without being properly authorized to do so with a valid North Carolina, or recognized out-of state concealed handgun permit. Therefore, the permittee's accessibility to the weapon is of prime importance. It is for these reasons, that when transporting a weapon in a vehicle, even greater care must be exercised to ensure that the weapon is not concealed, and within the ready access to an occupant of the vehicle. North Carolina law does not specifically address how to transport a weapon in an automobile. Therefore, the central question becomes: when is the weapon concealed and readily accessible to an occupant of an automobile? Obviously, a weapon would be concealed and readily accessible, and therefore in violation of North Carolina law, if it were placed in such areas of a vehicle as under the seat of the automobile; in a bag in the back seat; or in some other manner is covered or hidden within the easy reach of an occupant of the vehicle. It is our recommendation that firearms should not be carried in a glove compartment regardless of whether the compartment is locked or not.

While a weapon carried openly in an automobile would not be concealed, there are other problems specific to this method of carrying a weapon. The principal drawback, of course, is in the event of an individual being stopped by a law enforcement official, the officer may not readily know that individual's purpose and intent for carrying a weapon. As such, it is imperative that an individual immediately notify an officer of the presence of any weapon in the automobile, for the officer's and the vehicle's occupants' safety. Another obvious drawback is that a valuable weapon may be in plain view for potential thieves to see. The prohibition to carrying concealed weapons applies not only to handguns and other weapons commonly thought of as being easily hidden, but also to "long guns" as well. Therefore, shotguns and rifles concealed behind the seat of pickup trucks, and elsewhere in other vehicles, could similarly violate North Carolina law.

As to those vehicles with no easily discernible trunk area (i.e., vans, etc.), the question arises on a factual determination of when the weapon is within ready and easy access to an occupant of the vehicle. If the weapon is concealed near, in close proximity to, or within the convenient control and access of an occupant, which would allow him/her to use the weapon quickly, then a fair probability exists that the occupant is in violation of the law. Therefore, care must be exercised by any occupant of any vehicle to ensure that weapons are securely locked away in as remote an area as possible, in relation to the passenger compartment of the vehicle. It is important to emphasize that these prohibitions apply to passengers, as well as drivers of any vehicle.

I suppose I shouldn't be bitching too much. At least NC has reciprocity with SC (where I can pretty much put my gun wherever the hell I want to - on my person or in my car - as long as it IS concealed - no open carry in SC - also goofy.)

foil hat alert - GM will be able to turn off your vehicle remotely

2009-07-22T06:14:00.000-07:00

at Endgadget

OnStar's already rolled out a method for slowing down stolen vehicles once the cops have 'em in sight, and it looks like it's now come up with a solution for the ones that get away as well. Dubbed Remote Ignition Block, the new sevice does just what it promises and uses GPS to prevent the vehicle from starting again once the ignition has been turned off. As with most of these systems, however, the police will first have to confirm that the vehicle is in fact stolen before OnStar flips the switch, so you'll have to come up with something else for your next grand workplace prank. No word on specifics just, but OnStar says it'll be making the service available on over two million GM 2009 and 2010 model year vehicles.

(puts foil hat on)

Government owns GM, GM owns Onstar, you buy a Camaro instead of a Volt Hybrid Plug In. At some point in the future it is decided that your car is using too much gas/isn't efficient enough/doesn't meet the next round of new CAFE standards. They turn it off. You can't turn it back on.

(takes foil hat off)

Dear Senator Demint

2009-07-21T20:18:00.000-07:00

Senator Demint:

Thank you for not voting to confirm Judge Sotamayor. In the 2004 case United States v. Sanchez-Villar, Judge Sotomayor stated "the right to possess a gun is clearly not a fundamental right." That's enough for me and my friends, family and co-workers.

Let's see who he can come up with next.

Also -thank you for supporting the Thune-Vitter amendment. CCW licensees are among the most law abiding segments of society. By very nature of the application process, compliance with the law is a prerequisite for obtaining a license. Individuals with a criminal history couldn't get one even if they were so inclined to do so. Revocation rates are very low, and crime rates in general (not just firearms violations) are extremely low. CCW permit holders are not now, have never been, and will never be the problem. However, they can be part of the solution to the problem.

I enjoyed your comments on the WBT morning show with Al & Stacy this morning. Thank you for your candor. I do not always agree with you , but you get it right on the things that matter most to me and my friends and family.
Thank you.
Brian M.
Constituent

Dear Senator Graham

2009-07-21T20:08:00.000-07:00

Please do not vote to confirm Judge Sonya Sotamayor. In the 2004 case United States v. Sanchez-Villar, Judge Sotomayor stated "the right to possess a gun is clearly not a fundamental right." That's enough for me and my friends, family and co-workers.

Let's see who he can come up with next.

Also - thank you for supporting the Thune-Vitter amendment. CCW licensees are among the most law abiding segments of society. By very nature of the application process, compliance with the law is a prerequisite for obtaining a license. Individuals with a criminal history couldn't get one even if they were so inclined to do so. Revocation rates are very low, and crime rates in general (not just firearms violations) are extremely low. CCW permit holders are not now, have never been, and will never be the problem. However, they can be part of the solution to the problem.

Thank you.
Brian M
Constituent

Why do I go to MSNBC.com?

2009-07-21T13:13:00.000-07:00

For laughs, I guess. What a ridiculous headline.

I don't think kids should hunt unsupervised. When mine are old enough to hunt, and if they want to, we'll go together until I decide they can go on their own. That will not be before they're 16. Your mileage may vary, but I'd rather deal with a teenager bitching about being stuck in the blind with dad than having to deal with guilt over mistaking some lady for a bear.

Gun Show This Weekend in Columbia, SC

2009-07-21T12:23:00.000-07:00

Heading to Colatown this weekend for gun show at the Jamil Temple. It's the only "local" one for months and months that coincides with a free weekend for me. Win.

Jamil Shrine Center
206 Jamil Road
Columbia, SC 29210

Map to Show

July 25 & 26, 2009

from Gunshows-usa and SCACA

Shopping list:
ammo

A harrowing account of a CCW holder's run in with an overzealous PD

2009-07-21T10:22:00.000-07:00

Bryan's had a long summer.

That story sets my teeth on edge.

via the always excellent Breda.

More pants-wetting from Josh Sugarmann @ the VPC

2009-07-21T09:35:00.000-07:00

In the inbox today...

To Violence Policy Center Action Network Members:

TOMORROW, WEDNESDAY, JULY 22, the U.S. Senate is scheduled to vote on an amendment sponsored by South Dakota Senator John Thune to the defense reathorization bill (S. 1390) that would force our communities to allow dangerous individuals from other states to carry loaded, hidden handguns in public.

ACTION STEP

Call your two U.S. Senators today! Call 202-224-3121 and ask to be connected to your Senators' offices.

Tell your U.S. Senators to vote NO on the Thune gun amendment.

A new VPC study (http://www.vpc.org/studies/ccw2009.pdf) released yesterday and cited in a New York Times editorial (http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/21/opinion/21tue2.html?_r=1&ref=opinion) today shows that in a recent two-year period in only 31 incidents, concealed handgun permit holders killed at least seven law enforcement officers and 44 private citizens. These incidents include five mass shootings resulting in the deaths of 23 victims. Because of the secretive nature of state concealed carry systems, the VPC was forced to rely on news clippings for its research. The actual number of unjustified killings by concealed handgun permit holders is most likely far, far higher.

States currently have the authority to make their own rules about who can carry a concealed weapon (CCW). But the gun lobby's friends in Congress want to dramatically undermine each state's authority to determine who can possess handguns by allowing individuals with concealed carry permits issued by virtually any other state to cross state lines with their deadly weapons and carry loaded guns in public--a policy that will also increase gun trafficking, as well as gun deaths and injuries. This proposal is particularly dangerous for states like California that have tough permitting standards.

o The Thune amendment would dramatically increase the number of individuals carrying concealed handguns in public in your state.

o The Thune amendment would require states to recognize concealed carry permits that are issued by other states. The practical effect of this change would be to establish the lowest common denominator as the general rule for carrying a concealed handgun.

Call your senators NOW and tell them to vote NO on the Thune amendment.

Thank you, as always, for your time and energy to help stop gun violence.

Sincerely,

Josh Sugarmann
Executive Director

I think Uncle has dismantled the "study" that Sugarmann and the time cite as the usual junk we can expect from these people...er this person (is there anyone else at the VPC except Sugarmann?).

The "Irrefutable" is refuted...

2009-07-21T06:45:00.000-07:00

Kevin at The Smallest Minority provides 10,000 or so words that I would commit to memory in order to properly prepared for any conversation concerning the 2nd Amendment.

Seriously. I am going to print this out and carry it in my wallet.

Robb at Sharp As a Marble found the original op-ed. My favorite comment from the original is from a guy named Ed who states:

"Propagandist! Parrot! Fool!"

While I hope that some day I will be able to provide a Kevin-Level Dismantling, my attempts at discourse are more like Ed.

Found another great blog...

2009-07-21T06:14:00.000-07:00

via James at Hellinahandbasket. This one is Straight Forward in a Crooked World and it is made of Win. Matthew is currently writing a series called 'Dark Arts for Good Guys" and links are below:

Dark Arts for Good Guys
Dark Arts for Good Guys :Bribery
Dark Arts for Good Guys : Bribery Part II
Dark Arts for Good Guys Series: Flight & Fight Part 1
Dark Arts for Good Guys Series: Fight & Flight pt II

Great information. I'd characterize the posts as things you need to know, hope to never have to use, but probably will.

Facebookers Firearms Friendly?

2009-07-16T13:10:00.000-07:00

91.9% of Facebook users polled would not support "a nationwide handgun ban".

Grabbed this off of FB this morning after taking the poll. After working up a good smirk waiting for the results, I was suprised and delighted to see that a crushing majority of those Facebookers who took the poll would NOT support"a nationwide handgun ban".

I look at this as either hope for the future, proof that we're winning or both.

Of course, I am not certain that anyone is specifically calling for "a nationwide handgun ban" right now, but it's nice to know that when/if such a call went out there are +300K folks on Facebook that would NOT support it.

Click here to see the current results and comment thread. You'll need to be logged in to FB to see it.

I'd like to run an "assault weapons" - any ideas on how to word it...anyone?

Messing around with rss2twitter...

2009-07-16T10:49:00.000-07:00

based off of a tweet from Uncle. If I get this right, my 1 reader will enjoy regular updates.

Obey Obama

2009-07-14T19:50:00.000-07:00

Insty has a post linking to an article written by someone who has never heard of Shepard Fairey - the guy who came up with those "Andre the Giant has a posse" stickers back in the day. He created the now (in)famous "HOPE" poster for Obama and is famous or something.

I hate to link to the guy - but if you've never heard of him and want to know more - here is a link.

Rebranding the site a bit

2009-07-01T20:35:00.000-07:00

So, realizing that I post more about firearm issues more than survival issues...here's the new blog name: Another Gun Guy. Good luck trying to find me.

Calling all kooks

2009-06-23T21:48:00.000-07:00

The knee-slappingly funny thing is these same critics – who possess no practical skills beyond the ability to craft a cutting sentence or verbally spear beauty queens – are positive they represent the common viewpoint of most Americans.

Snark from elsewhere - but she thinks like I do. Only difference is that she is doing. Read.