The Turkey Foot Brand

Scary gun trade

2011-12-25T21:46:00.003-06:00

Have you ever fallen into a gun trade by accident that just turns out very well for you, and it was the other guy's idea? Happened to me this past week. A family member needed some money, so I offered a more than fair sum for a nice (not terrific) Smith & Wesson Model 10-5 four-inch tapered, pinned barreled revolver. So far, so good, right? Well, to do that, I needed to sell something else, so I made a deal with a coworker to sell him a KelTec P32 that I hadn't carried since I shot it over a Chrony chronograph and realized how really underpowered it was.

Then, it happened. Turned out my coworker couldn't sell the gun he was selling to buy my KelTec and his wife told him, "You can't buy it unless you sell something else." So, there we were, both of us short of money and unable to complete the deals. Well, my wife moved some money around so I could complete the deal with the family member, leaving me with a KelTec P32 and a guy who wanted it.

I called my coworker to ask him if he still wanted the P32, and he allowed as how he did but couldn't come up with the cash. I asked him what he was trying to sell, and he told me it was a stainless steel Smith & Wesson snubnosed revolver. Figuring to help out a buddy, I told him to bring it into the office, and I'd trade him straight across.

This afternoon, we made the swap. I traded him a fairly well-used KelTec P32, a spare magazine, a box of CorBon .32 ACP ammo, an Uncle Mike's pocket holster, and a Fobus paddle holster for a Smith & Wesson revolver. Turns out, the S&W isn't stainless, it's nickel-plated. It's a nickel-plated Model 37 (no dash) Airweight with custom finger-groove grips with a palm swell. It was made in 1982, and could be sold ANIB if it had the box and papers.

I did ask my coworker if he was sure he wanted to go through with the trade, and he insisted that he did. Well, I tried to do the right thing...

ECS

Time flies...

2011-12-24T10:06:00.002-06:00

Okay, it's been over a year since I posted anything. In my defense, I've been kind of busy. I am a security specialist, and I was working Petrochemical Security for a refining and marketing company before, during, and after a "merger of equals." Once the merger was completed, I realized that nothing was going to change (Security was a cost factor, not a money maker. Therefore, security issues were secondary to everything else.) so I left.

I am now working as a security specialist for a city government. The hours are better, the money is better, the support is tremendous, and we get money from Homeland Security to buy neat stuff! There is some grumbling from city employees about the changes and some confusion from the public about just who we are ("Are you guys police officers?"), but we just keep smiling. Word just went out to city employees that failure to present their badges on request can result in disciplinary action up to and including termination. (We can issue temporary badges to those folks who forget theirs.)

I'm carrying a Glock 22 .40 S&W on duty these days (City requirement - It's what the cops carry) but on my own time I'm still a revolver guy.

More later.

ECS

Convenience store shooting has robber's family asking questions

2010-09-20T14:36:00.003-05:00

Unbelieveable. Two masked men armed with rifles enter a convenience store in North Tulsa, start shooting, and the clerk shoots back with a handgun, killing one of the robbers, and the robber's family has questions?

The deceased robber, identified as 14-year-old(!) Qualynn Dabney, was an eighth grader in an alternative school program operated through a partnership between the Tulsa County Juvenile Bureau and the Tulsa Public Schools, indicating that he was not a stranger to the justice system. By accounts in the article, he was a wonderful student, well-liked, and energetic, yet he ended up dead on the floor of a convenience store with a .22 rifle next to his body.

His grandmother, who was not identified as a witness, said the "other boy" had the rifle and fled, leaving her grandson alone and unarmed. She doesn't think he should have been shot and wants a thorough investigation. I think that's a wonderful idea.

Questions need to be asked all right. How about we find out from the family:
1) Why was a 14-year-old boy out on the streets at 10:45 PM on a school night?
2) What was a 14-year-old boy doing robbing a convenience store?
3) What was a 14-year-old boy doing with a gun, despite his family's claim that he didn't have a gun?
4) What should the clerk have done when two men burst into his store shooting?
5) Would they rather have had the clerk, just a man working for a living, been shot by the 14-year-old boy?
6) Will they identify the "other boy" since they seem to know so much about the crime?
7) Are there any other questions they want to ask in an attempt to deflect interest away from their failure to control their child and prevent him from meeting his untimely end?

I seriously doubt that the clerk had time to determine how old his assailants were nor that it would have mattered since they apparently came in the door shooting. It is enough that he was in fear for his life and returned fire. The fact that a 14-year-old child who should have been home in bed died is a tragedy, but he made bad choice, a choice from which his family should have protected him.

I just hope the "culture of silence" doesn't protect his partner in crime who also is responsible for this young man's death.

ECS

September 11, then and now

2010-09-13T10:38:00.000-05:00

On September 11, 2001, I was at work in Tulsa preparing one of our corporate classrooms for a new group of employees. When I went back into our L&D office one of my coworkers asked me to turn on the radio in my cubicle because a plane had hit the World Trade Center.

With my first thought that it was a replay of the B-25 hitting the Empire State Building during WW2, I turned on my portable radio. We listened in growing horror as events unfolded.

Moving to the theater/auditorium where someone had put the television on the main screen, we watched, some in horror, some in anger, as the second plane hit the second tower. I stayed to watch people jumping to escape the flames, to hear about the Pentagon attack, and to see both towers collapse. I was one of the angry ones.

We had an office in one of the towers.

We were all released for the rest of the day. By the time I left the building, the sky was empty of aircraft and what contrails crossed the sky were fading.

I went to get my corporate-length hair cropped, shaved my beard, and trimmed my mustache back to military regs. I called the Army and had a nice young sergeant advise me the that they weren’t currently accepting applications from members of the Retired Reserve to return to active duty.

On Saturday, September 11, 2010, I flew my flag and attended our neighborhood block party. Now too old to be recalled to active duty, having been too high mileage and beat up to be recalled before reaching the magic age 55, I listened to my neighbors chatter and the children play. In the nine years since the attack on our country, people seem to have forgotten.

I haven’t forgotten. I haven’t forgiven. Every time I see people shaking their fists in rage screaming, “Death to America!” for some presumed or pretended slight to their religion or culture, I get angry all over again.

I’m tired of waiting for “moderate Muslims” in the United States to decry the violence and demonic behavior by their co-religionists. I’m tired of being “deemed” a racist and hater by people who hate me because I don’t believe as they do. I’m tired of being treated like some barbarian because I advocate defending our country, our borders, and our families from anyone who would do us harm.

I’m not sure when the change took place, the lessening of the anger, the numbness that replaced the shock, the complacency that replaced the calls to action, but I don’t like it one bit. What has happened in this country is like losing interest in WW2 sometime after Operation Torch and before Operation Overlord.

It’s time to replay the images of that day, complete and uncensored. People need to be reminded of exactly what happened and why. Those foreigners who demand that we honor the freedom of religion of their co-religionists need to be told to do the same in their own countries, allow freedom of religion. Those who don’t want their holy books burned should stop burning holy books. Oh, and the next time someone claims that I am a member of the “Taliban wing of the Republican Party,” I may just punch his lights out.

ECS
Captain, Armor
Army of the United States (Retired)

Invasion in an undeclared war and treason at the highest levels

2010-03-29T22:40:00.003-05:00

The United States of America is being invaded, American citizens are being killed, property is being despoiled, and our government refuses to do anything about it, thus committing treason.

Yeah, I said treason. The accused? President Barack Obama, Secretary of State Hilary Clinton, Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano, members of Congress, former Presidents George Bush, Bill Clinton, and members of their administrations.

A rancher in Arizona is murdered and his dog shot while trying to help illegal aliens he found on his land over the weekend. Robert Krentz called a family member to say he'd found one or more illegals at one of his water holes and was helping them. He and his dog ended up dead, and the presumptive killers fled on foot to Mexico. Were they members of the Mexican military or police? Probably not, although it's common knowledge that the drug cartels have suborned entire units of Mexican military, paramilitary, and police. The Border Patrol and the county sheriff have no suspects. I can't tell them who killed Mr. Krentz, but I can tell them who enabled the crime: every one of those people I listed above.

People living on the border with Mexico tell of gates smashed, fences cut or run down, cattle run wild or killed, butchered, and cooked on the spot, property stolen. They tell of people knocking on doors at all hours, demanding food, water, and beer, and making threats. Ranchers have given up on their livelihoods on land their families have owned for more than a century. People go armed to check their livestock and water holes. They don't go out at night. They're afraid to leave their homes unattended. They're afraid to confront trespassers. They're afraid their trucks will be stolen from the Walmart parking lots.

The Border Patrol has apprehended over 20,000 illegals in the area in the last twelve months just on this one section of the border. If they catch one-in-four, that's almost one hundred thousand illegals a year coming into the United States. If the ratio is one-in-ten, that's getting close to a quarter of a million illegals. That, folks, is an invasion.

What is the response of our government? Well, the local Congresswoman says she's going to ask for Federal troops to be deployed along the border. Senator McCain hasn't spoken of it, nor has his La Raza-approved advisor. We've heard the Attorney General and Secretary of State claim that the drug cartels are armed with guns purchased illegally at US gun shops and gun shows and say nothing when the Mexican government functionaries claim that our Second Amendment is to blame for the violence on the Mexican side of the border. Those same Mexican government functionaries assist the illegal border crossers because the money earned by illegals in the United States and sent home provide the second highest amount of Mexican income behind oil.

So what we have is an invasion of the United States facilitated by the Mexican government, aided and abetted by members of our own government at the very highest levels, and nothing is done. Nothing is done to those who hire illegals. Nothing is done to truly secure the border. No one in our government tells the Mexican government to solve their own problems. No one in our government wants to eject the illegal aliens living in our midst, who are, by definition, criminals.

The actions of the Mexican government amount to a war on the United States, an economic infiltration of our borders by people hostile to us and our way of life. The actions of the United States government amount to nothing less than treason.

Strong words, you say? Tell it to the Krentz family. I'm sure they'll be receptive.

ECS

The Christmas Rifle and the Christmas Blizzard of 2009 - Update

2009-12-24T23:07:00.006-06:00

My lovely wife bought me a Christmas Rifle, a Ruger Mini 14 in .223 Rem/5.56x45mm NATO, at Walmart when she was picking up Christmas presents for the grandchildren and groceries. Then, today around 1:00 pm the rain turned to sleet, making good on the Winter Storm Warning. However, it didn't stop there; the weatherguessers then changed the Winter Storm Warning to a Blizzard Warning. The wind kicked up to a steady 35 kts, the sleet accumulated and turned into snow. I had to pick my wife up from work, leaving her car there, and stop numerous times to clear the windshield wipers of an accumulation of ice. My younger daughter swore she could get home, but I ended up serving as her GPS over her cell phone to get her to my mom's house.

So, here we are, home alone and exhausted. My older daughter, son-in-law, and grandchildren are home since they couldn't get here. My younger daughter is at grandma's. We're all supposed to go to grandma's for Christmas tomorrow, and we will if the roads get plowed in time. So here I am with a nifty Christmas Rifle, and, unless the weather moderates, nobody will get to see it.

It seems to me that someone should have warned us that Algore was going to be in the state this week. Next person tells me "Global Warming" is real is gonna get punched. (Exaggeration for effect.)

Update: We all got to my Mom's house after a few shuttle runs, and we had a wonderful Christmas dinner. There were 19 of us including my younger niece's brand new baby boy. The weather is still cold, cold enough that we still have the snow and ice. I have to go back to work this afternoon, so it will be at least two weeks before I can get to the range. For some reason, my wife doesn't want to spend part of our 36th Wedding Anniversary weekend shooting. Go figure.

ECS

O Canada, kiss my...

2009-09-17T19:12:00.003-05:00

...posterior.

Draft dodgers ran away to Canada during Vietnam. They must have mixed with the Canadian gene pool and made them stupid.

Canada introduces bill supporting war deserters

TORONTO (AP) — A Canadian member of Parliament has introduced a bill that would allow U.S. and other war resisters to stay in Canada.
The bill, introduced Thursday by the Liberal Party's Gerard Kennedy, would allow other countries' military deserters to stay in Canada if their refusal to serve is based on sincere moral, political or religious objections.

Parliament has already voted twice to support war resisters, but those were non-binding motions.

Kennedy's bill would be binding because it would amend the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.

At least two war resisters seeking asylum in Canada have already been deported to the U.S.

"...other countries' military deserters..." I guess they're getting a ton of Pakistani, Russian, Uruguayan, and Australian deserters up there, eh? Apparently the author was too cowardly to say, "We're going to let American deserters stay in Canada as long as they say they have '...sincere moral, political(!!), or religious obections.'" Well, isn't that just peachy?

As far as I'm concerned, the little cowardly bastards missed the boat on "...sincere moral,...or religious objections..." when they raised their right hands and took the oath of enlistment. The fact that the idiot Kennedy thinks ...political...objections... are sufficient to desert sworn duty dishonors any American soldier who understands that their duty is to their country, not a bunch of stinking politicians!

If this passes the Canadian Parliament, the United States should end all military co-operation with Canada, refuse entry into the United States of any and all Canadians unless they can claim that they are "political refugees," and require all American companies to divest themselves of any properties, including assembly plants. Further, any products originating in or passing through Canada should have a 100% tariff placed on them. Of course, since our current administration has no cojones, nothing will happen if our closest neighbor decides to shield a bunch of sniveling cowards.

ECS

Governor Perry sends Texas Rangers and National Guard to "hot spots"

2009-09-12T15:16:00.002-05:00

Accusing the Federal government of dragging it's feet on border security, Governor Rick Perry of Texas has ordered special "Ranger Recon" teams supported by National Guard troops to "high traffic, high crime" areas along the Texas-Mexico border to support local law enforcement, especially in rural areas where local law enforcement and sheriffs' departments can be overwhelmed.

Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison's spokesman attacked the Governor's actions as "yet another empty election-year promise." Of course, she's running against him in the next Republican primary.

Governor Perry's response was about the hypocrisy of pointing at his efforts when Senator Hutchison's efforts in Washington to help Texas protect it's border have been on the order of ineffective. The Governor asked Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano for 1,000 National Guard troops to help police the border earlier this year and renewed his request in a letter to President Obama last week. The response? Crickets.

I salute Governor Rick Perry for his actions.

ECS

Global "Warmification" must be at fault here!

2009-09-11T13:27:00.001-05:00

Cry for the "Milwaukee Rain Forest."

It turns out that this summer has been the coolest in the last decade, and, in some areas, the coolest on record. Here in Oklahoma, it didn't look good since we had some real heat (over 100 degrees) in June, but since then the weather has been at or below norms.

ECS

President Obama wants my help

2009-09-10T14:28:00.003-05:00

I just got this from our President.

Elm Creek --

I just finished laying out my plan for health reform at a joint session of Congress. Now, I'm writing directly to you because what happens next is critical -- and I need your help.

Change this big will not happen because I ask for it. It can only come when the nation demands it. Congress knows where I stand. Now they need to hear from you.

Add your voice: Ask your representatives to support my plan for real health reform in 2009.

The heart of my plan is simple: bring stability and security to Americans who already have health insurance, guarantee affordable coverage for those who don't, and rein in the cost of health care.

Tonight, I offered a specific plan for how to make it happen. I incorporated the best ideas from Democrats and Republicans to create a plan that's bold, practical, and represents the broad consensus of the American people.

We've come closer to real health reform in the last few months than we have in the last 60 years. But those who profit from the status quo -- and those who put partisan advantage above all else -- will fight us every inch of the way.

We do not seek that fight, but we will not shrink from it. The stakes are too high to let scare tactics cloud the debate, or to allow partisan bickering to block the path. Your voice, right now, is essential.

See my full plan and call on your representatives to support it:

http://my.barackobama.com/SupportReform

Ours is not the first generation to understand the dire need for health reform. And I am not the first president to take up this cause, but I am determined to be the last.

Thank you,

President Barack Obama

I guess I'm who he's talking about with the reference to "scare tactics" and "partisan bickering." You see, I don't believe that he can fund his plan without increasing the deficit or raising taxes, and I have people who understand that the numbers don't add up.

I also don't have any faith that any government-run plan can be "self-sustaining" given the mess that Social Security and Medicare are. The United States Postal Service can't even deliver the mail without constantly asking for rate increases AND cutting services.

The President asks me to contact my representatives to urge them to support his "plan" which is short on details. I'm going to contact them, all right, but it won't be with the message President Obama wants me to send.

ECS

Ted's Dead

2009-08-26T23:59:00.002-05:00

My personal feeling on the subject is, "Good." Maybe now the Kopechne family will have some little peace.

However, not everyone is as unforgiving or maybe they just don't care that the Democratic Party took to it's heart someone who should have been charged with multiple crimes in the death of Mary Jo Kopechne. For example, I just got this from the President:

Elm Creek -- Michelle and I were heartbroken to learn this morning of the death of our dear friend, Senator Ted Kennedy. For nearly five decades, virtually every major piece of legislation to advance the civil rights, health and economic well-being of the American people bore his name and resulted from his efforts. His ideas and ideals are stamped on scores of laws and reflected in millions of lives -- in seniors who know new dignity; in families that know new opportunity; in children who know education's promise; and in all who can pursue their dream in an America that is more equal and more just, including me. In the United States Senate, I can think of no one who engendered greater respect or affection from members of both sides of the aisle. His seriousness of purpose was perpetually matched by humility, warmth and good cheer. He battled passionately on the Senate floor for the causes that he held dear, and yet still maintained warm friendships across party lines. And that's one reason he became not only one of the greatest senators of our time, but one of the most accomplished Americans ever to serve our democracy. I personally valued his wise counsel in the Senate, where, regardless of the swirl of events, he always had time for a new colleague. I cherished his confidence and momentous support in my race for the Presidency. And even as he waged a valiant struggle with a mortal illness, I've benefited as President from his encouragement and wisdom. His fight gave us the opportunity we were denied when his brothers John and Robert were taken from us: the blessing of time to say thank you and goodbye. The outpouring of love, gratitude and fond memories to which we've all borne witness is a testament to the way this singular figure in American history touched so many lives. For America, he was a defender of a dream. For his family, he was a guardian. Our hearts and prayers go out to them today -- to his wonderful wife, Vicki, his children Ted Jr., Patrick and Kara, his grandchildren and his extended family. Today, our country mourns. We say goodbye to a friend and a true leader who challenged us all to live out our noblest values. And we give thanks for his memory, which inspires us still. Sincerely, President Barack Obama

Paid for by Organizing for America, a project of the Democratic National Committee -- 430 South Capitol Street SE, Washington, D.C. 20003. This communication is not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.

Sorry, Mister President, but Teddy was the loser son of a Nazi-sympathizing rum-runner who was thrust into an imaginary leadership role by the untimely deaths of his smarter, better brothers. He helped the Congress abrogate our treaty responsibilities to South Vietnam. He conspired against his political enemies and our national leaders with the KGB for political gain. He was never an inspiration, example, or a defender for me and mine.

I also don't think we have to worry about Mary Jo Kopechne running into ol' Ted inside the Pearly Gates. Somehow, I don't think Saint Peter will open those Gates for him. Kennedy money won't mean much up there.

ECS

Tom Coburn doesn't hide from his constituents

2009-08-17T19:34:00.003-05:00

Tom Coburn's town hall in Muskogee, OK, had to be moved from an auditorium to a lobby where Senator Coburn climbed to a landing overlooking the room to be seen and heard by the crowd. He thoroughly debunked the Obamacare plan and the idea that the Canadian plan was better than what we had.

This is quite a change from what the media calls "mobs" who ask the hard questions of Democrats who run and hide in union offices or don't show up at all.

Senator Coburn is a practicing doctor.

ECS

Another WW II veteran's last muster

2009-08-09T21:36:00.002-05:00

Jenny Jones Rinn passed muster on August 3, 2009. She served in the Army Nurse Corps in WW2, leaving the service as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1953. She will be laid to rest at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery at 0930 on August 10, 2009.

That is all.

ECS

"Healthcare Reform" Czar wants us to report "disinformation" about "healthcare reform"

2009-08-05T19:36:00.002-05:00

I just sent my email to flag@whitehouse.gov:

I found this on the Internet, and I feel that the serious disinformation about “healtcare reform” in this letter needs to be addressed.

There’s been a lot of media coverage about organized mobs intimidating lawmakers, disrupting town halls, and silencing real discussion about the need for real health insurance reform.

The truth is, it’s a sham. These “grassroots protests” are being organized and largely paid for by Washington special interests and insurance companies who are desperate to block reform. They’re trying to use lies and fear to break the President and his agenda for change.

The “grassroots protests” in which I’ve participated were organized by local people who did it on their own dime and were not funded by anyone.

Health insurance reform is about our lives, our jobs, and our families — we can’t let distortions and intimidation get in the way. We need to expose these outrageous tactics, and we’re counting on you to help. Can you read these “5 facts about the anti-reform mobs,” then pass them along to your friends and family.

5 facts about the anti-reform mobs

First off, “mobs” would be carrying torches, rails, tar and feathers. So far, none of the actions of concerned citizens have reached that point.

1. These disruptions are being funded and organized by out-of-district special-interest groups and insurance companies who fear that health insurance reform could help Americans, but hurt their bottom line. A group run by the same folks who made the “Swiftboat” ads against John Kerry is compiling a list of congressional events in August to disrupt. An insurance company coalition has stationed employees in 30 states to track where local lawmakers hold town-hall meetings.

Since when is asking the hard questions about how “healthcare reform” will be funded and why the President, his staff, and the Congress won’t be put under the same system “disrupt[ive]?”

2. People are scared because they are being fed frightening lies. These crowds are being riled up by anti-reform lies being spread by industry front groups that invent smears to tarnish the President’s plan and scare voters. But as the President has repeatedly said, health insurance reform will create more health care choices for the American people, not reduce them. If you like your insurance or your doctor, you can keep them, and there is no “government takeover” in any part of any plan supported by the President or Congress.

Ri-i-i-ight. Did you notice the change from “healthcare reform” to “health insurance reform?” If you don’t like the result of your polling on the subject you reformulate the question.

3. Their actions are getting more extreme. Texas protesters brought signs displaying a tombstone for Rep. Lloyd Doggett and using the “SS” symbol to compare President Obama’s policies to Nazism. Maryland Rep. Frank Kratovil was hanged in effigy outside his district office. Rep. Tim Bishop of New York had to be escorted to his car by police after an angry few disrupted his town hall meeting — and more examples like this come in every day. And they have gone beyond just trying to derail the President’s health insurance reform plans, they are trying to “break” the President himself and ruin his Presidency.

You can’t blame the failure of President Obama’s Presidency on us. He’s done it in concert with Nancy Pelosi, Barney Frank, Chris Dodd, and Harry Reid, not to mention Rahm Emmanuel.

4. Their goal is to disrupt and shut down legitimate conversation. Protesters have routinely shouted down representatives trying to engage in constructive dialogue with voters, and done everything they can to intimidate and silence regular people who just want more information. One attack group has even published a manual instructing protesters to “stand up and shout” and try to “rattle” lawmakers to prevent them from talking peacefully with their constituents.

The President himself told people to talk to their families, friends, and neighbors, and to “get in their faces.” Supporters of the President do this sort of thing all the time to people who disagree with the President. “Sauce for the goose.”

5. Republican leadership is irresponsibly cheering on the thuggish crowds. Republican House Minority Leader John Boehner issued a statement applauding and promoting a video of the disruptions and looking forward to “a long, hot August for Democrats in Congress.”

“[T]huggish crowds?” I haven’t seen any ACORN members at Tea Party protests or “healthcare reform” (or is it “health insurance reform?”) protests.

It’s time to expose this charade, before it gets more dangerous. Please send these facts to everyone you know. You can also post them on your website, blog, or Facebook page.

Now, more than ever, we need to stand strong together and defend the truth.

Thanks,

Jen

Jen O’Malley Dillon
Executive Director
Democratic National Committee

I think this lady should probably be investigated because she is spreading lots of disinformation about this subject.

ECS
–
http://theturkeyfootbrand.blogspot.com/

“If the truth hurts, it should.” - Dad

Story from the South Side of Chicago exposes the idiocy of Illinois' lack of legal concealed carry.

2009-07-27T22:05:00.010-05:00

A couple of off-duty police officers, a man and a woman, find a used car advertised on Craigslist and call the advertiser to get the location. They show up and call him as he requested. When they are led behind a building to look at the alleged car, they are attacked with one criminal grabbing the woman and putting a gun to her head and another criminal beating the man with a baseball bat. The man identifies himself as a police officer and draws his own gun. When the gun-toting criminal points his gun at the man, he shoots all three of the criminals involved.

The real story here is that the Markham police officers were armed and the bad guys didn't know it! That is the essence of concealed carry licenses that are issued in all but two states of the Union, with Illinois being one of them. Good guys with guns the bad guys don't know about.

“[The offenders] ran into the wrong police officers,” DuBois (Markham police Deputy Chief) said. “What if they were ordinary citizens? Not trained to handle those situations? It…[could have been] tragic.”

I think ol' Tony has drawn the wrong lesson from this. People who have concealed carry licenses are no different from off-duty police officers who carry concealed except for two very important points: 1. we have no duty to try to arrest anyone; and, 2. we have gone to a lot of trouble and expense to get our concealed carry licenses, including Use of Deadly Force Training and meeting marksmanship standards. The differences between the male officer and us is that we wouldn't identify ourselves as police before shooting at the bad guys and, I hate to say it, most of us are firearms enthusiasts and shoot more in practice annually than most police officers.

Before someone starts ranting about how the police officers are trained, etc., I doubt that they are better trained in close combat than former members of the Armed Forces. I have shown law enforcement officers at the Federal and local levels things that they hadn't ever thought about, and I'm not the expert that some of my acquaintances are.

Make no mistake, I think the officer did very well under the circumstances. I just don't think that it was because he was a police officer. Unfortunately, under current Illinois law, if he had been a civilian, he and his female companion would have been in big trouble.

ECS

This is a really bad idea.

2009-07-09T14:26:00.002-05:00

From the Christian Science Monitor we get word that the United States...us...has accepted 1,350 Palestinians to be resettled here from the refugee camps in Iraq where they have been since 1948. The problem, acknowledged by the Monitor, is this:

But some critics say the State Department is sloughing off its problems onto American cities, especially since in this case the Palestinians were sympathizers of Hussein, who was deposed by the US.

"This is politically a real hot potato," says Mark Krikorian, director of the conservative Center for Immigration Studies in Washington, adding, "[A]merica has become a dumping ground for the State Department's problems – they're tossing their problems over their head into Harrisburg, Pa., or Omaha, Neb."

These aren't just any "refugees." These are people and their descendants who left Israel in 1948 so they wouldn't have to live in a Jewish state and have been kept in refugee camps instead of being integrated into their host countries' populations. I'm pretty sure they haven't been given the "hearts and flowers" story of America and its relationship with Israel and the Arabs. They've probably learned everything they know about us from Hamas and Hezbollah. Just where are these potential Jihadis going to be dropped? You might want to keep an eye out for lots of moving trucks in your neighborhood.

ECS

There is more to the story in Chicago than just a little girl washing her dog

2009-07-04T15:13:00.004-05:00

From Second City Cop:

lil george said:

"OT(sort of): I posted the other day about the fat bitch at 7121 s. Normal wishing the police harm. It was a typo. It was actually 7421 s. Normal. My typing mistake. The 9 yoa that was killed lived almost DIRECTLY behind this address. Gerald Lauderdale, who was one of the two people charged in the homicide, was hanging with these pieces of s*** that night. He kept yelling from the porch "I ain't got no job b******tches! F*** ya all." I guess payback is a b****. Not to insult the memory of an innocent 9 yoa, but this family didn't want us around because they wanted to continue their ghetto thug lifestyle. Breeding, drinking, screaming till 6am and contributing NOTHING to the world. Now, due to fear of retribution, fat mama had to turn her kid in. They HAD to turn to the police to protect this POS. Had to turn him in so that she could continue her useless life of police hating all the while while NEEDING the police to protect him from her fellow thugs who she associates with. Irony may be a word to describe this situation.

And, as a side note to this story, there was a burglary to a business at 350 W. 75th Street on 27jun at approximately 5am. Owner was in fear of his life due to threatening messages from the hood. Owner would not talk to officers onscene but sent an associate to scene to survey the damage. This business is located within a half block from where the child was killed. On scene, the associate stated that the owner used to live at 7419 s. normal, but had moved due to a threat from a certain individual on 74 and stewart who was pissed because he was feuding with the neighbors at 7421 s. Normal (sound familiar?) and since he lived next door, he must be siding with the block. These threats got so bad that the owner moved fearing for his safety and has been looted ever since. Who were the fat b**** and now-arrestee feuding with: a man named Andre Turner. Who is Andre Turner? The father of the dead child.

In summary, ghetto pieces of s*** taunt the police but then turn to said police to protect them. Andre Turner threatens the hood and businesses owners and gets shot but is a sympathetic figure to Fr. Faker and the media. War breaks out between both parties. Who pays for these adults living the ghetto life of acting like 6th world animals: an innocent 9yoa. Pathetic
6/27/2009 05:11:00 PM"

This little girl died because she was staying with her gangbanger father at her grandmother's house. Despite her grandmother's claims, the house was a haven for criminals at war with other criminals. It's a shame that her mother left her there with irresponsible adults. This tragedy had nothing to do with law-abiding citizens in Chicago.

ECS

Gun Control "works" in Chicago

2009-06-27T17:34:00.002-05:00

Courtesy of Second City Cop, we learn that Chicago had 108 people shot in the week of June 19-26, 2009, with 7 homicides. It seems that the Chicago handgun ban for law-abiding citizens is working very well, after all, it wouldn't do for any of the gang-bangers to run the risk of a victim shooting back at them. One thing noted in the comments section is that the CPS "honor students" doing the shooting aren't very good shots. However, most of the victims seem to be members of the same subset as the shooters and not a great loss to society. The problem is that innocents like a nine-year-old girl staying with her grandmother and her gangster father for part of summer vacation get shot and killed because the animals on the street don't really care who gets hurt.

Next time the reverends, like Jesse Jackson and Father Pfleger, get "up in arms" about CPS "honor students" and young people "just turning their lives around" dying in the streets, perhaps they should protest against the culture of casual violence, not talking to the "po-leeses," and hostility to the police in the neighborhoods like Englewood where this seems to happen most.

ECS

The silence is broken, and I'm underwhelmed

2009-06-04T01:09:00.002-05:00

Since I never received a response to my question asking if it was White House policy that a slain late-term abortion provider was more important than the murder of a young American soldier and wounding of another, I just left this message on the http://www.whitehouse.gov/CONTACT/ page for the President:

I am completely underwhelmed by the President’s statement concerning the murder of Private William Long and wounding of Private Quinton Ezeagwula by Abdulhakim Mujahid Muhammed, a Muslim convert formerly known as Carlos Bledsoe, in Little Rock, Arkansas. While the President was “shocked and outraged” by the murder of Doctor Tiller in Wichita and characterized it as a “heinous act of violence,” the best he could do for two young soldiers was that he was “deeply saddened” by “senseless violence.” I have news for the President: Unlike the murder of Doctor Tiller, the attack on Privates Long and Ezeagwula made perfect sense to their attacker whose chosen middle name means “holy warrior” in Arabic. They were American soldiers, hated because they were soldiers, Americans, and free men. He considered them his enemies, the enemies of his “religion of peace,” as he considers all of us who refuse to accept Islam as our religion or dhimmitude subservience to Muslims.

The President’s lukewarm expression of condolence to Private William Long’s family and concern to Private Quinton Ezeagwula and his family do not impress me as credible due to the delay before he made it. Within hours of Doctor Tiller’s death, the President made his statement of outrage, and the Attorney General ordered the US Marshal’s Service into action. Within days after the murder of a young American soldier and the wounding of another, the President is “saddened,” and the Attorney General does exactly nothing.

As a retired soldier, I respect the office of the President of the United States, but I am having great difficulty in respecting the person of Barack Obama, right now.

Sincerely,

ECS
CPT, Armor
US Army (Ret.)

Hope is not a plan; not all change is good. WE are the civilian national security force! Our enemies are among us. Prepare to defend yourself and your country.

ECS

Murder in Little Rock; Silence in the White House (Updated)

2009-06-02T12:20:00.005-05:00

Two young soldiers, straight out of Basic Training, are standing outside the Army-Navy recruiting center in Little Rock, Arkansas, when a vehicle pulls up and shots ring out. One soldier, William Long, 24, of Conway dies. The other, Quinton Ezeagwula, 18, of Jacksonville falls seriously wounded but able to crawl to the recruiting station door. A short time later, police stop a vehicle on the interstate and arrest Abdulhakim Mujahid Muhammed, 24, formerly known as Carlos Bledsoe, a convert to Islam. He is later charged and pleads not guilty to first degree murder and fifteen (15) counts of engaging in a terrorist act.

The young soldiers had not been deployed anywhere. They were assigned as "hometown recruiters" for two weeks. Soldiers dying in a combat zone is unremarkable. Soldiers being targeted in Little Rock because they are American soldiers seems remarkable to me.

Muhammed had reportedly gone to Yemen on a Somali passport to study jihad in a religious school. Once back in the states, he apparently decided to put his training in the "religion of peace" to use. This, too, is unremarkable.

What is remarkable to me is the utter silence about these murders, this act of domestic jihad, from the White House. The same President who decried the murder of Dr. Tiller, a late-term abortion specialist in Kansas, hasn't said a word about young soldiers being murdered in Little Rock, hasn't said a word of condolence to the families, and hasn't condemned the actions of this thug acting in the name of Allah. I guess in his eyes, the soldiers and their families aren't worthy of the same concern as an abortionist.

While we haven't heard from the President or Attorney General, Daris Long, the father of the fallen soldier, a former Marine, spoke eloquently to KATV, Little Rock, of the pain his family has suffered and the goodness of others. With his father as an example, William Long should have proven to be a fine soldier.

ECS

Goodbye, Wayman Tisdale

2009-05-15T23:17:00.002-05:00

Well, we lost a great native son today when Wayman Tisdale, an Oklahoma schoolboy and college basketball legend, an NBA veteran, a smooth jazz artist, and a remarkably humble, dedicated family man, lost his brave two-year fight with cancer at age 44. Local reaction to his passing was immediate and heartfelt. ESPN provided this look at him as a basketball player, a man, and a musician. Unlike some so-called "stars" in the NBA, Tisdale excelled without falling prey to the temptations contrary to his Christian faith. Wayman Tisdale, in everything he did, from basketball, to music, to his fight with cancer, and to his family, was a man. He'll be sorely missed.

ECS

Even the Canadians "get it."

2009-05-06T16:29:00.001-05:00

This is nothing that apologists for the Obama administration will want to read, but it rings true.

ECS

Free Roxana Saberi (updated)

2009-04-26T15:48:00.002-05:00

This American was arrested by Iran, tried in one hour by a kangaroo court, and sentenced to prison for espionage in one of the biggest violations of human rights and justice I've noticed lately. Write or call the White House, your Senators, and your Congressman to protest the lack of action by this administration.

This is what comes of "wanting to have a dialogue" with barbarians.

ECS

----

Update - An appeals court reduced Roxana Saberi's sentence from 8 years to 2 years suspended, and she is free now. I haven't heard if she will be allowed to leave Iran, but I've been in migraine hell for about a week.

ECS

World's Biggest Gun Show this weekend!

2009-03-31T18:14:00.002-05:00

This weekend, as usual, I'll be going to the Wanenmacher's Tulsa Arms Show at the QuikTrip Center (formerly the Expo Square building, formerly the International Petroleum Exposition Building) at the Tulsa State Fairgrounds. Even given the hours the show will be open, it normally takes almost two full days to really see everything. I'm going to check with my next-door-neighbor the police officer to see if he wants to go, but his weird hours may prevent it. I took Andrew to his first gun show* a month or two ago, and he was like a kid in a candy store. He might go completely nuts if I can get him to the Wanenmacher Show.

Several years ago, I rented a table at the show to liquidate a large amount of reloading supplies that my wife's late cousin left to his sister. After paying rent for the table, I was able to give his sister more than $1,000.00 in cash. I'm still looking to liquidate a bunch of rough stock blanks for the do-it-yourselfers out there.

Tips -

1. Look at the tables for "Do Not Handle Without Permission" signs before you go fingerprinting somebody's stuff. Even if you don't see a sign, it's good manners to ask before picking up the "BelchFire .78 Magnum" that you've never seen before.

2. Take some cash with you because a lot of the people with tables don't take plastic or checks.

3. Wear walking shoes or hiking boots. Eleven and a half acres of concrete are hard on the dogs. Sneakers don't provide enough support, and you'll be worn out before you get half-way done if you wear cowboy boots.

4. Take something to drink with you unless you like paying $16.00 a gallon for pop at the concession stands.

5. As a corollary to 4., take a break and go out for lunch. There are a number of fast food places nearby from McDonald's and Burger Street to McAllister's Deli. There is an all-you-can-eat Mexican restaurant named Casa Bonita which has a big rep. The best place to eat for gun-show-goers, in my opinion is Jim's Coney Island just north of 21st Street on the east side of Harvard. Coneys, yeros, baclava. It's all there; it's all good.

6. If you see something that you just have to have that might be somewhat rare, like a modified choke 28 inch vent rib barrel for a Browning Sweet Sixteen, get it. You can either carry it or take it out to the car, but if you don't buy it, it won't be there when you get back. (This is something that my brother learned the hard way.)

7. If you are buying ammunition in bulk, either take it to the car/truck right then, or ask the guy if you can leave it for later pick-up.

8. If you take guns to trade/sell/have appraised or just want to be seen hauling around a really cool gun, please watch where and how you handle them/turn with them or show them to someone else. Some of us don't want to get brained by the barrel or stock of your rifle/shotgun or have it pointed at us. We may react...badly or rudely.

9. If you hear someone behind a commercial dealer's table telling someone that "Taurus," for example, makes all the "Smith & Wesson" revolvers, don't be afraid to ask the moron what S&W builds in that nice factory in Massachusetts.

I'll see you there.

ECS

But I didn't want to buy stock in banks or auto companies!

2009-03-30T18:36:00.002-05:00

Who else thinks the bailout of banks and automakers is a bad idea? How dare the Federal Government buy stock in banks (preferred stock at that which has no voting power) and interfere with the operation of private companies by forcing out CEOs? When will some government functionary come tell me I can't raise my voice to my grandson when he screws up for fear that I'll hurt his self-esteem?

We can't afford the "bailouts," and I'm not interested in giving our government more powers that the Constitution doesn't.

ECS

Snow Day! (Update)

2009-03-28T15:54:00.006-05:00

Wow! Springtime in Oklahoma! It started snowing around 10:00 am and is still snowing with the occasional flash of lightning and clap of thunder. So far we have about 5 inches of snow at my house.

Must be all that global warming.

We ended up with 6 inches of snow in Owasso. Out west at Fort Supply, Oklahoma, they had 25 inches with drifts 6-10 feet. The roads off the major highways are a sloppy mess. It's supposed to freeze tonight which will cause the roads to be icy. I'll probably have to take my daughter to work in the morning.

Bed time.

ECS

Range day

2009-03-24T20:02:00.003-05:00

On Saturday my daughter, my brother, and I went shooting. My first order of business was to zero the laser in the Crimson Trace grips on my former TPD Smith & Wesson Model 681. Since this revolver is my wife's "house gun," I zeroed it at 25 yards with .38 Special +P 125 grain Remington semi-jacketed hollowpoints. Once I got it dialed in, I checked the strike of the rounds at "living room range." It's good. My wife is very happy with it now.

Then, some practice with my carry guns at 3, 5, 10, and 25 yards just to keep my hand in. I was satisfied with the palm-sized groups I shot with the Smith & Wesson Model 13 shooting .357 Magnum 125 grain Remington semi-jacketed hollowpoints and with the Taurus 85SSUL shooting .38 Special +P 135 grain Speer "Short Barrel" hollowpoints.

After that, I shot up about a box of HotShot 98 grain 7.62x38R Nagant ammunition from my 1929 Tula arsenal Model 1895. I'm amazed that the Nagant lasted so long in Russian/Soviet military service, but I think it will do nicely for small game hunting. Besides, it makes a good counterpoint to my Mosin-Nagant M38 carbine in 7.62x54R.

Finally, I shot the Mosin-Nagant over my Chrony. At 10 feet instrumental distance, 147 grain "light bullet" Bulgarian ammunition clocked an average of 2622.52 feet per second yielding 2,245.49 foot/pounds of energy. The 203 grain Barnaul soft points were slower at 2289.46 feet per second but generated 2,363.30
foot/pounds of energy. At the plinking range where we set up, I hit everything at which I shot, but the 100/200 yard benchrest range was jammed so I didn't get a chance to shoot for groups.

Take a friend shooting this weekend.

ECS

IndyMedia anti-1st Amendment trolls attack!

2009-03-24T11:49:00.003-05:00

Well, brave Anonymous from IndyMedia has decided to defend the indefensible behavior of the cowards who attacked the Marine Corps Recruiting Station in Berkeley. Then, he/she/it decided to attack me personally because apparently, he/she/it doesn't like guns and believes that people like me need guns to "feel manly." Like the rest of the cowards on IndyMedia who remove any posts contrary to their myopic "world view," Anonymous is convinced that Berkeley is the United States when, in reality, it isn't even a pimple on the ass of California.

Just for their edification, "moral victory," "making a statement," etc., all translate as "lose." That makes them "losers."

My other anonymous friend reported that the IndyMedia "turds" deleted his comments as well. Those are the actions of cowards who will not tolerate the voicing of any opposition to their weak-minded beliefs, who will shout down people saying things they don't want to hear, and who denigrate their betters, who are those who risk their lives to defend this country and the cowards' right to be stupid.

That's the way I see it.

ECS

Stop the bailout, stop the stimulus.

2009-02-06T20:54:00.003-06:00

Our new President insisted that he had to have the second half of the $700,000,000,000.00 TARP bailout released without strings, and now we have a tax evading Secretary of the Treasury. No accountability, no ethics, no big deal to the Democrats in Congress or apparently most of the Republicans.

Now we're in the middle of a fight over the "stimulus" package that our new President is insisting needs to be done without delay , or apparently any scrutiny. Nancy Pelosi pushed the package through the House of Representatives without a single Republican vote and had the gall to talk about "bipartisanship." Of course the only "bipartisanship" was the few Democrats who voted with the Republicans. In the Senate, the "stimulus" bill has ballooned to over $900,000,000,000.00, and Senator Harry Reid and his cohorts are trying to "pull a Pelosi." The Democratic Senate leadership is also talking about "bipartisanship" because at least two RINOs have signed on while negotiations are on-going. With any luck, the negotiations will cause some of the more hardcore leftists to abandon ship like Senator Di Feinstein who is upset about tax cuts of all things.

One good thing about all this is that it reveals our new President as an empty suit devoid of any understanding about how to get things done. "We won the election! You're supposed to do what we say!"

ECS

Don't you just hate being sick?

2009-01-08T08:32:00.002-06:00

Haven't been active here due to some health issues. "I shall return." - Douglas MacArthur

No guns for Christmas

2008-12-27T12:47:00.002-06:00

It's true. I didn't get a single gun this year from Santa or anyone else. The refrigerator died after seven years (I though they were supposed to last longer!), and my gun money went into a new one. This refrigerator deal is some sort of racket! I could have bought a new SOCOM II for the kind of money they wanted!

Oh, well. I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas and has a prosperous New Year.

ECS

Welcome to the radicalization of a Conservative.

2008-11-04T23:13:00.003-06:00

The Republican National Committee gave away the country this evening. Don't get me wrong, they aren't the only ones to blame for the debacle that was election night, because it's hard to beat the Democrats and the "main stream" media. It's also hard to win in the face of wide-spread voter fraud aided and abetted by Democratic state office holders (think Ohio's Secretary of State) and Senator Obama's own campaign. Senator McCain, trying to run a "nice" campaign without offending anyone, failed to mount a cohesive attack on Senator Obama and his questionable associations and failed to mount effective counter-attacks when the Obama campaign or the media attacked him or his running mate. It didn't help when members of Senator McCain's own staff made snide comments to the media about his running mate.

The only bright spot in this whole pitiful political season was Governor Sarah Palin and her wonderful family. Neither she nor her family deserved the relentless attacks visited on her by Democrats, their unhinged supporters, and the news media (at the risk of being redundant).

So, the RNC, without a radical revamping, has seen it's last dime from me. I will only support conservative candidates from here on out. Every time my representatives in the state legislature or Congress vote for something I oppose, I will let them know the effect of their actions on my continued support. I will actively campaign against anyone who supports legislation that I consider detrimental to this country.

I once swore an oath to this country and it's Constitution. I won't support anyone who speaks or votes in a manner contrary to the oath that they swore. I will not obey any law that abrogates the Second Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America.

I oppose bailouts, of corporations, states, or stupid people who borrowed more than they could pay back. (In the cases of older people who were deliberately misled by unscrupulous lenders, the onus is on the lender.)

I oppose tax increases to pay for increased government, including letting past tax cuts expire.

I oppose more government involvment in healthcare because it doesn't work well and increases costs. If you don't believe that, you probably think that Medicare and Medicaid have made healthcare better.

I support our current troop deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. If the Army would have let me return to active duty post-retirement, I would have gladly and proudly gone myself, so those who call me a "chicken hawk" do so at their own peril.

I support the continued development and deployment of advanced weapons systems to all branches of the military.

I support cutting unnecessary government spending by slashing pork, programs, offices, departments, staff, and other minions.

I support restricting Congress to voting on single-issue bills without unrelated amendments attached to them and preventing conference committees from adding crap when working out the differences between the House and the Senate.

The resistance is here. The resistance is now.

ECS

For those who have decided they want a gun, what should they get ?

2008-10-30T21:31:00.004-05:00

On Michelle Malkin's blog yesterday, a poster was asking for recommendations on a handgun. I recommended a medium-frame 3 or 4 inch barreled revolver chambered for a .38 Special or .357 Magnum cartridge. In these days of high-capacity 9mm and .40 S&W semiautomatics and "pocket rockets," to use one of the gun control crowd's favorite terms, why in the world would I suggest something that would have been at home in a police officer's holster in the 1970s?

Let's make some assumptions:

1. The handgun must be usable for a man, a woman, or even an adolescent. The person asking for a recommendation was female, but it's really immaterial. Another family member might need to be able to use it.

2. The handgun must not be punishing to shoot. If it hurts to shoot, the users will not practice with it and thus will not develop the skill necessary to use it effectively.

3. The handgun must be reasonably effective in stopping a threat.

How does the old "police revolver" stack up?

1. A revolver is simple to operate. You aim the gun at the target, pull the trigger, and it goes bang. You can see if it's loaded by looking at it, and you can load or unload it quickly and easily. There is no slide to pull back to load or clear the chamber, and you can't forget to drop the magazine.

2. With a .38 Special steel-frame revolver recoil, even with good defensive ammunition, is not a problem for most folks. On the other hand, a .357 Magnum steel-frame revolver can be a handful with full-house magnum ammunition with heavy recoil and muzzle blast/flash. I'd recommend starting with lower pressure .38 Special ammunition and moving up to more powerful ammunition until you reach your recoil/blast/flash tolerance. I'd recommend practicing with lower-power ammunition and saving your defensive ammunition for the piece de resistance of your practice sessions.

3. As far as "stopping power" goes, no handgun is a "death ray." However, the .357 Magnum handgun loaded with 125 jacketed hollow point (JHP) full-power ammunition is the standard by which all others are measured. Using lower-powered ammo reduces stopping power, but may increase accuracy, and bullet placement is one of the top three things that determine effectiveness, given a minimum power level. The other two are placement and placement. There is nothing wrong with the effectiveness of any .38 Special defensive load, so my recommendation will provide an adequate level of protection provided you practice enough to establish competency and accuracy.

I'm going to wind this up with a short discussion of bullet types that I consider effective enough for defensive ammunition. You want either a lead semi-wadcutter hollow point of 158 grains in weight or a jacketed hollow point in 110 grains to 135 grains for the .38 Special. For the .357 Magnum, you want a 110 to 125 grain JHP. I'll get more detailed with specific recommendations for ammunition in a follow-on post.

Finally, if you aren't familiar with firearms, or especially if you aren't familiar with handguns, I'd recommend getting training from a competent instructor.

ECS

In the event of riots...

2008-10-14T20:00:00.004-05:00

...what will you do?

I know, you're all wondering why I'm bringing up something that seems so far away timewise. It's been years since the "Days of Rage" in Chicago, the riots following the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr., and the riots that followed the California state court acquittals of the police officers accused of using excessive force in the arrest of Rodney King. What could I possibly be thinking, right?

Two scenarios:

1. Senator Obama loses the Presidential Election. His supporters, enraged by a perception that the election was "stolen," riot.

2. Senator Obama wins the Presidential Election. His supporters, emboldened by a perception that they won the election and deserve the spoils, riot, looting and attacking anyone they perceive to be a "McCain cracker."

"Not possible!" you say. "The One wouldn't allow it!"

Really? You need to read the posts of the wingnuts on the left-wing blogs and get back to me. In the meantime, check out the following:

http://messages.yahoo.com/Cultures_%26_Community/Issues_and_Causes/Current_Events/US%255FNews/threadview?bn=7088116-guncontroldebate&tid=924437&mid=924450

http://messages.yahoo.com/Cultures_%26_Community/Issues_and_Causes/Current_Events/US%255FNews/threadview?bn=7088116-guncontroldebate&tid=923988&mid=923996

http://messages.yahoo.com/Cultures_%26_Community/Issues_and_Causes/Current_Events/US%255FNews/threadview?bn=7088116-guncontroldebate&tid=923556&mid=923558

Now, back to the riots -

How do you prepare, and what do you do when they start?

Preparation requires having a plan. Cowering in your bedroom under the covers may be your plan, but it doesn't appeal to me. We're talking about planning to survive the riots with your life, your property, and your dignity/sacred honor intact, so we plan. Actually, we have two plans: one if you and your family is home, and another if you're scattered to the four winds. A contingency for the second one is if you have to leave your home to retrieve/rescue a family member.

Let's make a list of essentials needed to execute these plans. Remember, riots are deadly things.

First, we need a secure place for the family. A safe room might be great for tornadoes and hurricanes, but it won't be worth a tinker's dam if someone is intent on burning your house down around it. A storm shelter might be good option if it has a secure, hidden entrance, or two. We don't want to get trapped inside one while folks pour gasoline down the air vents. That pretty much means that we must secure the house. (I'm not going to discuss apartments, because by their nature they cannot be secured.) A brick-sheathed house is better than a frame house; a concrete block house is better than a brick-sheathed house; a solid brick house is better than a concrete block house, and a poured concrete house is better than just about anything else. However, it's a bit late to be looking for a new house. (See why planning is important?) Therefore, we'll need something to block the doors and windows from unwanted entry and to stop bullets. That means sandbags or furniture (several layers of either one).

We'll need food and water for how ever many members we have in our family for at least a week with additional supplies for unexpected guests (people stranded at our house). We don't want to try to go grocery shopping in the middle of looting season. In the event of power failure we'll need a way to cook, heat, and light the house. That means gas stoves, lanterns, heaters, flashlights, generators, and fuel and batteries. Batteries and the generator will also be needed for a minimum of a good AM/FM radio and a police scanner.

The next need is a way to defend your house and stuff. Ladies and gentlemen, there isn't any way around this: we're talking about guns..., and more. That means at least one rifle or shotgun per able-bodied, responsible member of our family; at least one handgun, ditto; and sufficient ammunition. (You'll have to decide what "sufficient" means.) I would really like to have some concertina/razor wire stashed in our garage as well, but it's almost impossible to get. Ironically, some of the most effective defensive long guns for the price are former Warsaw-pact weapons: SKS carbines, semi-automatic AK-47s, Mosin-Nagant rifles and carbines (M38/M44), and Makarov 9mm handguns. At least people who might riot know what they look like and the damage they can do. A decent repeating shotgun can be had new for well under 200 dollars (Maverick 12 gauge pump by Mossberg) and with slugs, buckshot, or duck hunting shells can be devastatingly effective. Just about any decent quality handgun, or even "bargain" handguns will do.

As in the "Rodney King riots," a show of force, or willingness to use force, can prevent rioters from approaching an otherwise unprotected area. The Korean shopkeepers kept their businesses safe by being seen armed on the roofs and around them. I recommend coordinating with our neighbors, if possible, to defend our neighborhood, our street, our block. This sort of effort prevented looters from going into some neighborhoods in the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

The important thing is that we must be prepared to use those guns to defend ourselves and our families. I'm not talking about shots over rioters heads or in the dirt at their feet. We must be prepared to shoot to stop any threat. That means holding center mass of the target. We'll discuss this again.

If we are away from home, we and our families must be prepared to reach a place of safety and/or home. This means we must have emergency supplies in our vehicle and the means to defend ourselves. Our family members should also have the same sort of supplies and armaments. Water, blankets, jacket, rain gear, first aid kit are bare minimum requirements. Handguns, either carried legally concealed, or secured in our vehicle, are most portable, but , if we have a secure way to store them in our vehicle, a compact long gun such as a "coach gun"-type shotgun, a lever action carbine, or an SKS or M-1 Carbine would be an excellent choice. For the vehicle or concealed carry, we will, ideally, have a decent quality handgun, but the important thing is to have a gun of adequate caliber. If all we can afford is a HiPoint 9mm, that's what we go with.

Before we head to our house, we need to get as much information as we can about where the riots are taking place and what the traffic is like. We take a route that avoids riot areas as much as we can, and we do not stop if someone attempt to block our path or run us off the road. We don't get out of our vehicle as long as it is operational. If rioters try to get us to stop by running out in front of us, well, that's their problem. I need to address something else, right now. We can't be trying to do this in one of those tiny little cars. If that's all we have, we stay put or go way out of our way to get home if we can get there without going any where near the riots. We need to have, at the very least, a mid-size car, SUV, or pickup truck, and we need to ensure we always have at least a half tank of gas. This is a case where bigger is better. Remember Reginald Denny? He was driving a 14 wheel dump truck with a load of sand, but he stopped and was dragged from his cab. To be fair, he didn't have a radio in the truck, so he didn't know about the riots, but we don't go anywhere with our doors unlocked, do we? We don't get out of our vehicle to try to reason with anyone. We are in a two-ton vehicle, and we will use it.

If we can go straight home, that's what we do. If a family member is in a secure place we may need to leave him/her there until order is restored or it's safe to retrieve him/her. If that family member is in an insecure place and can't get to his/her vehicle safely, we may have to do an extraction. We stick to major streets, and we don't stop until we get to the family member's location. Then, we do a stop-and-go, even if we have to drive right up to the door. If someone shows a gun in a threatening manner, we get down, go, and prepare to return fire. If someone points a gun, we shoot.

Over dramatic? Maybe, but my family and I will not be victims. Racist? Not at all. I don't care what color someone is if they are trying to harm me or my family. The important thing is to have a plan.

Questions?

ECS

Carry at home, or not?

2008-09-22T23:41:00.001-05:00

Do you carry at home, do you keep guns stashed at “strategic” locations around the house, or do you keep everything locked up in the safe or locker when you're home? Alternatively, do you believe anyone who keeps a gun available at home is “paranoid?” I've heard people who carry on a daily basis describe locking their carry gun away once they get home, describing people who don't as paranoid. I've heard other people talking about having a number of identical guns readily available but hidden around the house “where no one else can find them.” I know others, of whom I include myself, who continue to carry when they get home. Of course, there are those out there who think anyone who carries a gun is a dangerous psychopath, but we all know who they are and don't care what they think.

Let's examine the options listed above.

You have to believe that there is a reason for you to carry a defensive handgun in public or you wouldn't have gone to the trouble to apply, pay for training, undergo a background check, and pay the fee(s) to get a concealed handgun license. You may be in business and carry large sums of money or have extremely valuable merchandise. You may have a business in a less-secure part of town and feel the need to be able to defend yourself, your employees, and your customers. Or you have just decided to take responsibility for your own safety and the safety of your family.

If you are the one who carries all day long and locks your carry piece away when you get home, do you believe that your home is a place of safety, inviolable, where no one can intrude? We have all heard too many times of home invasions, burglaries, and rapes being committed in homes and apartments to believe that. So, with your gun locked away, if someone kicks in your door or smashes through a window, what will you do? Will you stand your ground, hoping to stop the attacker(s) without your firearm, wondering if your wife, significant other, or perhaps your child will be able to get to your gun, get it unlocked and in action before you are overwhelmed? Or will you run for your gun safe in an attempt to get your gun out before any family members are assaulted or before the attackers get to you? What you have effectively done by locking up your gun is disarmed yourself and left yourself and your family unprotected.

Perhaps you have guns stashed around the house, believing that you'll always be close enough to one to respond to any threat. You may, in fact, be correct and able to defend yourself and your family from the door-kickers/window smashers. However, unless you distribute those guns to their hiding places when you get home, they are available to whomever may be in the house, by invitation or not. This includes your children, their visitors, or the ever-popular burglar who enters your home when you aren't there. You may think you have found the “perfect hiding places,” but children and criminals are just as inventive as you are. The “neat-o” picture frames and clocks that swing out to reveal holsters or shelves are not just advertised where the law-abiding can see them. Under mattresses or beds, in between the cushions of your couch or easy chair, among the books or magazines on your shelves, or under the desk, nightstands, or end tables are just not secure. You may come home to find your carefully stashed guns gone, or, worse, find a bad guy in your house armed with YOUR gun(s). If someone is always home, stashing guns around the house may work for you, but I think it's a bad risk.

Now, consider what happens if you carry your gun(s) with you into your home, leaving it(them) right where it(they) was(were) when you were out and about in the big, wide world. If someone kicks open your door or smashes your window, you don't have to wonder if you have time to get to your gun, unlock it, and defend yourself and your family. You don't have to worry about someone getting to your stashed guns before you do, and you needn't be concerned that someone got into your house and got to your guns first. You have your gun(s) on you and can respond appropriately to any threat.

My wife used to ask me if I really though someone was going to kick in our door while we were home. With a spate of home invasions in our area, admittedly not in good neighborhoods, she has stopped asking that particular question. I generally download a bit when I get home, usually putting my Smith & Wesson Model 13 away and carrying only my Taurus 85SSUL. (Since I always carry my KelTec P32, I don't count it.) I may or may not conceal the gun I'm carrying in my house, and it isn't a subject for discussion anymore.

Has anyone ever broken into my home since I received my concealed handgun license? Nope. Do I hope anyone tries? Of course not. The closest we've come was when one of those young gentlemen selling magazines to win some sort of prize or scholarship came to the door and almost ran when he saw my revolver, backing away saying, “Don't shoot me, sir!” When I reassured him that he was safe, I asked him a number of questions. The story went that he was from an “inner city area” and was trying to turn his life around with this “program” where selling magazines would earn him enough points to get into a “training program” that would allow him to get a good job. The kid had a good spiel, but I just had to decline, having all the magazine subscriptions we needed. After he left my yard, I walked my dog on her leash around the neighborhood (after I woke her up) just to scope out the action. He skipped my next door neighbor's house, possibly due to the police car in the driveway, and tried almost every other house up the block, unsuccessfully from what I could see.At the entrance to the neighborhood, he stood around until a van with out-of-state tags came by and picked him up. I saw the van later in other parts of town with an older man (Okay, about my age.) in it with young people going into other neighborhoods. Was it on the up-and-up, or was it casing possible victims on a larger scale? I don't know. There didn't seem to be any up-tick in burglaries in town, but it may have been a scam. I let our local law know about it, but I didn't hear anything from them.

The bottom line is that if you're going to carry, you probably need to carry at home, too. Just my opinion.

ECS

Getting back to guns

2008-09-12T22:48:00.006-05:00

In 1929 at the Tula Arsenal in the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, this 1895 Nagant 7.62x38R came off the assembly line. It wasn't finely finished, and it's design was admittedly obsolescent, soon to be supplanted by the Tokarev but not replaced. The arsenals that built these revolvers continued to churn them out through the end of World War 2 in 1945. Under the old Soviet system, when a gun was in production, it stayed in production.

My brother, formerly a Russian linguist/specialist for the USAF, told me that as late as the 1980's some Soviet police still carried this gun. In a country where the odds of a полицейский facing an armed criminal or citizen were miniscule, the mere threat of a gun may have been enough.

I just wanted one. Surprisingly, it feels very good in my hand. The trigger pull, both single-action and double-action are heavy but manageable. The finish shows some tool marks through the almost black bluing. This is not a "shiny" gun, but the wood grips are very nice with checkered wood inlays in the front and back straps.

The Nagant action is interesting in that as the hammer moves back the cylinder first rotates, then moves forward to surround the forcing cone of the barrel. At the same time, the recoil plate also moves forward to support the base of the cartridge lined up with the barrel. Using the unique ammunition with the bullet buried below the mouth of the casing, when the gun fires the extended case mouth expands, sealing the cylinder gap. This makes the Nagant the only revolver, contrary to what we've seen in the movies and on TV, that works with a suppressor. Releasing the trigger allows the cylinder to retract and reset. On the down side, all the movement when the trigger is pulled in double-action is what make the trigger pull heavy.

The gun came with a fake-leather fabric holster with a double ammunition pouch that holds 14 rounds. (Did I mention that the Nagant is a seven-shooter?) There may have been a cleaning rod and lanyard with it originally, but they are long gone.

The 1895 Nagant holds the record for service-handgun production and service. While there's no way of knowing if mine saw active service, I'm happy owning a piece of history.

ECS

2008-09-09T17:40:00.002-05:00

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/adam-mckay/were-gonna-frickin-lose-t_b_124772.html

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I guess "free speech" doesn't include pointing out the lies on others' posts or objecting to being called a racist because I disagree with damn' near everything Senator Obama espouses.

ECS

2008-09-08T21:50:00.001-05:00

Out of my approximately 17 posts on HuffPo, they have deleted seven of them. I wonder what scares them so much.

ECS

Dems React To Palin Speech: "Formidable," "Shrill And Sarcastic" (VIDEO)

2008-09-06T16:36:00.001-05:00

"I am not taking any chances with the republican this year; they like to disenfranchise voters, especially minorities."

Like the Democrats doing everything they could to disenfranchise military voters in Florida?

ECS
About Sarah Palin
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Palin Slams Obama, Dems

2008-09-04T18:53:00.001-05:00

A conservative marries the girl he gets pregnant. A liberal drives her to the abortion clinic.

ECS
About Sarah Palin
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Palin Slams Obama, Dems

2008-09-04T18:51:00.001-05:00

"So I say to the republicans: after letting Rove and the swift-boaters lie about our candidate, you got nothing coming."

Exactly what "lies" did anyone tell about John Kerry?

ECS
About Sarah Palin
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

McCain/Palin 2008

2008-08-31T22:42:00.004-05:00

I'm as happy as a mosquito in a nudist colony! I think Senator John McCain hit a home run in naming Governor (AK) Sarah Palin as his Vice-Presidential pick. It sure took the wind out of the DNC's coronation of Senator Obama and makes the selection of Senator Biden as the Democratic Party's VP candidate look pitiful.

That said, I'm also disgusted by the reaction of Obama's proxies in the media and in the DK crowd. The attacks on Governor Palin's daughter and baby boy are inexcusable. I'm waiting for the good Senators to disavow any connection with those attacks and those who make them. I'm not holding my breath.

ECS

What to wear; what to wear?

2008-08-30T20:01:00.005-05:00

This isn't about clothes, and it isn't about guns. It's about what clothes you have to wear to conceal the gun[s] you want to carry. For example, today I carried a four-inch S&W Model 681, a two-inch Taurus 85SSUL, and a KelTec P32 concealed in 95ºF heat. How did I pull this off without suffering heat stroke? It's really pretty easy.

I carried the "big gun," which is equipped with Crimson Trace laser grips, in Bianchi Model 7 thumb break holster using the slots for a strong side FBI carry. I carried the box stock "medium gun" weakside in a Bianchi Model 105 Minimalist. The "little gun" I front pocket-carried in a Blackhawk holster.

My clothes for the day? I wore a Hanes Pocket-T, Levi's 501 jeans, and a photographer's vest, and my self-defense suite was undetectable. However, my former neighbor, a DEA agent, had he seen me, would have asked what I was carrying. Why? The vest. He remarked on more than one occasion that I looked like a "Feeb." No, that's not a derogatory term for someone who is mentally challenged, it's what he called FBI agents. (Hmm. I'll have to give that some thought.)

Later in the day, my wife and I went to the grand opening of the new BOK Center in Tulsa to see my mom's tax dollars at work. Since my wife really gets tired of the vest, I made an adjustment in my concealed carry battery to fit the situation. I left the M681 in the pistol safe, removed the Minimalist from the belt, and moved the 85SSUL to an IWB strong side holster. Because the temperature outside had increased, I changed the Pocket T for a regular t-shirt and wore a Hawai'ian shirt over it. Downtown Tulsa was crawling with police officers in cars, on foot, and riding bicycles, and, again, my self-defense suite went unnoticed/undetected.

Earlier in the week, I joined fellow scooterists for our regular Thursday evening group ride and dining out activity in 90º+ weather. (Actually, it was around 86º when we started.) My S&W Model 13 rode IWB strongside, the Taurus Ultra-Lite IWB weakside, and the KelTec, again, in my front pocket. I wore a graphic t-shirt under my FirstGear Venom mesh jacket and Levi's. Due to the breathability of the mesh jacket, no one thought my wearing it in the restaurant was unusual. In fact, the A/C had the place pretty cool.

The point I want to make is that you can conceal handguns up to full-size service guns like the Smith & Wesson 681 if you take the trouble to get a decent holster and dress appropriately. If the situation prevents you from wearing a cover garment like a vest, a coat, a jacket, or an untucked shirt, you need to carry a gun that you can conceal in your pocket or a push-up holster. My choices will probably not be yours, but take the time to examine your carry options and your clothing options.

ECS

Bad news for the Democratic Party or the American people.

2008-08-24T14:41:00.002-05:00

Presumptive Democratic Party Presidential nominee Senator Barack Obama named Senator Joe Biden as his Vice-Presidential pick. Given the anti-gun history of both these gentlemen, the Republican Party and every gun rights organization in the nation should make a big deal of this to the American people. Even with Senator John McCain's luke-warm support of the Second Amendment and the First Amendment (remember campaign finance reform?), the presumptive Democratic ticket's record is ripe for exploitation. If we can create enough noise about this to get the attention of the MSM, it can be bad news for the Democratic Party.

The flip side is that if the Obama/Biden ticket wins, given their anti-gun rights records, the American people and their individual right to keep and bear arms (as guranteed, not granted, by the Second Amendment) will face a minimum of four years of increasing pressure. Remember what Senator Dianne Feinstein said: if she'd had the votes she'd have had "Mr. and Mrs. America" turn in their guns.

ECS

Concealed Carry Thoughts 2

2008-08-23T13:30:00.001-05:00

I prefer revolvers for concealed carry in the main. If I thought I was going into combat, my choice would be different due to the differences between self-defense and combat, and I probably wouldn't be too concerned about concealability. Since personal self-defense generally doesn't involve laying down a base of fire or suppression, I don't need what some commentators refer to as "firepower." What I need is something that works every time, is concealable and has sufficient power to stop an attacker. What I want is something that works just like every other gun I might carry. My solution is revolvers.

The big questions are, "What kinds of revolvers? What caliber revolvers? What barrel length/frame size revolvers?"

As much as I love single-action revolvers, concealing one tends to be a problem especially since most of mine are .45 Colts. So, that leaves double-action revolvers. While I really like Colt Detective Specials, they have moved into the realm of collectibles. That leaves any number of other makes. Since Smith & Wesson and Taurus use the same basic system of cylinder release (push forward on the latch), that's what I elected.

Caliber is a subject where everyone has an opinion. My primary defensive caliber is .357 Magnum with 125 grain jacketed hollow point (JHP) bullets. My reasoning is that not only do the Evan Marshall and Ed Sanow statistics from Handgun Stopping Power: The Definitive Study show that round to be right at the top and whenever a new defensive pistol round is introduced the developer compares it to the .357 Magnum, but this powerhouse is available in readily concealable handguns. My secondary defensive caliber is .38 Special +P with a 125 grain JHP bullets. It isn't the powerhouse that the .357 Magnum is, but it is adequate and can be used in .357 Magnum revolvers. It is also more controllable for someone who isn't a dedicated pistolero.

While there are those people who can conceal N-frame Smith & Wesson or Colt New Service revolvers, I'm not one of them. The choice for me is a K-frame Smith & Wesson or smaller. In particular the Model 13/65. My preferred barrel length is three inches. I can conceal a three inch Model 13 easily, and it doesn't get in my way performing normal movements like sitting in my truck or riding my scooter.

So we come to my concealed carry battery: (1) a .357 Magnum S&W Model 13 with a three inch barrel and Bianchi Lightning grips, (2) a .38 Special Taurus Model 85SSUL* with a two inch barrel, and (3) a .32 ACP Kel-Tec P32 (Okay, it's an automatic.). When away from the house I carry the M13 IWB on my right side, the 85SSUL IWB on my left side, and the P32 in my pocket. At home, carry the M85SSUL strong side and the P32 in my pocket. If going somewhere where the revolvers would be too intrusive (a rare occasion), the P32 goes it alone. The biggest change comes during the winter when my four inch S&W M681 replaces the M13 on my right side in a Bianchi #7. That moves the M13 to the left, and the M85SSUL moves to a coat pocket.

You may have different requirements and different solutions, but that's what freedom is all about.

ECS

*(Stainless Steel Ultra-Lite)

Concealed Carry Thoughts

2008-08-23T11:12:00.000-05:00

Thanks to the great State of Oklahoma, I have a Concealed Handgun License. While I would rather not have the state involved at all in how and when I carry a gun, at least Oklahoma is a "shall issue" state, and the regulations are not onerous. So, I figure to live with 'em.

When it has come up in conversation (rarely), I have had otherwise reasonable and intelligent people ask me why I carry a gun. They ask me if I'm afraid or if I see myself as some sort of Rambo or vigilante. Or, they tell me they are afraid of guns. They then pontificate on the evils of guns, all the damage guns do to "our society," and how, if it were in their power, they would ban guns.

Well, for the record, I'm not afraid (most of the time) of anything (almost), nor do I see myself as Rambo or a vigilante. I carry guns (Yes, I typed guns.) for the same reason I wear a seat-belt; for the same reason I wear a helmet, armored jacket, boots, and gloves when I ride my scooter; for the same reason I have insurance on my house, car, truck, and scooter. If you need any of these, you're going to need them right now. I, for one, don't want to be looking for something to protect myself if someone attacks me or a member of my family, especially since I'm what they call a high-mileage model. (Hand-to-hand combat training was a lot of miles and a lot of wear'n'tear ago.) I'm not looking for trouble, but I intend to be as ready for it as I can.

For those people who are afraid of guns, my mother included, I can only ask if they are afraid of kitchen utensils, tools, cars, and their hair dryers. A gun is a tool. It won't go off by itself. It won't turn the person holding it into a slathering, wild-eyed, murderous monster bent on wreaking havoc amongst his family, friends, neighbors, and strangers. It has no motivation, morals, or ability of its own. That is not to say that a gun should not be respected, but a gun can't make anyone do anything.

(My mother has acknowledged that her fear of guns is irrational, but, when a woman down the street from her house was murdered in cold blood after surprising burglars in the middle of the day, she insisted that either my brother or myself, with our guns, come stay with her until the police apprehended the killers. This we did, because that's what family does.)

As for guns damaging our society, I would say that criminals damage our society. Criminals don't obey laws. Banning guns won't change that because criminals won't obey the laws banning guns, leaving the law-abiding defenseless. The gun banners, when I ask them what to do if threatened by an attacker, say that I should let the police handle it, "That's what we pay them for." They get a bit flustered when I say that their response to an immediate threat is to hope that people with guns come to their aid in time to save them. They get more flustered when I tell them that the police have no legal responsibility to protect any individual who doesn't have a pre-existing relationship with the police, i.e. a snitch...excuse me, a confidential informant.

It is a sad commentary on our "society" that people abdicate their responsibility for their safety, for their families' safety, and for their very lives to others.

So, I will continue to carry concealed handguns.

ECS