Monday, December 24, 2012

Four Fire Fighters Shot in New York

As a volunteer firefighter, I understand the risks involved when that tone drops and you jump aboard a speeding fire truck headed for a burning building. I know that all the training, and all the experience in the world can't fully prepare a firefighter for what they may encounter at the next call. This reality became even more painfully true today, Christmas Eve in Upstate New York where firefighters were dispatched to what appeared to be a car and home fire. Upon arrival what they discovered was a sick and twisted booby trap laid by an ex-con.

When the first firefighters stepped out their vehicles, William Spengler, who was hiding near the property opened fire. Four of them were hit, 2 of which died. The first police officer on site chased after Spengler and exchanged fire. Police had to use an armored vehicle to rescue the survivors and evacuate neighboring residents while the situation was resolved. The gunman eventually took his own life but several homes were destroyed because firefighters were unable to fight the blaze during the incident.

William Spengler, the gunman, spent more than 17 years in prison for beating his 92-year old grandmother to death with a hammer in 1980 in the house next to where the Christmas Eve attack occurred.

This terrible tragedy that ended the lives of two heroes is the sole result of a broken system. A system in which a convicted murderer is released into society after committing one heinous crime, later allowing him to commit another. As politicians in Washington rush to introduce bills threatening the second amendment even further, one has to question how an ex-con, barred from owning a firearm, was capable of committing this atrocity. I have always said that laws don't stop bad guys from getting guns, and once again I am proven right. If our police departments can't enforce existing laws, what good are new laws going to do? The answer is not more laws but more resources. Give the police the resources they need to fight the illegal gun trade and arm the citizens who need protection.

READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE.

Friday, December 21, 2012

It's Time to Play Defense, Not Chicken

So our elected officials think that America wants choking gun control in the aftermath of the most recent shooting. NRA membership has increased at 8,000 members a day since the Connecticut tragedy. American's who respect the constitution and our second amendment right to bear arms are stepping up to the plate and doing something to help fight off future attempts at tougher gun control. The NRA who had for the most part remained quiet following the event issued a press release today. During the conference NRA Vice President Wayne LaPierre talked about the 4 million mothers and fathers who are members of his group. He talked about how banks, airports, government officials, courts, and sports venues are all protected by armed security yet we leave our schools unprotected and vulnerable to attacks.

As a member of the NRA I agree with Mr. LaPierre. Our children are the most important things in our lives. They are the future generation of this country. What type of an example are we setting, by tirelessly protecting politicians and sports stars while leaving them helpless. We all know that bad guys don't care about laws. Adding more to the books when we half heartedly enforce the existing ones is senseless and only gives America a false peace of mind. Mr. LaPierre said it best during the conference when he said "The only way to stop a bad guy with a gun, is a good guy with a gun!"

Just look at the Clackamas Mall Shooting. After reading all the media reports did you find yourself asking how, during the busiest shopping season, Jacob Roberts opened fire and only managed to kill two people and himself? Well the reason is actually quite simple. Nick Meli, a shopper at the mall that day who holds a concealed carry permit confronted the shooter. He elected not to take the shot however because it would have put another bystander in jeopardy. Instead he took cover and according to Nick, the last shot he heard after confronting the shooter was the one that took his own life. Nick Meli's presence saved lives that day and he didn't even fire a shot. In fact he did exactly the opposite of what anti-gunners across the country claim concealed carriers do. He identified a situation in which his actions could potentially injure someone else and stood down.

How can a government who let hundreds of illegally purchased guns flood into Mexico, later used to kill countless people, effectively comprehend what is best for this country when it comes to firearms. Our own government broke their own laws by allowing Fast and Furious to happen and now they think they have a right to tell law abiding citizens different. The hypocrisy in Washington is alarming, and the fact that American's are being fooled in the process is frustrating.

NRA Calls for Armed Police Officers in Every School

WASHINGTON (AP) — The nation's largest gun-rights lobby called Friday for armed police officers to be posted in every American school to stop the next killer "waiting in the wings."

The National Rifle Association broke its silence on last week's shooting rampage at a Connecticut elementary school that left 26 children and staff dead.

"The only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun," the group's top lobbyist, Wayne LaPierre, said at a Washington news conference.

READ MORE HERE.



Clackamas Mall Shooter Faced Man With Concealed Weapon

PORTLAND -- Nick Meli is emotionally drained.  The 22-year-old was at Clackamas Town Center with a friend and her baby when a masked man opened fire.

"I heard three shots and turned and looked at Casey and said, 'are you serious?,'" he said.

READ MORE HERE.



Thursday, December 20, 2012

Newtown's Firearms Tradition Clashes With Gun-Control Push

Anguished families are still burying the 20 children and six women who were shot to death by a lone gunman last Friday just after the morning Pledge of Allegiance at Sandy Hook Elementary School. But a surprising local undercurrent has emerged: Many gun owners here say the slaughter has sharpened their view that guns alone aren't the problem.

READ MORE HERE.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-newtown-gun-culture-20121221,0,6710027.story

A Reason to Thank Obama

In his emotionally charged decision to pursue changes in America's gun control polices, President Obama unintentionally fueled a storm of firearms sales, largely AR-15s. Gun stores across America have been slammed with sales on firearms similar to that of the one used in the Sandy Hook shooting. The reason, because Obama and his minions want the guns banned along with high capacity magazines that hold more than 10 cartridges. Over the last week, I have vented on this blog about why guns shouldn't be restricted and how our government needs to work on enforcing existing laws on the books. I have talked about statistics, and case studies in other countries where stricter gun control has resulted in elevated violent crime rates. In the end though, all that matters is what politicians want and vote on. There are millions of Americans who are fed up with the gun violence as of late. They want something done, but what they are demanding will not solve the problem. In the last several days, how many AR-15s have been sold? The states run background checks for gun sales, but they don't all record what type of weapon was sold to who. So even if the government effectively bans these weapons, there is no way to track them down. The government doesn't have the man power, or the authority to go door to door and illegally search people's homes. This whole agenda, may well stop future sales of these firearms, but there is already existing firearms in American homes.

In closing, I find it appropriate to thank Mr. Obama for his single handed push of firearms sales. His lack of support for the firearms industry inadvertantly boosted the firearms economy and armed even more citizens. With more legal guns on the streets of America I feel safer knowing that Americans will have the ability to protect themselves and their families. I know this isn't the first time government threats of stricter gun control have sent panicked customers to guns shops nationwide. However I do find it ironic. A final note about the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary, the state of Connecticut has the 5th toughest gun control laws in the country, yet this still happened. Food for thought.


Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Piers Morgan Attacks GOA Director, Obama Assembles Panel

Piers Morgan has proven just how incapable he is of having a serious, productive debate about firearms in America. On his show "Piers Morgan Tonight," he invited several guests on to discuss gun control including Larry Pratt, the Executive Director of Gun Owners of America. Approximately two and a half minutes into the interview Morgan started to make it clear that despite asking the questions, he had no interest in the answers that Mr. Pratt was trying to offer. Cutting his guest off and talking over him time and time again Piers continued to let the viewers know just how he wanted to see things with little to no respect for Mr. Pratt's views. Piers Morgan is an imbecile. I think the most shocking comment made by Morgan during the interview, or should I say personal attack, was "You're an unbelievably STUPID man aren't you!?" I do give props to Mr. Pratt for having the backbone to go on Morgan's show, but clearly arguing with a fool who is open to nothing but his own foolish opinions is pointless. If you would like to view the whole interview check it out on YouTube by clicking HERE.

Understanding the frustration of American's fed up with the violence is important. When a tragedy is fresh in people's minds they respond with emotions, not with forethought and intelligent fact finding. It is obvious that because the Sandy Hook shooting involved a semi-automatic rifle with high capacity magazines the obvious response from those angered is to ban those weapons. Sure Obama is sticking a little tid bit in about mental health care access but let's be realistic. The atttack on ARs, semi-automatic firearms, and magazines that hold more than ten bullets is on. If the Obama administration and other anti-gunners have it their way they will strip us of every weapon possible to defend ourselves and our families. They will criminally rewrite the Constitution of the United States of America and dictate every aspect of our lives.

Already in response to Sandy Hook, President Obama has assembled a panel to evaluate new ways to implement gun control. He wishes to find ways to evaluate individuals psychological health prior to gaining access to a firearm. Additionally he wants to look at television, movies, and video games in relation to gun violence. Headed by Vice President Joe Biden, I already think this "panel" is traveling down a slippery slope. Obama wants progress in just one month, with voting on new issues in congress next year. Emotional decisions are going to be made. Liberty's are going to be stolen. America is going to be divided.

It seems to me the decisions are already made. How can a panel, in just one month decide a better way to control guns without violating the Second Amendment? Why aren't we working to better enforce existing gun laws? How come our government, in the 21st century, fails hundreds of thousands of American's with mental health issues but can manage to support an unsustainable welfare system and provide free cell phones to those milking the system? Gun control isn't a debate to anti-gun liberals, it's an agenda that they believe will pass whether the American people support it or not, because after all, the government knows all the answers, and they are here to protect us.

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Choosing What to Believe: Brainwashing America

For every blog like mine, promoting the legal ownership of firearms in the United States, there is without a doubt another, screaming for the government to take them all away. As I read over several of these blogs in the past couple of days the primary argument is that we need to prevent another Sandy Hook shooting from ever happening again. I for one agree that we as a nation need to work hard to do just that, but as I have said numerous times in the last few days, taking guns away or creating new gun control regulations that prevent the average law abiding citizen from purchasing a firearm without jumping through an encyclopedia of bureaucratic hoops, won't solve the problem.

I've noticed liberals are quick to point fingers and blame guns for all the violence in this country. However when educated and experienced people confront those same individuals with statistics and hard facts they refuse to hear or believe what sits in front of them. They live in a world of denial and fantasy. They believe that government is the one size fits all security system and that they know what is best for us so we should not question it. It frustrates me to no avail that President Obama was reelected for a second term. It is no secret that he doesn't like guns and wants to restrict them to the best of his ability. During the election I told everybody I know, just remember he will never have to face the voters again. In his second term President Obama can fight tirelessly without fear of what his choices will mean to you and I. He and the rest of the democratic party had their minds made up before those 20 young children and 6 adults parished. They knew what direction they wanted to take before the psychopath in Aurora, Colarado had even loaded his first bullet.

The events that have unfortunately occured this year are simply political ammo to the democrats. Every time one of these shootings take place they know it is just another reason for them to put their agenda in place, and it sickens me. So in the unlikely event that Obama and rest of his party get what they want, I have to wonder, what happens when their agenda fails miserably as they have been warned time and time again? What happens when murders rise, crime increases, and the police lose control of our cities? What happens when innocent families lose loved ones because the government said they alone would protect them? Will the democrats and the President admit their mistake or will they hide behind another flood of lies to avoid accepting any fault? It shocks me that our elected officials can work so tirelessly at disarming its citizens, but can barely focus any energy on reducing their wasteful spending and reducing the deficit. I'm just glad that the government of today didn't write our constitution, because if they had I wouldn't be here today to write about it.

"Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety."
-Benjamin Franklin
 
 


Monday, December 17, 2012

NRA's Facebook Page Vanishes

Following the horrific shooting at an elementary school in Connecticut, the NRA's Facebook page disappeared according to an article on Yahoo news. It is my understanding that following the heartbreaking tragedy, the NRA's page was inundated by messages venting frustration with them. It appears that due to the negative feedback the NRA took steps to hide their page.

Comments ranged from "More blood on the NRA today" to "20 more dead, mostly children. When you will you start saying it's not the guns but the man?"

Just like every other American with a soul, I too am outraged the by sick individual that committed this incomprehensible crime. I also understand that an angered nation is looking for someone or something to point the fingers at. The NRA surely is used to taking its fair share of punches when it comes to tragedies like this, and rightfully so. They are the largest pro gun organization around. Unfortunately though, playing the blame game and shouting at the NRA doesn't change what happened. It doesn't put police officers on the streets where they need to be, or fix budget cuts choking cities across the country. Gun ownership is our right as American's, just like freedom of speech, or a right to a speedy trial, the list goes on and on. Our country was built on freedom, and using an event such as this to strip us of more freedom solves nothing. Leaving millions of American's defenseless against the evils of the world is in my opinion, cruel and unusual punishment. Another right guaranteed by the constitution.

I think it is time our politicians take a page out of Isreal and Thailand's book, where the threat of school violence is high. In those countries, instead of taking guns away from their citizens, they gave more guns to potential victims. In fact teachers in those countries now carry concealed firearms while on the job. In the worst areas, teachers were even given free guns.

Israel has already learned the tragic consequences of victim disarmament. Israeli citizens were told they couldn't possess firearms, that the government would protect them. Then came numerous horrible massacres in the 1970s. Israel corrected their mistake.

I truly hope that our government doesn't tread down the path that Isreal did way back then. The truth is the world is even more sick and twisted then it was back then. We need to focus on issues such as better access to mental health treatment, strengthening our police forces, and tighter security in schools. It's time America stops pointing fingers at the NRA and other pro gun groups, and starts focusing the the real issues.



Sunday, December 16, 2012

Gun Control is Counterproductive says Harvard Study

The age old theory that less guns equates to less death and more guns equates to more death has been proven wrong according to a Harvard Study. Professor Don Kates and Professor Gary Mauser conducted the exhaustive study of American and European gun laws and violence rates. According to the study:

"Nations with stringent anti-gun laws generally have substantially higher murder rates than those that do not. The study found that the nine European nations with the lowest rates of gun ownership (5,000 or fewer guns per 100,000 population) have a combined murder rate three times higher than that of the nine nations with the highest rates of gun ownership (at least 15,000 guns per 100,000 population)."

An example would be that of Norway, which possesses the highest gun ownership rate in Western Europe, yet holds the lowest Murder rate. Holland on the other hand possesses nearly the worst murder rate, despite having the lowest gun ownership rate in Western Europe. Additionally Sweden and Denmark both have high murder rates and extremely low gun rates.

It is clear then if the mantra "less guns, less death, more guns, more death" was in fact correct, then this study would show the facts to support the claim, but it does not. Government taking action to reduce or eliminate guns in our country would do more damage then good. It would leave innocent citizens with no way to protect themselves and give criminals more incentive to act out. This study, was just one more piece of proof that what anti-gunners are preaching is baseless and dangerous to the well being of the United States of America.

Source:
http://theacru.org/acru/harvard_study_gun_control_is_counterproductive/

Saturday, December 15, 2012

Why?

As I heard the news that their was another shooting in Connecticut my heart sank. When I found out the majority of victims were kindergarten students my own sons age I became furious. I hope that American's as a whole understand that for every one of these psychopaths there are hundreds of thousands responsible gun owners that are disgusted, and angry, and saddened.

We all have questions. Why did this 20 year old kid with his whole life ahead of him do this heinous thing? How, in his last minutes of his life could he be so angry that he would harm innocent children who have never had the chance to hurt anyone. I don't care how bad anyone thinks their life is, suicide should never be an option, but in the case of this guy, why didn't he simply take his own life and leave all the others alone?

School is supposed to be one of the safest places in the world. We have laws setting extreme punishment for selling and possessing drugs within so many feet. Guns are under no circumstances allowed inside a school, especially an elementary school. Speed limits are dropped when students are present and fines increased for violators. It is even my understanding that Sandy Hook Elementary had security policies in effect that included locking down the school after 9:30 AM. The shooting started shortly after that time.

Since the Columbine Shooting schools have increased security all over America. They have invested in surveillance cameras, metal detectors, and more. Many schools in our country even have full time police or security officers on site, but even experts say there is no 100 percent guarantee that our children are safe or that something of this magnitude could be prevented.

The truth is, there are sick individuals in this world. We have witnessed many mass shootings in the past year. Most of which are conducted by cowardly individuals who commit suicide to prevent them from facing justice for the atrocities they commit.

I'm certain law makers in Washington are going to use this tragedy to try and enact tougher restrictions on gun owners across the country. The truth is, they are only spinning their wheels. Laws are created for and followed by law abiding citizens. Criminals and those determined to commit these acts don't care about laws or government. Washington needs to find ways to reduce wasteful government spending while increasing funding to public schools for security. We need to focus our law enforcement efforts on getting illegal guns off the streets and creating stronger police presence in our communities. Just as the shooter in Aurora, CO chose his target because he knew their would be little resistense due to the theaters "No Firearms" policy, this individual targeted this school. He knew by the time police would arrive, the damage would be done. It would be too late.

My heart goes out to all the families affected by this terrible tragedy. No parent should ever have to bury their child. The simple fact that this happened so close to Christmas, makes it that much more heartbreaking.


Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Concealed Carry Mistakes

There is more to concealed carry then simply, getting your permit, buying a handgun, and strapping it on. If you are considering getting or currently hold a CWP you need to read this article.

Mistake #1: Settling for the Minimum
One of the biggest responsibilities of being a gun owner and CWP holder is making sure that you are proficiently trained on the use of your firearms. Just because your state says you only need a 4 hour basic handgun safety course to get your permit doesn't mean that is all the training you should do. Look at more advanced classes covering tactics and techniques. Train until the use of your firearm is second nature, then train some more. Regular training also means safer and more effective habits.

Mistake #2: Improper Attitude and Mindset
Carrying a concealed weapon comes with a huge responsibility. The proper mindset and attitude should be a given but is overlooked by many. Just because you have a CWP doesn't mean you can carry your firearm into a courthouse, school, post office, or any other place restricted by law. You must know the laws of your state and abide by them.

I don't care how busy you are, what you are doing, who your are with, saying that your forgot you had a firearm on you is no excuse. Responsible CWP holders know where their firearm is at all times and they follow the law. If you are caught violating the laws of your state, not only do you risk getting arrested but you also run the risk of losing you CWP.

In regards to "Attitude" as stated in mistake number one, shooting ability is a skill that is easily lost without practice. Training is important and a responsibility all CWP holders should take extremely seriously. The state minimum is not an acceptable level of training. Training should be a life long process. You need to seek out additional training from qualified instructors and practice the skills they teach you regularly.

Mistake #3: Wrong Size Gun
Just because you have a CWP doesn't mean you should carry the biggest hand cannon you can find. Guys are more likely to make this mistake than women. They run out and buy the biggest caliber full size pistol for concealed carry then later realize that it is too big and/or too heavy to use for the purpose. A small caliber, compact pistol is sufficient for concealed carry. When it comes to a life or death situation, getting shot with a .32 or a .40 isn't going to matter if it stops the attack.

Mistake #4: Improper Holster or Carry Method
Buying a holster is like buying clothes or a car. You don't just buy one on a whim and expect to be satisfied with it. Your holster needs to be comfortable and ergonomic. You need to be able to access your firearm without too much trouble. Different types of clothing will require different types of holsters. A shoulder holster may be perfect if you are wearing a suit, but if you are wearing a t-shirt an inside the waist band holster may be better. Same goes for an ankle holster. You won't want to use an ankle holster while wearing shorts or a skirt. Purchase multiple holsters for multiple different clothing types.

If you own a pocket pistol make sure you have a correct pocket holster for your firearm. Don't just stick it in your pocket freely. Anything from keys to pens could potentially catch on the trigger causing it to go off accidentally. Additionally for the ladies, don't just toss a gun into your oversized purse filled with everything but the kitchen sink. Chances are you won't have the opportunity to get your gun out in a hurry if needed.

Mistake #5: Wrong Dress of Concealed Carry
The clothes you find on the runways of New York, Paris, and LA, don't have the CWP holder in mind. You are going to need to loosen up on the clothing if you plan to carry concealed, but you also want to make sure your clothing allows quick and easy access to the firearm in the case of a critical incident.

Darker colored clothes with lines and designs around the area you keep your firearm and holster will disguise them better. You may have to go up a size, no matter how much it upsets you.

Finally, you MUST practice concealed carry in your home, unloaded or with dummy ammo before you ever head out into public with a concealed firearm on your person to excercise your second amendment right.

In closing, it is important to remember that concealed carry is more than learning a few laws and jumping through red tape. It is a huge responsibility that requires nothing but a proper and mature mindset. It also requires a lot of time and money for training and the correct equipment. With a little safe planning and experimentation you will be confident that you have the skills necessary to protect yourself and your family.






Tuesday, December 11, 2012

No guns in America: An Unstoppable Government

I am a big fan of NBC's hit show Revolution. For those of you who have not watched it, it's basically about what our country would be like if the electricity stopped working. Government and society collapse, then militias start taking over. The militias on the show however aren't what you would call, in the best interest of the people. Instead powerful and violent criminals become leaders and people start dying when they protest.

Throughout the series you learn that under the militia's law firearms are illegal unless you are a member of the militia, punishable by death. As a result you are left with a corrupt "government" free to do as they wish without any threat of serious resistance. Normal citizens are left with the basics of weapons, sticks, stones, bows and arrows, knives. When rebels face off against the militia, they of course stand no chance of victory, and suffer defeat. The people live in fear, and this fear keeps them in line.

Too often we witness American's screaming for a prohibition on guns. "Ban them all" they say without actually evaluating the consequences of such a decision. Our government was established with a series of checks and balances. The second amendment was established to protect the people if those checks and balances fail. It is important that all American's understand the necessity of the second amendment no matter the century to ensure that our government doesn't gain the power to become the Britain of 1775.




Monday, December 10, 2012

Secure Your Firearms Properly

As I clocked in at work this morning I took a quick peak at the news on Yahoo. The first article I read was about two boys, age 7 and 11 who attempted to rob a woman with a gun. According to the article after unsuccessfully trying to carjack the 22-year-old woman, during which the younger male told the older male to "Show her your piece" they then proceeded to demand for cash and her phone. As the victim, Ami Garrett drove away, she said that she saw the 11-year-old boy pull a gun out of his pocket.

As gun owners it is our responsibility to A) know where our firearms are at all times, and B) ensure that they are secured in a way that allows for no unauthorized access. According the the article, police were still trying to determine just how the boys came into possession of the firearm but one can only assume it came from one of two places. It was either taken from one of their parents or an adult in their lives, and it was not secured properly, or they got it from a friend who gained possession in the same manner. Of course they also could have gotten it off the street, but in my opinion the chances of a 7 and 11 year old being sold a gun even from a criminal is slim.

As a parent and a gun owner I take the safety of my family extremely serious. The main reason I own firearms is for their protection. Leaving a weapon unsecured undermines that purpose completely. It puts my children's lives at risk as well as anyone they could potentially harm if they got a hold of a gun. Talk to your children about guns, even if you do not own one. Teach them the three funatamental NRA rules for safe gun handling. Allow them to gain respect for firearms so that they too can share that knowledge with others. We put our kids through driver's ed before they get their license so that they can learn to drive safely, it only makes sense to apply that same belief to firearms. After all, more people die as a result of vehicle accidents then firearm deaths.

The fundamental NRA rules for safe gun handling are:

1. ALWAYS keep the gun pointed in a safe direction.

This is the primary rule of gun safety. A safe direction means that the gun is pointed so that even if it were to go off it would not cause injury or damage. The key to this rule is to control where the muzzle or front end of the barrel is pointed at all times. Common sense dictates the safest direction, depending on different circumstances.

2. ALWAYS keep your finger off the trigger until ready to shoot.

When holding a gun, rest your finger on the trigger guard or along the side of the gun. Until you are actually ready to fire, do not touch the trigger.

3. ALWAYS keep the gun unloaded until ready to use.

Whenever you pick up a gun, immediately engage the safety device if possible, and, if the gun has a magazine, remove it before opening the action and looking into the chamber(s) which should be clear of ammunition. If you do not know how to open the action or inspect the chamber(s), leave the gun alone and get help from someone who does.

Sunday, December 9, 2012

The Hypocrisy of Anti-Gunners

The arrest of Illinois State Senator Donne Trotter on Wednesday December 5, 2012 must leave you with a lot of questions. Mainly, why a man who who has regularly been an anti-gun vote and even opposed legislation that would allow concealed carry in the state of Illinois, be carrying a firearm at all if they are so evil? It may even surprise you that Senator Trotter in fact has a permit to carry a weapon and has a valid Firearm Owner's Identification card.

TSA agents found the .25 caliber pistol in Trotter's carry on bag around 7 am. It was loaded and had 7 rounds in it, however there wasn't a round in the chamber. Senator Trotter told authorities that he moonlights as a security agent for a company called Allpoints Security and Detective Inc and did not know the firearm was in his carry on bag.

Further digging as you would expect have concluded that Senator Trotter's employment with Allpoinst is in fact a lie. He does not and has never worked for Allpoinst Security or any other security agency and his fake employment seems nothing more than a political favor from the company so that the Senator could legally obtain a permit to carry a firearm. A look at Senator Trotter's financials never once showed any income from Allpoints or any other security firm. In addition a responsible gun owner knows where his or her firearm is at all times. Something that Senator Trotter clearly failed at according to his claims.

How is it that a Senator with a long standing history of opposing citizens of his state from legally carrying a firearm conspire with a security firm to loop hole his way into obtaining a permit to carry? Simple hypocrisy. Another liberal who feels that they are above the rest of us. A man with an agenda to disarm the people of his state all while showing us that he thinks he is better and deserving of a firearm.

This is just one instance of liberal injustice towards firearms laws. Our government is full of senators and representatives just like Senator Trotter who feel they know what is best for the American people but the rules shall not apply to them. It's time we pay a little more attention to who we elect into office and start weeding out the hypocrisy of our government.




Saturday, December 8, 2012

False Sense of Security

Imagine yourself, at work. It's night time. You and your manager are the only employees left at work. Suddenly an armed masked man ambushes you and demands cash. The lone assailant leaves you in the bathroom while he and the manager head for the safe. You have the opportunity to escape but you also know you have your legally owned pistol in your truck. Frantically you rush out the side door and sprint to your vehicle knowing your manager is still inside with a gun to his head. You grab your pistol, make sure their is a round in the chamber and head for the front door. Pushing the door open you take aim and yell "Freeze." The robber who is completely thrown off guard puts his hands in the air and takes off running. You pursue him but he escapes out of the building. You go back inside to check on your manager who is unharmed and grateful to be alive.

You would think that this would be a perfect example of how a gun owner using their head potentially saved his manager's life. This man should be praised as a hero right? Wrong. At least in the eyes of his employer, Autozone who two days later fired Devin  McLean for violating their zero tolerance weapons policy. Just weeks before Christmas and with a baby on the way Devin found himself a veteran, a hero and unemployed.
 
The stigma so many people have placed on guns in America has led to countless policies such as this one. Policies that leave people vulnerable to defend themselves when a criminal targets them. Take the movie theater shooting in Colarado for example. A heavily armed gunman entered the premeire of Batman Dark Night Rises and opened fire. Despite there being several individuals with concealed weapons permits present, nobody but the gunman was armed. The reason, a no firearms policy that the law abiding citizens obeyed and the gunman did not. The loss of life could have been drastically reduced if the legally permitted individuals had been allowed to conceal their firearms.

Many advocates for gun control have said even if those individuals were armed the gunman was wearing body armor and it wouldn't have mattered. The truth however is a shot or two to the chest would have possibly knocked him down allowing others to subdue him and end the carnage.

No firearms policies do nothing to protect anything but a false sense of security. They allow criminals to pick out easy targets as was the case in the Colorado shooting. The theater he chose wasn't the closest to his house but it was the closest with a No Firearms policy, and he capitalized on it.

The incident that left Devin McLean jobless is terrible. He did what was right. What the Air Force taught him to do. Autozone should be applauding his heroism and looking for more employees like him. Personally as a result of this I would never do business with Autozone. They need to be taught a lesson that their zero tolerance policy should not be tolerated. They have put targets on their stores and the safety of all their employees. With a welcome sign on their doors they have let criminals know they are an easy target and their won't be any resistance.

***Sign the petition to get Devin his job back and demand that Autozone reevaluate their zero tolerance policy at http://www.change.org/petitions/autozone-reinstate-devin-mclean-and-reevaluate-your-zero-tolerance-weapons-policy.***



Another Tragedy, Another Voice for Gun Control

I'm not a football fan by any stretch, but the majority of America has heard the tragic news about the murder-suicide involving Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Jovan Belcher and his girlfriend Kassandra Perkins. An unnecessary loss of life without a doubt, and in gun control advocates eyes like Bob Costas a perfect opportunity to score personal political points.

On Sunday night football December 2, 2012 Bob Costas used his position as an NBC sportscaster to capitalize on the murder-suicide and attack law-abiding gun owners during the half time segment. Even going as far as hiding behind a fellow journalist, Jason Whitlock, and using his words during the onslaught of verbal diarrhea. In Costas as well as Whitlock's eyes "Handguns don't enhance our safety. They exacerbate our flaws, tempt us to escalate arguments, and bait us into embracing confrontation rather than avoiding it." They also believe that if "Jovan Belcher didn't posses a gun, he and Kassandra Perkins would still be alive today."

Now I'm not sure where Costas and Whitlock are getting their facts but it is clear to me, and just about every other responsible gun owner that they are extremely flawed. Millions of Americans lawfully posses and carry firearms for protection. How often do these individuals run around causing confrontation with people because they feel a sense of invincibility with their .45 strapped to their hip? If Costas and Whitlock had it their way millions of families would be left unprotected and essentially sitting ducks. The rise in assaults, murders, rapes, break-ins would all increase catastrophically.

The one obvious issue that led to the murder-suicide in question was not a gun issue. It was a domestic violence issue. If Costas truly believes that without a gun Belcher would not have been able to commit this crime, he is very mistaken. In fact had he not had a gun, the crime scene may have been more brutal. This is demonstrated in countless domestic violence murders each year. Earlier this year a Massachusetts woman was stabbed to death in front of her two children. Another woman, a new bride from Chicago was stabbed to death only hours after her wedding. In fact the morning Jovan Belcher killed his girlfriend and took his life, a Staten Island woman was allegedly beat to death by her live in boyfriend.

As you can see, the issue here is not guns as Bob Costas would like you to believe. Domestic violence is the issue that needs to be addressed. The firearm involved in this tragedy was simply a tool the perpetrator used to execute his goal. Had he not had the gun, a knife or baseball bat would have easily been used. Nobody is screaming for knife or baseball bat control. If Bob Costas knows what is good for him, he will stick to doing his job commentating sports.


Friday, December 7, 2012

Introduction

Welcome to the Second Amendment Journal. A blog dedicated to everything firearms. As a gun owner, strong supporter of the second amendment, and somebody who enjoys writing I felt that starting a blog would be a great opportunity for me. I often times find myself on social networks and news sites defending our individual right to own and in legal cases, carry firearms for sport, competition, and protection. Many instances have put me up against some serious liberals who feel that the second amendment is outdated and in serious need of removal. As American's we all have a right to our opinions. Additionally we have a right to free speech. With recent events taking place these people as well as heavily funded politicians with extreme gun control agendas are using terrible tragedies to fuel their war on guns. With over 300 million non-military firearms in the United States and the strength of the NRA and other Pro-Gun groups they have a tough battle ahead of them, but their misled beliefs can be dangerous. As gun owners it is our responsibility to defend the right our forefathers gave us when this country was founded. Whether you use firearms for sport, for competitive shooting, or protection they serve a necessary purpose no matter what century we are in. Our government shall never disarm its citizens. When they try, the very reason for the existence of the second amendment will undoubtedly come into play. I'll end this post with one of my favorite quotes ever, "When seconds count, the Police are only minutes away." Thank you for stopping by. Please feel free to subscribe and check back often.