Concealed Carry Report

December 18th, 2009

Dear Friend,

Why did you decide to get your Concealed Weapon permit? Sure, for self protection, and because going armed is your right.

Well, even though we’d all agree with that statement, we still each have our own reasons for making the choice to get
our Concealed Weapon permits.

This week, I’m featuring an article written by an armed citizen who will explain his reason. It’s a good read, and I think you’ll enjoy it.

Let’s get started…

Why I Got My CCW Permit

"…Was I on some ego trip? Was I trying to prove my masculinity? All of these may have had some minor influence, but as I probed, I found that there were other, more significant motivations that sprung more from who I am as a man…."

by Dan McManus

In the fall of 2001, I completed the process of securing a permit to carry a concealed weapon. I had debated for over a year as to whether to do the work necessary to apply for it. For a number of years I had been an occasional shooter, but it wasn’t until the hoopla of Y2K that I began to get more serious about shooting, took some classes and become relatively proficient. I soon found that I loved to shoot. Since an indoor range was within easy driving distance, I often found myself visiting it, along with several other outdoor ranges. That, plus the advent of a new pro-CCW county Sheriff, caused me to think that I might have a chance at getting the CCW permit. It was, however, with both some trepidation, and frankly, a lot of excitement that I finally decided to take the coursework necessary, complete the required paperwork, do the interview, get fingerprinted for the DOJ, and all necessary activity to be considered for the permit. It was only after I had been approved that I started thinking about why this seemed so important to me; what was it that stirred me so? Over the last few months I have given it quite a bit of thought. Am I really that concerned about crime…we live in a pretty low-incident area. Was I on some ego trip? Was I trying to prove my masculinity? All of these may have had some minor influence, but as I probed, I found that there were other, more significant motivations that sprung more from who I am as a man and reflected certain core values that comprise my person. I’d like to put those down on paper.

1) I am both disturbed and frustrated by much of what I see in this country’s politics these days and I am often left wondering how to properly respond. It occurs to me that, as just one man, I have very little impact on this nation — one voice out of 280 million. Yet, this country means a great deal to me. I lost my father to the Korean Conflict, all my uncles served in WWII, and I have studied and understand what unique and precious rights are afforded the citizens of this country I am privileged to live in. Additionally, I hold as a strong value the opinion that every man and woman has the God-given right to be responsible for his or her own personal safety, that no one is obligated to be a victim, and that this right is not a privilege bestowed on me by some governmental entity. I also believe that if a person of good character is willing to do the work necessary and takes the responsibility, then that person has the basic right to carry a defensive weapon. However, it seems that there are those in this country who disagree with me, who fear that I, and others like me, are a danger to society; that this freedom which is so basic to natural law and so thoroughly entrenched in the Constitution, must be taken from us. These usurpers are even now furiously working to legislate that right out of existence. Mistakenly believing that this issue is "guns," they feel quite comfortable trampling on my freedom. And so, it is to the anti-gun fascist, those who would deny me my rights as a free man and an American citizen, that I am responding. It is in the spirit of those American’s before me who cried out "give me liberty, or give me death," "damn the torpedoes," and "let’s roll" that I acted. As a political statement, as an act of patriotism, as my way of hoisting the flag, and my finger, in enraged defiance of those despots who say I can’t, I got my permit to carry a gun; it was my patriotic duty.

2) Concurrent with this is the fact that much of what I hear today about gun control from the anti-gun crowd in just plain infuriating. It’s not just that it is bad science, emotional, illogical and just plain ignorant; it’s the assumption that they make and propagate about me as a gun-owning person that I take personal offense. It’s my character they are impugning. I take exception to the notion that society somehow needs to be protected from me because I might carry a gun. Actually, I am a responsible, mature man, an adult, and I resent like hell being treated as if I am somehow untrustworthy and suspect. It judges me, and millions like me, as weak and without moral vigor. It tells me that my affinity for guns and my desire to carry one is a suspicious problem that requires legislation, registration and control. And it is demeaning. So, to the elitist crowd who would look down their noses at my personhood, who fear my masculinity, who believe that I am somehow part of the problem, and that my character is defective, I say this to you: I will not let you treat me like a child, I will not let you "nanny" me, suspect me, or disrespect me with your paranoid attitudes and your laws. Acquiring my CCW is my firm response to being patted on the head and told to get in line and behave myself. I will not go quietly into the night.

3) The third reason I got my CCW is one that I understood less when I applied for it than I do now; carrying a handgun alters my sense of awareness by creating a heightened sense of vigilance. Caring a gun has caused me to develop a "6th sense" to my surroundings. I remember reading somewhere that carrying a weapon is like taking a child to the mall…it really expands your awareness of your environment and makes you cautious. Using Jeff Cooper’s color alert system (white/yellow/orange/red) had become a natural consequence when I carry; I am always in code yellow; I am more observant, I look for someone displaying the signs of a predator, I am a better driver, I am more courteous and I do not daydream my way through the day. From the extensive reading I have done, it seems that many, if not most victims became a statistic because they allowed the predator his advantage due to their lack of observation. I believe that the best way for me to never have to use my gun and to never become a victim, is to not allow myself to get into situations that leave me no option other than the final one. Someone once said that an ounce of prevention was worth a pound of cure…Carrying a "pound of cure" inside my waistband compels me to a live with an acute awareness of my surroundings so that I am not caught "flat-footed," and have to resort to a more violent solution. Having my CCW and carrying a gun prohibits me from lapsing into the luxury of inattention.

4)Basic to my understanding of human nature is the belief that there is in this world a distinction between right and wrong, good and evil, and that men have the personal option to choose between these two. Therefore, society is comprised of both Mother Theresa’s and Adolph Hitler’s and all levels in between. It doesn’t take much social awareness to know that there are sufficient numbers of those who chose evil as a way of life, and who by nature, prey on the weak and vulnerable. They are predators that will viciously hurt, rape and kill to accomplish their self-centered aims. They have no sense of conscious, any remorse, any pity or mercy, and indeed should be labeled "evil." They may use alcohol or drugs to give them courage or numb their conscience; they may not have a conscience. These opportunistic stalkers don’t wear signs that advertise who they are or what is their intent. They can be in your neighborhood, at the mall or in the car driving behind you. The only thing they respect is strength and usually only move when they think they have the unfair advantage. So, my options are only two. I can go through life hoping I am one of the fortunate majority who will never have to confront evil, but live in fear that I might. Or, I can be one of the few who do not trust to luck, and am prepared to be "unlucky." I personally have chosen to hope for the best, but to be prepared for the worst. I am not paranoid, nor am I a Pollyanna; I do take to heart the Boy Scout motto: "Be Prepared." For me, that means having the resource and training sufficient to come out on top. Part of that training is learning how to avoid those situations in the first place. But if I am ever so unlucky as to have to defend myself or my family, I am prepared to do so. And so, because there is evil and because I don’t believe in lucky charms, I acquired my CCW.

5) How can I read about the "Good Samaritan" or follow the teachings of Jesus, and not be aware that I have a responsibility to look out for others, to be my brother’s keeper. The murder of Kitty Genovese in 1964 is a perfect example of what how far removed we, as a society, are from concepts like nobility and chivalry. Kitty was a 28-year-old woman returning home from work at 3:00 a.m. when she was brutally attacked and eventually murdered with a knife over a 35 minute period, all of which was witnessed by no less than 38 people, none of whom called the police or in any way acted to help Kitty. The man who later confessed to the murder also confessed to murdering two other women, all attributed to his uncontrollable rage. He told police that he chose women because they were easier and don’t fight back. The courts declared him "insane." The "bystander effect," which is given responsibility for the inaction of these 38 witnesses, can affect all of us. However, my Christian upbringing has taught me that I am not to be blind to the plight of others and that this world would be a better place if we all looked out for each other. Having a CCW allows me to fulfill the moral imperative that I am mentally and physically prepared to defend those who are at risk. I believe in the calling of the "Warrior’s Creed" which says, "Wherever I go, everyone is a little safer; wherever I am; anyone in need has a friend." Having a CCW and the accompanying training causes me to be alert and prepared, to chose to be a "line of defense" should it become necessary, to have consciously determined that, on my shift, the crazies, the social terrorist, and the evil do not get their way. Jesus didn’t rebuke Peter for carrying a sword, just for not understanding when it was appropriate to be used. In today’s world, Peter might have had a CCW. Therefore, Christian charity compels me to acquire my CCW permit. It’s the moral thing to do.

6) Closely following the last reason is one more personal and reflects more my perspective on life. Being armed reminds me every day that we are in a battle; that we are at war. By that I mean that there really is a struggle going on between right and wrong, good and evil, truth and falsehood. My lifestyle is such that it is far too easy for me to pull the shades down and sequester myself in my own little cocoon, leaving the rest of the world to go to hell in a handcart. Given these natural tendencies, I must do something to pull myself out of my comfort zone and become actively engaged. When I wear a gun, I am consciously deciding to do something, to make a difference, to pro-actively engage my world. I wear a gun, therefore I vote, I go to church, I honor my marriage and my family, I give money to worthy causes, I am a good neighbor, I deal honestly in my business; I even write my congressman and voice my opinion or displeasure. When I wear my gun, it reinforces a lifestyle, a philosophy that acknowledges the axiom that says, "All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing." Good men arm themselves with a mindset that acknowledges that all is not right, that there is a battle to fight, and that I can, indeed I will, make a difference. Because I choose to be proactive, because I choose to be among "the good," I got my CCW.

7) There is an old saying; "God created all men, but Sam Colt made them equal." There will always be someone younger, stronger, better armed, and more attuned to violence than am I, who are looking for victims of a lesser challenge. My chances of survival are not good against such hard-core criminal-types if I have to depend on my personal strength, quickness and fighting technique. The gun that I carry and the subsequent training I employ, helps to insure that I don’t come up short on the "balance of power" equation. I am of little good to my family should we become the target of a predator and I am unable to defend them or myself. And my family looks to me to be that barrier between them and violent men. So, I choose to alter the odds, I choose to wear a gun. In fact, my "trump card" may very well prove to be all that is necessary to convince the criminal element that he has made a poor choice and to go ply his trade elsewhere. With access to a gun, I have a much better chance to stop an attack before it begins, and I am much more likely to survive the attack should I not be able to avoid it. So, in the interest of stacking the deck, I got my CCW.

So, I got my CCW and carry a gun because: 1) It’s my patriotic duty, 2) It was the un-politically-correct thing to do; 3) To keep me alert and attentive; 4) I don’t trust luck; 5) As an act of Christian charity; 6) As a reflection of my pro-active lifestyle; 7) To stack the deck in my favor.

So now you know why I carry a gun, why will you carry yours?

USCCA Toon of the Week

by Chaim’s Cartoons

Terrorism and Gun Control, a Perfect Match

Gun Rights Roundup

by Buckeye Firearms Association

The terrorist attack committed by Major Nidal Malik Hasan at Fort Hood, Texas brought the lack of security at such a large military base directly into homes across America.

Leaders of the pro-gun movement, and many soldiers, weren’t quite as shocked because they knew most military bases are considered "gun-free zones," due to concealed carry being banned.

Whether Hasan’s attack on American soldiers was sponsored by one of the bigger terrorist organizations is irrelevant since it gave terrorists a road map to complete similar attacks in the future.

You can bet our enemies learned valuable lessons from his ability to kill so many of our best and brightest in such a short period of time. In one fell swoop, he taught terrorists where millions of Americans are essentially defenseless.

His lesson included an easy way for our enemies to pick a spot to strike again – simply follow the "no gun" signs.

Gun Rights Roundup is a joint venture of Buckeye Firearms Association and USCCA. We will keep fighting until every American enjoys their natural right to carry and self-defense. For more news on pro-gun law, politics, and events, click here to subscribe to Buckeye Firearms Association’s FREE Newsletter.

Coming Up On Armed American Radio

The Official Voice of the USCCA

by Mark Walters

What a week, fans…What a week!  Early Wednesday afternoon I received a call from the fine folks up at WDTK in Detroit Michigan…"Welcome to the Motor City", said the Program Director, Chris! So there you have it. AAR is now LIVE in Detroit beginning THIS Sunday and for ALL three hours! How cool is that?  Two Michigan cities carry AAR now and MORE to come!  

Now, on to the show…If you missed last weeks, you’ve made a mistake. I played two very disturbing 911 tapes on air and my guests and co-hosts discussed the results. One an unarmed victim of a home invasion and the other an armed victim. Guess how they turned out. Yeah, you know how they turned out. I’ll let YOU decide which victim you would have rather been.  

Coming up THIS week on AAR another unbelievable lineup taking shape.  Civil rights and pro second amendment attorney John Monroe and Ed Stone, President of Georgiacarry.org will be my IN STUDIO guests this week to discuss issues having an impact on all of our rights nationwide.  John will be discussing two gun cases he is handling in WI among others and the implications of the McDonald case coming up. Ed will be covering his Hun Rights Examiner columns among other topics. These guys have been on once before, in fact, Ed Stone was my first guest on AAR’s inaugural broadcast.  This will be very enlightening discussion from two men who are actively fighting for OUR rights nationwide from the front lines. 

Also, I will be joined by Mr. Caleb Giddings from the Indiana State Rifle Association who will join me to talk about the Bloomington Herald Times decision to expose the addresses of law abiding Indiana citizens with CCW permits. Caleb discussed that very topic on Fox and Friends this past week and we are going to go an extra step.  We have some tricks up our sleeves but here’s a hint…the editors would do well to remember that public records work both ways.  We’ll see how THEY like it!  In addition, I will read the response from the Editor of the Bloomington Herald. 

Also, don’t forget…AAR is on FACEBOOK..head over to the page and become a fan. Join the hundreds who have already made it over there in just a short week. Join the thousands of fans nationwide catching freedom fever every Sunday and visit www.armedamericaradio.org for more info as our list of affiliate cities grows by leaps and bounds.  Don’t forget to check out my new book, co-written with Kathy Jackson, Lessons from Armed America.  It’s currently the number one seller at www.whitefeatherpress.com and can be picked up there or at any major book retailer online.  In fact, it’s currently ON SALE at www.whitefeatherpress.com for the holidays and you can save yourself a couple of bucks off the normal cover price.

Since Christmas will come and go by the time I send you another AAR update, MERRY CHRISTMAS from all of us at AAR and I’ll see you

ON THE RADIO  

Mark

Year End Wrap-Up of Gear

USCCA Gear Review

by Cody S. Alderson

Sure there is still time to go out and get a gift or two for your favorite concealed carry slash survivalist slash shooter. For the women reading this article, we know that most of the gifts were bought and wrapped by July. Well, except for those couple-three-hundred things bought on Black Friday. For the guys, we still have the pharmacy that stays open on Christmas Eve. Well, except for our stuff. We don’t wait for Christmas for stuff we want, we just buy it when there are enough money in the checkbook or available credit limit.

I’ve been honored to have the privilege of writing about all kinds of different things for USCCA. Everything from holster to guns to preparedness gear to teaching DVDs. In such a competitive industry it was nice that most items were good. However, some things could be better.

There is the adage of competition driving the market, but it is still true that not all of the competitors are champions. Just as in any other consumer market, there are some products that have been made for us concealed carry / disaster preparedness folks that are downright poor performers. Then there are some products that could just be a bit better even when consideration is given to the product’s class and price point.

Don’t get me wrong. I understand that there is a rush for every manufacturer to get their version of an item into the hands of the consumers. If company A wants to capitalizeon the flood of Black-Rifle sales, they need to get their product on the shelves NOW! This is especially true of the smaller companies trying to run with the big dogs.

As far as overall product quality is concerned, I have noticed that it doesn’t really matter if a manufacturer has a major portion of the market share or just a tiny fraction of it. And even though price is a factor of quality, it is by no means an absolute flawless method of determining quality. What I have learned is that the defining factors of quality are:

1. The people and mission of the company.

2. The stated intention of the product’s use in company literature. (There are different product classes within a same type of product and different price points. Think Jeep as compared to an H1 Hummer, and Jeep Liberty as compared to a Grand Cherokee).

If a company really has a true concern for their customers that goes beyond the lure of the dollar, then it will reflect continuously in the products that the company places on the store shelves. There is nothing wrong with a lower cost entry-level product for consumers whose needs are geared toward that type of product, just as there is nothing wrong with a high-end product that could survive conditions that would turn the user into a bowl of jelly. It just needs to be clear in the company’s written literature describing the product.

Some of the major brands out there are owned or controlled by one company. We know that Bushnell makes some fine stuff and Tasco is decent for home and fun use, but probably not good enough for battlefield conditions. The brands serve different consumer needs, and are definitely at different price points too. Tasco and Bushnell however, are both in the same house so-to-speak.

Just be aware of the intricacies of ad-speak. It wouldn’t be smart for any company to say that a product isn’t sturdy enough for the battlefield, but is great for home, hunting, or fun use. The emphasis will be on what the product is suited for and not what it isn’t suited for. Plus, for many products, there is no addressing of the use of the product for home defense. In advertising literature, a product that is more entry level will have features and benefits written to stress its more basic nature, and a true battlefield product will most certainly have a statement or two about how it is used by various armed forces.

There are key words to search for in product descriptions that should help a savvy consumer narrow down a product search to very few contenders for their dollars. For example, if the buyer wants to buy a battle-ready rifle built upon the AR platform, then ad-speak for a rifle meant for occasional plinking should be avoided.

Words such as entry-level, basic, plinking, first-time AR buyer, should be watched out for when perusing the catalogs whether in hand or online. Another fantastic source to find out a specific product’s intended purpose and use is to READ THE OWNER’S/USER’S MANUAL! Oh I can hear the groaning all the way to my house.

Most gun manuals are available online at manufacturer websites. READ the whole manual, and every single word, warning, and instruction specific to the product that you intend on buying. Some manuals cover many model numbers of a specific product class. I have even been surprised to find out a specific feature that I wanted was only available on a different model than the one I was actually going to buy.

I’m the type of guy who gets a prescription from the doctor and will have to read the pharmacist’s insert for the medicine before I even consider taking it. I want to know what class of medicine it is, what its chemical structure is, mechanism of action, and how it is metabolized just to start with. And as an aside, did you know that for a bunch of drugs the mechanism of action (how and why it works) is not known or not fully known? Scary!

Anyway, trying to get some folks (guys and gals) to read an Owner’s Manual is like trying to get them to do a stranger’s taxes. Typically I have found that women will read instructions first where men will read them after they lose an appendage. Take the responsibility to KNOW!

Now to the flipside of that coin, I have definitely noticed a despicable decline in both the information and quality of how the information is presented in many Owner’s Manuals now. Some have said it is because of the amount of information available on the Internet and the high cost of printed materials which include the extra shipping weight. However, the quality of Internet information (forum, non-pro reviews etc.) varies greatly. It may also be that manuals are poorly written now because consumers don’t bother reading them anyway. That’s sad.

Oh, and buying a product made in a country where English is not the first language leaves me wondering if I should even attempt to use the thing. I’ve read instructions that look as if they were written by my dog, and she is not only a horrible speller, but her grammar is even worse than mine!

Of course everyone here does seem to like the informal style that makes these reviews a fun read, and I only get an occasional email asking me, "What in the world were you talking about?"

I do hereby plead to every company representative who reads my humble product reviews (and surprisingly there are a few) to please, please, please, write better manuals. If you don’t want to do it, then turn it over to an experienced professional.

Now down to some product updates about products I’ve reviewed throughout this year. First let me mention my number one favorite for this year.

Once again I pick the Kelly Kettle as the best product I’ve reviewed this year. Last year I picked the Kelly Kettle made of aluminum as my favorite product, and this year it is the newest version made in stainless steel. The Kelly Kettle should be among every person’s gear that has a Bug Out Bag packed. Hot water has so many uses, and being able to heat it anywhere there is something that will burn is a job best done by a Kelly Kettle.

Read the review at:

http://armedamericanreport.org/general/lawfully-dead-or-living-outlaw/.

Another product that I really like and still use does have a flaw that I’m not fond of. This is one that also has some good old humor value that I just can’t pass up. The Blackhawk boots that I reviewed HERE make my feet stink.

Yep, I went and said it. But I also need to explain it even though the cat is out of the bag now. Seriously, I previously have been wearing two different pairs of boots that were the exact same brand and model for two years without any odor issues at all. I would also invite any doubters of what I’m about to say to ask my wife.

I do not have stinky feet. I’m just not one of those stink plagued guys that we all have stories to tell about. Maybe you have a story of cousin Bob’s horrible foot smell that one year at deer camp just like I have a story of a friend from years ago that could peel paint with the fumes emanating from his feet. As for me though, I don’t have that problem.

Now that’s why I was really concerned when after wearing the Blackhawk boots for awhile that there was a generous amount of stink building up. When I first smelled it, I was wondering where it was coming from!

The smell is not a stinky foot smell anyway. It smells like an odor coming from the interaction or breakdown of one of the materials that the boot is made of. I’ve smelled a similar smell before coming from rubber-like compounds that were being continually exposed to heat and moisture. Maybe that is what is going on.

Here’s the scoop. Either I suddenly acquired stinky feet when I started to wear these boots, or there is something about one or more of the manufacturing materials that is an issue. Without a lab analysis, I cannot be certain so, I’m just sayin’.

Don’t get me wrong, the boots are like trucks on my feet that get me through anything. They are rated waterproof, and I’ve not had any wet feet yet. I really like the boots except for that odd chemical-like smell. It’s not disgusting like cousin Bob’s feet at deer camp, but it isn’t pleasant either.

The Nighthawk Custom .45 ACP I reviewed  is proof that John Browning’s design could be made better by using better materials put together by true artisans of the craft of gun making. The Ruger Mini-14 in the latest AR style of configuration with the ATI stock is, to me, an absolutely perfect home-defense rifle that can be outfitted with lights, LASERS, or whatever strikes one’s fancy. Plus, with the collapsible ATI stock, it can be instantly adjusted to fit dad, mom, junior, and even grandma. Every capable member of the family could easily use this version of the Mini-14 to defend life.

My second favorite product of 2009 is the SERPA Holster by Blackhawk. This is where Blackhawk shines! The innovative and adaptable SERPA is a top-notch product. Take some time to read the review I wrote about the SERPA at:

http://armedamericanreport.org/general/holster-safety-the-four-rules/

The worst products I’ve seen this year won’t even make it into a review here. I did write up a review about the Intrud Alert a couple of week’s ago, but that was more of an educational piece to warn the passive about relying on a device to save them from a horrible crime being committed against them.

I hope that your Christmas dollars are well spent, and that there is no disappointment in any of your choices. If there is, then by all means take advantage of a company’s return or exchange policies. Don’t know the policies? You should before you ever give them your dollars to begin with! Fortunately for the gun stuff that we collectively spend billions on every year, the companies that want to stay in business serve their customers.

Next Friday is Christmas Day. I pray that everyone who reads these words will have the most blessed day that they have ever had in their entire lives. I would invite you all over for dinner, but our dog Lucy eats enough by herself to stretch our food budget to the breaking point. At least I don’t have to work Christmas Day. I offer a prayer to God for those who serve the rest of us—law enforcement, military personnel, medical professionals, and those who maintain operational infrastructure—though you must work, that you too have a most blessed day. And thank you all for your service. We good folk love you even though we don’t show it all of the time.

Merry Christmas! Or as we say sometimes around our house, where three big dogs live with us, Hairy Kissmus!

Comments? I’d love to hear from you!

E-mail me at: cody@uscca.us

Follow Me on Twitter

Quote of the Week

“I want an Official Red Ryder Carbine-Action Two-Hundred-Shot Range Model Air Rifle!”

—Ralphie (in the movie A Christmas Story)

USCCA Forum Highlights

Every paying website member has complete access to the USCCA forum, which is constantly being accessed by members sharing information, knowledge, insight, and fun. With well over sixty-thousand posts and growing by the hour, this is one heck of a valuable resource!

If you have never logged in but are a member, visit THIS location to watch help videos, including how to find out your username and/or password!

*******************

This week in the Forum Highlights I’m giving you an example of the responses members get from their posts. I want you all of you who aren’t yet members of our exclusive online members only forums to not only get a taste of the questions and other posts, but also the wonderfully informative replies.

NSSF Alert - Threat to Ammunition Availability

Threat to Ammunition Availability - Action Needed

As demand for ammunition continues to outpace supply, it is critically important that an amendment authored by Rep. Sam Graves (R-Mo.) to a seemingly obscure hazardous material bill (HR 4016) be attached to the legislation during consideration on the House floor.

When the bill passed out of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Rep. Graves secured a commitment from Rep. James Oberstar (D-Minn.), chairman of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, to allow a vote on this amendment. The amendment being pushed by Graves will help protect the shipment of materials necessary for the manufacturing of ammunition.

Without the Graves Amendment, the rate of production will slip, perhaps precipitously. In-turn, decreased production of ammunition will lead to decreased availability. This will lead to an increase in ammunition prices directly affecting consumers. Given the current high demand for ammunition, passage of the Graves Amendment should be considered critical to gun owners, law enforcement and the military. Floor action on the bill is anticipated soon.

The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) — the trade association for the firearms and ammunition industry — is encouraging all hunters and sportsmen to contact Rep. Oberstar and urge him to support the Graves Amendment. Chairman Oberstar intends to bring HR 4016 to the floor prior to the end of the session (most likely between Dec. 8 and 22), so time is of the essence.

Congressman Oberstar can be reached at: (202) 225-6211

http://www.nssf.org/GovRel/news/threat-to-ammunition-availability.cfm

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What would you do?

This scenario came up at a recent CCW class:

You are walking down the street late at night and as you cross a dark alley, you hear some commotion down the alley. You stop and look and see a well dressed man in a business suit on the ground wrestling with a bearded man who is wearing dirty bluejeans, sneakers and a torn denim jacket. The bearded man is on top and suddenly you see him pull out a gun and presses it on the other man’s side and looks like he is ready to pull the trigger.

What do you do?
(The rest of the incident is contained in the thread at the link)

Useful Statistics

From another site. Useful things.

Rape defense options and their success rate:

Once again shows that women who are prepared and armed do much better overall than those who are not.

===========================================

http://medind.nic.in/jal/t07/i4/jalt07i4p99.pdf

Women who employ:

* Non-forceful verbal resistance strategies (i.e. pleading) were associated with completion of the raped in 96% of instances.
* Forceful verbal resistance (i.e. screaming) was associated with completion of rape in 45-55% of instances.
* Attempted flight was associated with completion of the rape in 15% of instances. (Only a fraction of women were even in a position to consider flight, i.e. not thrown to the ground).
* Forceful physical resistance was associated with completed rape in 14% of instances.
* Weapons use in forceful physical resistance(knives/guns)were associated with completed rape in <1% of instances.

Other reports:

The following is from John Lott’s site: http://johnrlott.tripod.com/other/NCVS.html

Quote:
The National Crime Victimization (NCV) Survey from part of the 1990s (extracted from Table 7.1 of Armed by Gary Kleck and Don Kates) shows injury rates (pre-self protection and post- self protection) for crime victims who take a variety of self protective actions. The actions range from attacking the offender with a gun to yelling at offender and turning on lights to taking no self protection measures at all. A recent improvement in the NCV Survey allows analysts to separately identify injuries inflicted after the victim engaged in some form of self-protection. When investigating whether the self-protection measures are effective at reducing the likelihood of injury, it is necessary to compare the post-self protection injury rates for the different strategies with the injury rate when no self protection measure is taken.

Taking the examples of confrontational robbery and assault shows an interesting story. After the self-protection method was employed, the rate of sustaining injury or further injury was lower in every instance than was the rate of sustaining injury when no self-protection measure was employed at all. Note that aggravated assaults are much more common than robbery. Data covering a longer period of time makes an even stronger case for defensive gun use.

Percent Injured after
Self Protection Action…………. Robbery……Assault
Any SP with gun…………………… 7.7%.   ……3.6%
Chased, tried to catch…………….  9.6%….   …9.0%
Ran/drove away; tried to……….. .4.9%…….   5.4%
Screamed from pain, fear……… 22.0%…..   12.6%
Threatened O without weapon. 15.8%…..   13.6%
No SP measures at all…………… 23.6%…..   55.2%

Our exclusive members-only forums are an incredible resource due to the numbers of experienced members ready and willing to help answer questions. An added plus is that it is for paid members only. That hands down eliminates the creeps and losers that can be found lurking in other online forums.

Video of the Week

The following video has been emailed and linked to so much that probably everyone who reads the Armed American Report has already seen it. However, I think it may be a bit misleading. It makes it sound as if Switzerland is a society where everyone can own and carry a gun anytime and anywhere. That is not the case, as even a quick Internet search of Swiss Gun Laws will explain. Still, the video does make a few good points.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6nf1OgV449g

USCCA Photo of the Week

All Photos of the Week are taken from Mr. Oleg Volk’s
website:
http://www.a-human-right.com/.

It is a fantastic site. Please check it out!

USCCA Self Defense Story

Every day, thousands of Armed Americans use their firearms to preserve human life. Let this section of my newsletter serve as a record of this fact!

December 15, 2009

Marion County, Florida

From: WFTV

(Video at link)

Wheelchair-Bound Marion County Man Shoots Home Invader To Death

Eyewitness News talked to a 62-year-old wheelchair-bound man who shot and killed a man who tried to force his way into his home.

Gary Wroblewski says he was watching television in the Silver Springs Shores neighborhood off County Road 464 late Monday night when someone knocked on his door.

Wroblewski slightly cracked open the door and found a man claiming he needed help with his broken down car. He says he was immediately suspicious of the man and his story.

"So I went and got my gun. I held it behind the door and I opened the door," said Wroblewski.

Wroblewski says he tried to send the man away and suggested he go to another house or call AAA. He says that is when another man, this one wearing a mask, appeared out of nowhere and forced his door open.

Wroblewski was knocked out his wheelchair but was able to hold onto his gun and shot the masked invader.

"I fired three shots," recalled Wroblewski.

"Obviously you hit one of them," said a photojournalist.

"Yeah, severely," said Wroblewski.

Wroblewski says it took him ten minutes to get back into his wheelchair. Once he did, he went to a neighbor’s house and asked them to call 911.

The Marion County Sheriff’s Office has not released the name of the suspect who was killed. The other suspect got away.

The sheriff’s office has not said whether the homeowner will face any charges. He is likely protected by Florida’s Castle Doctrine.

Closing Thoughts

Tim, I have a friend who is a highly decorated military veteran. He is disabled but owns a 1911. He needs a device or holster that he can use to cock a 1911 with one hand (right. His left hand is missing several fingers. Your advice is really appreciated.

Friend, this is quite a situation and I’m honored to help your Veteran friend find a solution.

Unfortunately, I don’t know of a device that will allow this to happen, but I have a feeling that if anyone knows, it’ll be someone reading this right now.

Do you know of a device or method to help our fellow armed citizen? Use the ‘Ask Tim’ form below to make your suggestion, and I’ll share all the feedback with you next week!

Do you have a pressing concern? Use the ‘Ask Tim’ contact form found at this page to let me hear your advice. Just use the graphic below!

December 4th, 2009

Dear Friend,

I’m thrilled to announce a brand new section to the Armed American Report!

It’s called the “Gun Rights Round-Up”, and it’s written just for YOU by our friends at the Buckeye Firearms Association. They are going to keep us up to date with the big news that we all should be aware of in terms of gun rights.

You’ll find the new section right below the quote of the week.

Well, let’s get started!

A Perfect Fighting 1911 - That You Can Afford

“…Depending on which side of the love/hate equation you fall it is considered either a relic of a bygone era or still the most versatile and greatest handgun ever devised….”

by Gerard Valentino

Few guns garner such strong feelings of love or hate than the illustrious 1911. Depending on which side of the love/hate equation you fall it is considered either a relic of a bygone era or still the most versatile and greatest handgun ever devised.

Regardless of your personal feelings about the 1911 most everyone agrees that it would lead any discussion of guns that are at home on the range, in competition or in a foxhole.

The myriad of different variations offered by gun companies today allows the 1911 to be available for any budget. A gun case housing the different 1911’s run the gamut from $4000.00 one-off masterpieces to $400.00 utilitarian models. It is truly a gun that can be all things to all people.

Springfield Armory is one of the many companies that can offer a 1911 in nearly every conceivable variation. Their Mil-Spec model is one of the most reliable out of the box versions available in gun stores today. It also makes a great base gun for a budget custom build due to its low price, lack of an external extractor or overly complicated grip activated drop safety.

For those reasons it was picked as the gun that would become my first semi-custom 1911.

Being of somewhat modest means I didn’t have the money to get all the work I wanted done at one time so I picked the most important items to get done first. Due to a medical condition my right hand is weak and the muscle at the base of my thumb has atrophied significantly. That made having a beavertail safety with a memory bump a must. Also, a thumb safety designed to fit a large portion of my thumb for better leverage was required for the same reason.

Now that the base gun was picked, and the two biggest issues that needed to be addressed were identified, the question of how to pick a gunsmith stopped the project in its tracks. A search on the internet turned up more options than anyone could have possibly imagined. The options ran the gamut from highly priced famous gunsmiths to individuals that believed a dremel tool combined with a website made them a competent gunsmith.

As it turned out, I heard from a friend that Shawn Herman was bringing Chuck Taylor to Ohio for a basic pistol class. While looking on his website for information about the class, which I eventually took, it was clear to see that Chuck Taylor lent his name to Shawn for one of his 1911 custom packages.

If Shawn’s work is good enough for Chuck Taylor then it made a hard decision pretty easy because that meant it would be more than good enough for me.

Turns out it’s a small world and all it took to find a world-class gunsmith was a short trip up Highway 71 from one end of Columbus, Ohio to the other.

An email to Shawn got the ball rolling and shortly thereafter he took possession of my prized Springfield Mil-Spec with an agreement to address the grip safety and thumb safety issues mentioned earlier. Plus, to create a better all around 1911 we also decided to dehorn the pistol, do a trigger job, install Novak sights and do a reliability package, which includes polishing the feed ramp, adjusting the extractor and polishing the breech face.

In keeping with the simple nature of the gun a Parkerized finish was chosen and is still a viable option for people on a budget in this day and age of wonder finishes.

Due to the one piece stainless barrel and stainless bushing that came with my particular Mil-Spec there was no reason to spend too much time or money working on the gun’s accuracy. Out of the box it was more than capable of adequate self-defense accuracy and even after the custom work it was never shot from a rest for groups. The excellent trigger job made trigger pull more user friendly, and as expected, combined with the new sights accuracy improved significantly.

Unlike many custom 1911s this gun was honestly built with the objective of being used for concealed carry. There were no last minute urges to have more bells and whistles than necessary added to the gun. So the final product fit its intended purpose as a true fighting pistol, not a tight tolerance show piece designed to be shot in the relative safety of a range and otherwise left to sit in the gun safe.

Since I can carry a full-size gun concealed I avoid the negative compromises many people make when they carry a smaller gun and are therefore forced to deal with the increased recoil and smaller sight radius. That is the case for me specifically, and your own experience may vary. If a small gun is the gun that you are going to carry then that’s great — go for it and carry what is comfortable to you.

The most important lesson here is that concealed carry permit holders shouldn’t automatically choose to carry a pocket pistol and disregard the possibility of carrying a full-size gun. Statistics show that criminals are starting to attack in larger groups, unlike the past where civilian related shootings were most likely a one on one affair.

That means the likely hood of needing a gun in a longer duration gun-fight is slowly becoming a reality.

Carrying a full-size gun makes dealing with multiple attackers easier because the larger size is a benefit when fine motor skills shut-down during an attack. The longer barrel and larger sight radius also make sight acquisition and alignment that much easier.

No doubt many have already shut out the idea of carrying a relatively heavy and large handgun as a concealed carry gun. Before anyone objects, it is not only possible to carry a full-sized 1911, but easy to do by using the right holster and belt. My 1911 rides in an inside-the waistband Milt Sparks Versa Max II on a matching black 1.5″ belt. The holster and matching belt holds the weight of the full-size gun and easily conceals it.

Even under just a T-shirt the gun all but disappears in its Milt Sparks Versa Max II and therefore daily carry of the large framed pistol is not an issue.

There are times when a smaller gun is required and the transition to a pocket-type version of the 1911 can quickly be made after carrying a full-sized gun. The slim profile of the 1911 platform also makes it ideal for inside-waistband concealed carry. Double stack pistols don’t afford the same slim profile and although many have a smaller overall size, the much wider profile makes them harder to conceal than a seemingly bigger single-stack 1911.

Just two months after handing off my pride and joy to Shawn the call came that it was ready to pick up. The hour trip to his house was filled with anxiety and more than a little excitement. One look at the finished product ended any fear that Shawn would override my needs and build the gun he wanted. Which I hear is a common problem among some gunsmiths who use their knowledge of the 1911 platform to build the gun they “think” you should have.

Ultimately, the goal was to build a first class custom fighting handgun without changing the dynamic of the Mil-Spec, or forcing me to mortgage my house, and Shawn couldn’t have done a better job. Total cost for the gun, including the purchase price of the Mil-Spec, came in at just under $1000. The gun, while very simple in appearance, is utterly reliable with ball ammo and so far every jacketed hollow point, which includes my current carry ammunition, Speer Gold Dots. It has also digested Federal Hydra-Shocks, Remington Golden Sabers and several of Cor-Bon’s self-defense loads.

Due to its intended use, traditional accuracy testing was never done with this gun, but it was used during three different well known tactical gun schools digesting at least 1800 rounds in each class without a single failure. With a trigger set just at 4 lbs and a smooth action the beautifully crafted fighting 1911 provides better accuracy then the author’s capability and is “bet your life on” reliable.

Being my everyday carry gun, betting my life on the gun’s reliability is exactly what I do each day when I complete a final press check and holster-up before leaving the house.

Gerard Valentino is the Buckeye Firearms Association Central Ohio Coordinator, BuckeyeFirearms.org, writes for the Valentinochronicle.com and has been published in numerous gun industry magazines and websites.

USCCA Toon of the Week

by Chaim’s Cartoons

Coming Up On Armed American Radio

The Official Voice of the USCCA

by Mark Walters

Like the Energizer Bunny, AAR keeps going and going and going!  If you missed it last week, make sure to check out the podcast version at www.armedamericanradio.org.  Gabe Suarez was outstanding as usual and Niki Goesser and Kathy Jackson were all over it!  Kathy had some GREAT advice at the end of hour 3, so make sure to check it out! In addition to them, I aired my interview with nationally syndicated talk radio host, and FOX News contributor, Mike Gallagher.  He had some great things to say about AAR and a wide range of topics regarding the right to keep and bear arms.

Coming up this week on AAR, America’s Pastor of Freedom, Rev. Ken Pagano will be joining me for a full one hour.  You may have seen Ken on every network news program a few months back for the open carry event he sponsored at his church in Louisville, KY…Remember?  Well Rev.Pagano has since left his church to fight for YOUR second amendment rights FULL TIME.  He’ll join me to explain the how’s and why’s!

Also, writer and editor John Higgs comes back to AAR to spend some time talking everything guns.  John is very easy to listen to and exceptionally well versed on our rights.  Don’t miss John!

We’ll also be giving out the “Bonehead of the Week” award to another anti-gun individual (s) who deserves it more than anyone else for the week.  It’s fun!

Make sure to check out Armed American Radio THIS Sunday, 12-06-2009 from 8-11PM EST, 5-8PM PST.  Visit www.armedamericanradio.org for more information on where to listen and become a fan of one of America’s fastest growing radio broadcasts as we continue our relentless march of freedom across America’s airwaves.  It’s YOUR program and we’re fighting for YOUR rights.  Be there.  Don’t forget to check out my book, co-written with Kathy Jackson and foreword by Massad Ayoob “Lessons from Armed America”.  Pick it up at www.whitefeatherpress.com, amazon.com or any other major book retailer!

Armed American Radio is now on FACEBOOK.  Become a FAN of one of America’s fastest growing radio broadcasts by visiting Armed American Radio at Facebook. Also keep up with AAR on Twitter at www.twitter.com/aarmark You can communicate directly with me in the studio LIVE during every AAR broadcast with my twitter account!  Be there!

I’ll see YOU on the radio!

Mark

Review of the Intrud Alert Panic Alarm With LED Light

USCCA Gear Review

by Cody Alderson

I’ve written reviews of products for about two years here in the Armed American Report recommending some really good choices from survival items to guns. I try to be choosey about products so that I would not have to waste space discussing some of the poorer choices that are available.

This week I am changing up things quite a bit where I’m discussing a product that functions flawlessly on the levels of electronics and mechanics, but is a product where I question its ability to accomplish its intended purpose. The product is the Intrud Alert Personal Alert System Panic Alarm With LED Light. The package claims that the LED is “super bright” but it is sufficient only to illuminate small areas at short distance. But I’m not really worried about how bright the LED actually is or isn’t, I’m worried about what this product is intended to do.

A thing such as a calculator can be tested based on established known functionality parameters. If I punch in nine times nine and get eighty-two as the result, I know that there is a problem with the calculator. With the Intrud Alert I can easily test the functionality of the siren, and even do a test to find if it actually puts out the stated 110 dB of sound. Testing to find if the product produces its intended results however, is not as easy as testing a calculator.

Right on the package it declares that the Intrud Alert is a “Personal Alert System.” It also is declared on the package that the device is, “recognizable as an emergency call for help.” The sound that the device emits is declared to be a, “piercing sound.” Well, the piercing sound claim is accurate as far as I’m concerned for the thing is really loud up close.

On the back of the blister card package it says that the device is, “great for walking, jogging, and hiking.” And I like the part where it states, “The sleek, slim design fits easily into small hands.” Is it difficult to figure out to whom the product is mainly being marketed to?

Let’s take a look at the main product claim, which is that it is, “recognizable as an emergency call for help.”

The siren output is easily as loud or louder than a smoke alarm, and oscillates more like burglar alarms or car alarms that I’ve heard go off over the years. It’s loud enough to cause pain if it is held to close to an ear.

Wrapping a hand around the hole where the siren sound is concentrated at will greatly diminish the sound. Simply holding the siren in the hand in an orientation to activate the LED light will diminish the siren’s sound.

Whether or not it is recognizable as an emergency call for help depends entirely on who is hearing the siren, when it is heard, and where it is coming from. My testing methods for that part of the claim were not scientific, but real-world. I just set the thing off in different places at different times, and observed the results.

I didn’t scream for help while the siren was going off because I wouldn’t know if my screams or the siren were getting the result. Plus I really didn’t want to be hauled away by the police for being a nutcase.

I first activated the siren when I arrived at my friend’s house for an evening Bible study. There were thirteen people and an infant inside his home when my wife and I arrived. Certainly enough adults where at least one should recognize the sound as an emergency call for help as the package claims. I set off the siren in the driveway making sure not to occlude the hole where the siren sound escapes from. I activated the siren for a few seconds. Long enough to catch someone’s attention, and definitely long enough for me to be killed by a criminal attack that would have precipitated me activating the alarm in the first place. My friend’s wife looked out the window for a moment a little while after I had shut off the alarm, but no one came rushing outside recognizing the emergency call for help.

If daylight or darkness makes any difference, it was dark outside at my friend’s house. Okay, so I figured I’d try it during the daylight hours around noon outside my house. The only creature who indicated hearing the siren was my neighbor’s dog that moved the curtain to look out the window at me. I know I had other neighbors at home because one came out with her baby shortly after I stopped the alarm. She didn’t ask me anything about the noise, or indicated at all that she even heard it.

I figured I would next try it out at a work place where I know people. The place is not a commercial building of concrete block, but rather just a frame building with vinyl siding. I parked in the small parking lot less than a stone’s throw from the door.

I stood outside my vehicle and set off the alarm siren. A bit later a guy came outside. I thought maybe he heard the siren so I asked him. He was just leaving work and told me that he didn’t hear anything! Since that didn’t work I set it off again at the same place for a fifteen count. Plenty long enough for me to die if I was under attack. Not one person from any of the surrounding buildings looked outside. I asked the guy working inside if he heard anything that sounded like a siren and he said, “No.” Though it may or may not be a recognizable call for help, it isn’t loud enough to get the results one would need under the circumstances where I activated it so far.

Hoping to get the desired result of the device actually being a recognizable call for help, I stopped at a big gas station convenience store chain about a quarter after midnight. I pulled up to the pump, got out, and let the siren scream.

Not one person inside the store, which I could see from my vantage point, even glanced in my direction. There was someone inside a pickup truck about fifty feet away from me who never stepped out of their vehicle to ask me if I needed any help.

Now I must admit that after blaring the siren for a few seconds I got a bit nervous about actually attracting attention so I feigned difficulty trying to get the pin back inside the device to shut it off. Then I was concerned that if someone did hear it and saw me doing that, they may just have ignored the sound thinking I was just having a problem with some electronic gadget.

After that test where I wasn’t happy with my performance, I took a drive over to the local Super Walmart. I parked in a space about a hundred feet or so from the entrance that was still open (Walmart stores around here shut down the doors on one side late at night leaving only one public entrance/exit).

I got out of my Jeep and went around to the back of it. I opened the back glass and door on the Jeep, and pulled the pin to activate the siren. I aimed the device so the maximum amount of sound would be directed to the entrance of the store. There was a man sitting in his parked vehicle about forty feet away from me.

I held the siren in my left hand pointing it toward the store entrance while leaning into the back of the Jeep so that no one could tell what I was doing or what was going on. A couple of people who were walking into the store paused at the entrance and looked in my direction, but they must not have recognized the siren as being a recognizable call for help since they went inside after a few moments.

I watched them as they paused again in the entrance area of the store, and I couldn’t tell if they were talking to someone inside or not. I thought for a moment that I saw one of them gesture in my general direction. Still, no one came running. I could very well have been killed several times over while the siren was going off.

The man sitting in his vehicle never got out, and as far as I could tell he never even glanced in my direction. Maybe he was hearing impaired, or possibly there may have been sufficient noise inside his vehicle that he didn’t hear the siren. Maybe he didn’t care. I don’t know.

I put the pin back in, and got back into the driver’s seat of my Jeep. I waited for a short time to see if anyone would come over to take a look at what the noise was all about. The guy that was sitting in his vehicle drove away. I never even saw him glance at me as he drove right down the lane in front of my Jeep as he was heading out of the parking lot.

The next day I wanted to see what it would take to disable the device. I pulled the pin so the siren would activate, and placed it on the ground while the siren was screaming. It took two stomps from my foot to stop the siren. I was actually impressed that it took two stomps to break it.

In my humble opinion even if a siren sound is recognizable as a call for help, that doesn’t mean that anyone will come running to save the person holding the siren. I am of the opinion that it is very possible that I could be killed if I tried to stop a determined attacker with just the sound coming from this device. I just got an image in my head as I am writing this of me lying dead somewhere being discovered with the siren in my hand with dead batteries from being run down while it screamed out its “recognizable call for help” for as long as it takes for the power to fade from its batteries. I must say that the batteries would last much longer than it would take to be killed.

In my opinion this is a feel good device for a passive person who wants to ease their natural born fear of becoming a victim of criminal predation. Is it possible that it may work as intended? Certainly. My biggest concern is how I personally witness the general public reacting to car alarms. There have been so many false alarms that hardly even a head is turned anymore when a car alarm is blaring away. Maybe that’s why not a single person came running. Maybe they sensed I wasn’t really in trouble since I wasn’t screaming and hollering. Oh! I got a good idea! If I’m being attacked I could just scream and holler!

In all seriousness, at least the siren could call attention to a situation where I could not scream or holler for help. This puts the Intrud Alert device into the category of adjunct defensive tools, and not in the primary, secondary, or tertiary slots.

If my life is under immediate threat of being terminated, or if I’m under immediate threat of being maimed, a can of pepper spray or a TASER would serve me much better than the Intrud Alert. And since I am a responsible adult citizen, a firearm is also a very good choice.

I do not see myself relying on a siren to scare away a determined attacker, nor do I see myself relying on it to be a workable call for help in that it will ever bring someone to my rescue with sufficient resources and abilities to preserve my life. And this is me, a big guy saying that. I would think that I would be even less inclined to put any faith in this device to save me if I was a tiny female with the “small hands” it says the device’s size is meant to fit.

Honestly folks, I think a determined criminal would take the siren off of the intended victim, and make him or her swallow the thing like it was an oversized vitamin pill. So even though there are still quite a few variations of this product available, I do not feel that I could recommend anything in this product class. Leave sirens for the appropriate purpose of warning such as the burglar or car alarm warns that there may be an intruder or theft in progress. Just don’t rely on noise to scare away a determined attacker.

Now For An Update of the Wilderness Medical Systems kit review. The manufacturer now has updated bags that open flat for easy access to all the supplies. Check out the changes. Or if you missed it, read my review HERE.

Comments? I’d love to hear from you!

E-mail me at: cody@uscca.us

Follow Me on Twitter

Quote of the Week

“The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him.”

—G. K. Chesterton

Gun Free Zones do NOT make people safe!

Gun Rights Roundup

by Mark Walters

It is amazing that so many people can die in “gun free zones” and yet gun control zealots still advocate disarming people. It is sickening that such a policy exists at military bases such as Fort Hood.

For 10 minutes, a mad man stood on a desk shooting down at helpless soldiers trapped in cubicles. All of these soldiers possessed the skill to stop the shooter, but none possessed the firearms to do so. Base policy forbids the carrying of firearms. All the guns are “safely” locked up for the “protection” of the soldiers.

And who stopped the terrorist? A civilian police officer. A woman with a gun. Only a shooter can stop a shooter, which is why gun free zones are victim zones. When will people learn this?

We must fight to eliminate all victim zones. If you have victim zones in your city or state, write to your elected representatives and urge them to learn the lesson of Fort Hood and all mass shootings, stop the madness, and eradicate victim zones.

Gun Rights Roundup is a joint venture of Buckeye Firearms Association and USCCA. We will keep fighting until every American enjoys their natural right to carry and self-defense. For more news on pro-gun law, politics, and events, click here to subscribe to Buckeye Firearms Association’s FREE Newsletter.

USCCA Forum Highlights

Every paying website member has complete access to the USCCA forum, which is constantly being accessed by members sharing information, knowledge, insight, and fun. With well over sixty-thousand posts and growing by the hour, this is one heck of a valuable resource!

If you have never logged in but are a member, visit THIS location to watch help videos, including how to find out your username and/or password!

*******************

This week in the Forum Highlights I’m giving you an example of the responses members get from their posts. I want you all of you who aren’t yet members of our exclusive online members only forums to not only get a taste of the questions and other posts, but also the wonderfully informative replies.

Attack/Robbery Averted

Ladies, I never realized just how FAST I could be targeted for robbery or assault until Friday. I by no means appear to others as a shrinking violet — always confident when walking, engaging eye contact, etc. But this Friday morning, the day after Thanksgiving, I drove to my physical therapy session (golf injury) and there were only 2 other cars in the lot — since the 2 story building houses only PT, dental and an ophthalmologist.

The second I turned off my car, a car pulled up next to mine and a kid (18 or so) got out the same time I did. My gut told me that he was out of place, since the dental offices were closed (all ages visit) and the only young teens in PT are the big football players. He wasn’t the football type.

I couldn’t get eye contact and decided to walk slower to let him enter the building first and get to the PT office — since that was all that was open and it was on the 2nd floor of a 2 story building. Well, he stopped by a garbage can and “emptied his pockets”. I have 3 college aged sons and I’ve yet to see them do that. I went into the building which has a small lobby and pushed the elevator button. The guy came in the lobby and stood behind me —like he was going to get in the elevator too. Well, I don’t get into any elevator with a guy unless he’s pushing 80 and has a walker.

When the door started to open, I jogged to my right and went up the stairs. I stopped 1/2 way up to see if the punk had indeed gotten into the elevator. He didn’t– rather he was standing over at the CLOSED eyeware store. He never intended to go into the elevator. I was his target. It’s the first time I’ve felt like someone waited for me (or another target) to drive to an office building, and then position himself to (I assume) get my purse in the elevator or cause harm. Boy it happened fast. I wasn’t carrying to that visit. I will from now on. Since I can’t CC to physical therapy, I will have to have it in a purse. If I had been accosted in the elevator, I would have really had to fight to keep the creep from getting my gun. Listen to your gut ladies. I’m really glad I did. It was good to come away avoiding a problem. I don’t need any more PT from getting pushed around. One thing at a time.

Why A 1911?

Why after all these years and with so many more modern pistols designs available in 45 ACP do we still insist on carrying this old pistol? Is the 1911 really that good? My current carry gun is an updated version of John M. Browning classic design made by S&W, Is this a good move or, am I just a nostalgic old fool?

Generators

Hi guys,
had to use my generator for the last 3 1/2 days. Power was out. It worked like a charm as I knew it would,but the darn thing sure makes a lot of noise for a 10 hp. Any ideas on how to muffle it short of putting a insulated dog house around it? Thanks in advance.

False Brandishing Report

(From the Editor: Here’s a heads-up about a prank that may be trending since there is another incident mentioned in one of the replies. Remember awhile back when pranksters were spoofing Caller ID, and calling 911 to report shootings? They would use an Internet service to fake Caller ID to make it appear as if the call came from somewhere else than where it actually did. They could spoof your number if they had it, then police would show up at your house ready for action even though you had no idea what was going on. The post below may be a forewarning of a new and dangerous prank.)

I have only been carrying for 3 1/2 months and I had an anniversary of sorts recently that got me to thinking. I have posted this on our state shooting site, but I wanted to know what you guys thought. Sorry if this turns out a little long.

Almost 3 years ago I was traveling about 100 miles to a Wildlife Expo here in Oklahoma where I was to put on trapping demos. About halfway there, a Highway Patrolman got in behind me and lit me up, so I pulled over. He immediately got out, drew his weapon and took up a position behind his door. He demanded to see my hands out the window. Now I’m thinking that I’m driving a similar car to some criminal. He had me get out and walk backwards to the car and kneel down. He placed cuffs on me and wanted to know where the weapon was. I told him I had a pocket knife, but he wanted to know where the gun was. I told him that I didn’t have a gun and that he must have the wrong vehicle. He said no, these were the right tags and wanted me to tell him where the gun was. Now I was totally confused.
Another officer arrived and the first searched my car. At this point I was told that some young men had called in saying that I had waved a gun at them. At this point I remembered the incident from 25 miles up the turnpike. Three teenagers in a pickup had run up real close to me. I tapped my brakes to get them to back off. After I finished passing a semi I got over to the right. I was expecting these kids to drive pass me and give me the finger. When they got to my left rear bumper, they unexpectedly slowed and got in behind me. This surprised me but I soon forgot about it as 1/2 mile further on they took the exit.

Obviously, these kids are smarter than most and decided that making a report of me waving a gun would cause me more trouble than giving me the finger. They were right. Luckily I had nothing remotely looking like a gun in the car and the officers let me go eventually. If I had been in my truck that I normally drive, I would have had a old piece of crap Arminius 22mag pistol behind the seat that I use on the trap line. It was never loaded, but it would have given them something to confirm the boys claim.

Nowadays, I am always armed, besides not tapping my brakes for tailgaters to avoid this, what would I have to do to prove my innocence on a false report like this? Would I lose my CCL or have it suspended on a shot in the dark claim by another driver?

A couple of funny things happened along with this. The first officer jumped back and loudly exclaimed ‘What the Hell’ and was momentarily very alarmed when he opened the tub that I had in the trunk and saw the face and mustard colored buck teeth of one of the 5 frozen beavers it contained which were to be used for skinning demos at a Wildlife Expo. The look on his face when he stepped back and grasped the grip of his pistol was priceless. I think that he believed that he had caught Jeffery Dharma and Charles Manson all rolled up in one.

It took a little explaining before the 2 of them relaxed. 2nd, the cuffs that he used on me failed to unlock and 3 sets of keys wouldn’t unlock them. After 45 minutes, a trip into the local town and multiple color changes to my hands, he was able to grind down a key that would work on the cuffs.

On the way back to my car he was trying to convince me to get my CCL and to buy an African safari trip with him. Of course, he wouldn’t comment on what would have happened if I had had a weapon with the false report.

Our exclusive members-only forums are an incredible resource due to the numbers of experienced members ready and willing to help answer questions. An added plus is that it is for paid members only. That hands down eliminates the creeps and losers that can be found lurking in other online forums.

Video of the Week

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBUecOwa4sg

USCCA Photo of the Week

All Photos of the Week are taken from Mr. Oleg Volk’s
website:
http://www.a-human-right.com/.
It is a
fantastic site. Please check it out!

USCCA Self Defense Story

Every day, thousands of Armed Americans use their firearms to preserve human life. Let this section of my newsletter serve as a record of this fact!

December 1, 2009

From: From WPVI (Video at news website)

Ridley Township., PA.

Ridley Township police are looking for a woman in connection with a violent home invasion Monday night that easily could have been deadly.

“She knocked on my door and I opened it. And she said she was broke down and could she use my phone.”

84-year-old Donald Kaighn let the woman who claimed she had a car breakdown into his house. Within moments she was spraying him with lighter fluid and they were wrestling in the kitchen. The World War II veteran went for one of the many guns he owns. She fled upstairs and he pursued her, gun in hand.

“I had one in my hand, loaded, and ready for action. She said something like ’stop or I’ll shoot.’ I immediately fired the gun.”

At that point, an all out running gun battle erupted, bullets flying all over his front bedroom. Kaighn believes she grabbed 2 guns from drawers in his room to use against him. He’s a gun collector.

Eventually he went downstairs to call 911. By the time police arrived she had vanished with his 2 handguns and some jewelry. Fingerprinting revealed she jumped out of a 2nd floor window rather than exchange any more gunfire with Kaighn.

“I’m a member of the NRA and I subscribe to their policy of not being a victim. I don’t want to hurt anybody.”

Police released a sketch of the suspect. She’s described as a black female, 25 to 30-years-old, 5′8″ or 9 with an average build.

There’s been a plague of home invasions in these parts of Delaware County over the last year. The local police chief has a holiday warning.

“My advice to anyone, especially the elderly, if you look out your window and you see somebody you don’t know do not answer the door,” said Captain Charles Howley.

Police do not believe this was a random attack. The invader quickly found the victim’s weapons, so it’s thought she had some kind of inside information.

Closing Thoughts

Do you think it would be good plan for prospective CC citizens to first become a member of USCCA to get valuable insight, then sign up for a CC course given by or with an instructor qualified lawyer present to become aware of a responsible mindset , legal liability, and then try out a few handguns you previously researched to see how it fits your hand? If this seems obvious, I wonder how many first get a gun, then become a USCCA member, and only afterwards take a CC course and realize it’s not for them.

Friend, this is a very good question. For most of our history, the USCCA was largely made up of folks who had been carrying for many years, as well as folks who just got their permits but weren’t sure what to do next.

For the last couple years though, we’ve seen huge increases in the number of people starting their journey here at the USCCA- they use our site to familiarize themselves with the laws and mechanics to carrying concealed, and then they take a class. Often, while they are waiting for their permit to arrive, they use our site to help determine what kind of gun and holster will suit their needs best, and learn about the nitty-gritty of carrying concealed.

After that, our magazine, website, and forum becomes a long-term confidence booster and knowledge base, as in the case of this guy, who posted on our forum a couple days ago:

Hi all,
I just wanted to say thanks for all the input you have given me. This USCCA Site is the only one I have ever joined to learn about CCW.

Does anyone else share my thoughts on this site as being a confidence builder?

I have always had a high confidence level when it came to running my business, supporting my employees, raising a family or speaking in public, or taking care of minor aggression. Never been afraid of anyone, never backed down from anyone when it was needed, I have always been able to smooth over bad situations, but I always believed that the old saying of “I’m a Lover not a Fighter” has kept me out of most bad situations. One thing I know is I am not a coward! Thank You GOD.

I live in “Small Town America” crime is something that only happens to the other guy, it’s like I have been living in a cave in my own little world where nothing bad happens. I and all my family have been truly blessed by the Grace of God.
Except now I am a little scared, but getting a whole lot better. My wake up call has finally come! DUH, their are BG’s out their! Well I am getting prepared for that “Just in Case Scenario”

As I have stated before in these forums that I have had a CCW for over 25 Years but never carried until recently, because of a strange feeling I had about The USA’s situation and the World’s situation. My confidence level with a CCW was at about 20%, if you like, read some of my earlier posts. In these short two months of being a USCCA member, my confidence level with a CCW has probably brought my level to 50-60%. I am in the process of getting Training and developing my skill level with a Firearm.

In the US Army I qualified as Expert, with very little Training, I guess my Father and Uncle taking me Deer Hunting prior to the US ARMY helped me in shooting very good. Well now my 60 old body after years of growing older needs an overhaul and I am up to the task! Every day is exciting to me even more now. Nothing has motivated me more recently than this USCCA Site.

So to all you USCCA people, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

Do you have a pressing concern? Use the ‘Ask Tim’ contact form found at this page to let me hear your advice. Just use the graphic below!