U.S. Concealed Carry
“Armed American Report”

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July 10th, 2009

Dear Friend,

I’ve got a great Armed American Report in store for you this week- let’s get started!!

== USCCA Laugh of the Week ==

See all of Chaim’s Cartoons at his website:
http://www.chaimcartoons.com/

Sunday, on Armed American Radio!

Armed American Radio has a huge announcement to make! Effective with this weeks broadcast, we are now the Armed American Radio Network! Why? Because we are now syndicated across the nation and broadcasting on the satellite!

Please keep calling your local talk stations and ask them to carry Armed American Radio on YOUR local dial. Send them to www.armedamericanradio.org for more information. Coming up this week we have a frightening discussion lined up with DR. Bruce Eimer who will talk about the psychology of the criminal mind and the things YOU need to know to avoid a criminal attack…and why you should ALWAYS be armed.

Also joining me will be Pastor Ken Pagano who you may have seen recently on the national news networks discussing the widely publicized open carry event at his New Bethel Church in Louisville KY.

Don’t miss the first nationally syndicated broadcast of Armed American radio this Sunday at 8pm eastern on www.920wgka.com.

“Valuable Wisdom From A 20-Year Peace Officer”

“…I have seen a hollow point bullet that flattened out on a skull;
the victim lived….”

by R.K. Campbell

I have seen a shift from faith in experience toward questioning of values we have held for years. Some feel the ”big bore” crowd is full of self interest. Misconceptions concerning handgun calibers may cause a person to make the wrong choice, and end up dead. I have no problem finding the bad guys gone or incarcerated, but do not wish to hear of the good guys and girls among the enumeration of the dead. My approach may not be scientific, but I think of it as empirical observation. After two decades as a peace officer, I realize that when a cop says has seen something, he means he arrived just as the fight ended and he ”saw” the aftermath; the flesh warm and the victim still screaming. We state that the assailant who took five 9mms was still mobile. The fellow with one .45 in his chest remained mobile and decided to die just before we arrived. These are observations on the state of weaponcraft.

I have applied my education, and observational powers to many areas. I have written extensively on liability and training issues and dealing with the mentally ill. I am working to pass legislation to limit access by sex offenders to certain public areas. In general, I like to make the miserable lives of criminals more difficult. Some research is unpleasant. Police journals are not eager to publish articles on wound ballistics because the debate is one of uncertainty. Information must be verifiable, and any experiment must be repeatable. This is not the case with books and articles on handgun caliber effectiveness. We have a desire to learn. I suspect there is a yearning to hear that our pet caliber—a .32 or a .45—is just great. I have studied gun battles for the better part of thirty years and listened to anyone who has been in combat. I have looked over both ends of the gun barrel to defend the public and myself. There have been difficulties and permanent injuries and scars gained along the way.

As for what I have learned, take this with what you have learned elsewhere and apply it to your situation. Most importantly, the slacker will not get anywhere. There are more in uniform than among civilian shooters. The officer at risk often regards qualification as a chore. If you work in an occupation that requires certification in haz/mat or other boring subjects you feel you know well, then you understand. Officers do not regard qualification as a learning experience, but a chore. The cop who practices on his own time and on his own dime is rare.

Civilians enjoy shooting more, and often become proficient. The civilian usually has a broad choice of handguns while the cop goes with the company gun. What I know about bullet performance is learned from real world experience. Some has been gained from shooting game animals. I shoot animals only to eat or to feed others. A deer approaches the size of an adult human male. Either is about as hard to put down although man is much more susceptible to shock. I do not hunt deer or boar with a 9mm. We stalk and kill cleanly. If we need a weapon to defend ourselves against an attacking animal the weapons would be more powerful than we use for defense against people. Those who sneak up on humans and rob them get by with .32s and the like. When attempting to stop a motivated attacker we need more power. There are several types of attackers. There is the fellow who falls into a swoon at the sight of an armed victim, and runs. He may lose his composure when he realizes the victim is armed and he will run away if possible. The second is the most common type: he is dangerous but will fight only when cornered or when there is a profit in it. The man who takes punishment and keeps coming, his only mission that of murder and mayhem, is a rare breed—but he exists. Among peace officers, the ratio is the same; with the average fellow keeping the peace. I once accepted the resignation of a young man who had his first run in with a burglar. The civilian will have no choice when the bad guys choose him or her as the victim.

We need a handgun that is reliable above all else, and in a suitable caliber to face such warped men. Modern handguns are more reliable than ever. But in some cases, Technical has taken precedent over Tactical. Questions centering upon handgun caliber performance are the most common. Testing is difficult. Flesh is not translucent like gelatin, and even harvesting an animal doesn’t tell us much if the bullet exits. But we can make generalizations. We want penetration to vital organs, and a bullet that is not deflected by bone. Our bone structure supports our body and protects the vital organs. Bone can deflect projectiles. High velocity bullets may fragment. Bone does funny things to bullets. I have seen a hollowpoint bullet that flattened out on a skull; the victim lived. Other hollowpoints did not expand at all, but hardball rounds sometimes deform.

The old saying that something is better than nothing is true. But we have some good choices and we would not be very bright if we did not take advantage of them. I would not feel uncomfortable with .45 caliber hardball, but I deploy hollowpoint loads to take advantage of their properties.

Bullet placement is very important. We do not need to obliterate the heart or annihilate the liver to stop a felon. We only need to hit and damage these organs. Let’s relate the big bore to the small bore. We have all heard stories of a . 2 caliber bullet slipping into the chest cavity and severing an aorta, immediately stopping an attack. I am certain it has happened, but I am equally certain there have been many failures to stop with the .22 (and larger cartridges as well). But the advantage of the big bore is present in literature and confirmed events for over one hundred and fifty years.

I recently studied a feature on aerial shooting. I did so mainly for enjoyment but I was struck by the recommendation of using a big bore for exhibition shooting. The author was successful in shooting moving silver dollar size targets with the .44 and .45 caliber double action revolver. He found hitting with the .38 was much more difficult. While super human ability may play a part, hard work is required. Hard work is something defensive shooters should get acquainted with. The 1.6 inch frontal diameter of the .45 gave a much better chance of hitting a small target. The same is true when vital organs are the target. When we are firing at a moving target far removed from the one dimensional stationary target on the range, I want every advantage. The big bore gives us a better chance of damaging tissue as the bullet travels through the body. Bullet placement is vital as there are parts of the body that, if damaged, will cause an immediate shutdown. These areas include the brain case and the spine. These targets are difficult to hit quickly and are not high on my list of aiming points. The center mass hold works. When you are fighting, your hands shake and your vision is blurred, so a fine bead on the cerebral cortex is not possible. Concentrate on marksmanship and rapid [gun]handling. If there is any shortcoming universal among students it is a lack of familiarity with the handgun.

There is an argument that those who are not able to practice regularly should deploy the 9mm. Handgun skills are perishable, and the small bore is easier to shoot well. If you cannot practice monthly with the semi- automatic pistol you need to be using a revolver. A full size .45 is controllable by men and women of average height and build. Caliber is as important as hand fit and feel. There is a certain amount of prejudice toward one weapon or the other that is easily dispelled at the range. I have enjoyed range sessions with men and women of varying ability. You do not have to be well heeled to be well armed. Being well armed is a product of proficiency not the price of the handgun. During a recent class I found that shooters of modest means did not have to be modest concerning their ability. Most of my students had chosen their firearm based upon their likes and perceptions. I discovered that Highpoint pistols will outshoot the Smith and Wesson SIGMA every time. The inexpensive FEG 9 x 18 has a better feeling grip than the Walther PPK. A couple of students had Glocks, but the Ruger 9mm shooter present had practiced with his handgun.

While we all have our preferences, the person behind the pistol is the real weapon.

Shooters swear by a certain caliber of load and sometimes I am dubious of their recommendation. Those who have real experience in the field recommend powerful cartridges that have worked for themselves and others. The .357 Magnum revolver has a tremendous reputation. I have seen the effect over my own sights. An acquaintance hunts with a four inch barrel .357 Magnum. He swears by the Federal 180 grain JHP. This is a heavier load than many would recommend for self defense but this gentleman often carries his Smith and Wesson concealed on his ”town” trips loaded with the 180 grain JHP. He has complete confidence in his choice. Do you have the same in yours?

I own many handguns. I would not have gotten this far in the game if I did not enjoy firing different types. The realist in me knows to carry the proven Colt 1911 when the situation warrants. Old, worn, and reliable I am familiar with the zero with the chosen load and I know exactly how the piece handles in all situations. Some feel that if the .45 is good then the .44 Magnum is better. I have respect for this caliber. I have seen two .44 Magnum wounds just after the fact, and each was immediately effective. In one case the bullet entered the kneecap and traveled through the muscle of the leg exiting the ball of the foot. This was an unintentional self inflicted wound. In another incident a homeowner fired at a person he was arguing with. The 240 grain bullet pulped the victim’s liver but exited and struck the homeowner’s wife in the shoulder, crippling her for life. The .44 Magnum doesn’t strike me for personal defense, and the factory loaded .44 Special is less effective than the .45 ACP.

The size and shape of the handgun mean much. A 9mm may be small and light while the .45 needs weight for good control. I often deploy a light weight frame Springfield .45 but I am under no illusions that I will fire it as accurately as a steel frame pistol. I feel that many of the super light weight handguns available today are too light; while I enjoy big bores, I do not enjoy guns that hurt.

The final word is: choose a handgun that fits your hand size, and then practice often. Choose a load that is completely reliable (good quality control), demonstrates a full powder burn, and offers a good balance between expansion and penetration. The caliber is your choice, but the big bore is proven. Old wisdom really is the best.

R.K. Campbell is a writer with twenty years police experience. He holds a degree in criminal justice and has studied firearms and their use for nearly forty years. He is the author of three books and over six hundred articles, columns, and reviews.

Reprinted from Concealed Carry Magazine’s April 2009 issue.

Review of Caldwell’s Platinum Series G3 Stereo Hearing Protection

written by Cody S. Alderson

USCCA GEAR REVIEW

I’ve been waiting to tell everyone all about these new hearing protectors from Caldwell ever since I heard that they were going to be made. I did a review of another set of Caldwell electronic hearing protectors not all that long ago. They are Caldwell’s basic model of electronic hearing protectors with a nice set of features available at the ridiculously low price of $39.99. Finally the Platinum Series G3 is out, and this is the set that I’ve been waiting to tell you about.

There are some high-end stereo electronic hearing protectors out there that come with a high-end price. Certainly those costly sets come with a fancy list of features, but what if there was a set available with all of the best features at a fraction of the cost of the ones that cost several hundred dollars?

Typically a high end set of hearing protectors has individual electronics in each of the ear-muffs (or cans). They also have a super comfortable surface that seals around the ear, and doesn’t have that vinyl-car seat-in-the-summer feel to it. The rest of the list usually includes individual volume controls for each ear, a low profile design to ensure a better cheek weld on rifle and shotgun stocks, super long battery life, and clear sounding speakers that reproduce and enhance ambient sounds. Then the main feature is that the hearing protectors do not just cut out when the decibel threshold exceeds safe limits, but rather they suppress loud sounds while equally enhancing soft sounds. And of course they protect your ears with a suitable Noise Reduction Rating (NRR).

Let’s deal with that main feature first. Less expensive electronic hearing protectors will let you hear what’s going on around you because they have external microphones that pick up the sound and carry it to your ears electronically to a speaker in each can. When the sound gets too loud, the electronics shut off the speakers, then turns back on when the sound drops back to a safe level. There is usually a time lag for this to occur as well. This “cutting out” of sound is a big problem when trying to hear range commands or anything else while guns are being fired or while any other loud noise is going on.

If you are like me, you probably would use your electronic hearing protectors for other purposes beyond just at the range. I use mine while mowing the lawn or running any power equipment. Some readers may have a job that requires hearing protection, and a good set of electronic hearing protectors could serve well in that application as well.

The Caldwell Platinum Series G3 has electronics like the pricier brands have. What benefit is it to have that high-end feature? This is an easy one to answer. The electronics in the Caldwell Platinum Series G3 do not cut off the loud sounds going to the speakers in the cans, but rather lowers it to safe levels while simultaneously enhancing softer sounds.

This means that you can still hear what’s going on around you while guns are being fired, but the sound of gunfire reaching your ears has been diminished to much lower levels, and you can hear softer sounds while the loud sounds are being made because of the electronics. It works the same when you are around power equipment or other loud machinery. This makes it so you can hear the range officer yelling a cease fire, or you can hear your coworker yell, “Lookout!” when something is about to whack you in the head, even with the loud noises of gunfire or machinery going on.

I’d say they would be real good for Monday mornings at the factory when the coffee hasn’t kicked in yet, the eyes are still bloodshot, the machines are running, and the boss is trying to sneak up on you. But hey, I’m here to tell you how great the G3 is for us shooters.

When I tried out the G3 hearing protectors the first time I was amazed at the enhancing of sound that the product provided me. As I am writing this I put them on again. I’m sitting at my computer and can hear the drives and fans running in the computer tower as I turn my head toward it. The true stereo sound picked up by the front-facing microphone of each ear can is like gaining super hearing when I turn them on. Just make sure you put the hearing protectors on with the microphones facing forward or you are in for a weird sound experience, because every sound behind you will be enhanced if you put them on backwards.

Another cool thing that I like about the G3 is that the volume control/on-off knobs both work by turning the knob in the same direction. Let me explain. Imagine electronic hearing protectors on your head. Using a normal knob that turns clockwise to turn on a device and adjust volume would be a bit confusing because on the left ear with your left hand you would be turning the knob toward your back to turn on the device and turn it up while you would be turning it toward your front on your right ear to do the same thing. The G3 knobs on the ear cans both turn toward the back of the wearer to turn them on and turn them up, and to the front of the wearer to turn them down or off.

It might not sound like a big deal unless you own a set that doesn’t have that feature. With other electronic hearing protectors, I was always turning one side down too low and the other side up too high when trying to adjust the volume, and turning them off would be actually funny if anyone knew what was going on.

The outer shell of the G3 unit is a soft-touch material. The knobs and microphones are positioned and designed to not get hung up on anything. The headband has a soft padded fleece lining that is exceptionally comfortable. I really like the outside access to the battery compartment on each ear can instead of the batteries being behind the foam inside each ear can. The battery compartment opens with a thumb-screw and holds three AAA batteries on each side.

Yes the G3 unit takes a total of 6 AAA batteries to run, but the sound quality is great and the runtime is 250 hours on a set of batteries! That’s over 10 days of being on around-the-clock for one set of batteries. If you use them for 10 hours a month, that’s over 2 years you’re getting out of one set of batteries. Of course, just like any electronic object that uses this battery type, you should remove the batteries if you aren’t going to use them for 30 days or more. It’s not a problem with the G3, but an issue of the quality of batteries that are available. Even the top brand name batteries can leak if left in a device for an extended period of time.

The Noise Reduction Rating for the G3 unit is 21. I’ve heard of some who like to double up on hearing protection when shooting indoors. They will put in a set of foam ear plugs, and then put their earmuff hearing protectors on too. If a person should so desire to do this with the G3 Electronic Stereo Hearing Protectors, the benefit of having sound coming to the ears via the microphones and speakers will still be an advantage. Doubling up on hearing protection with non-electronic hearing protectors just makes it that much harder to hear range commands or other urgent communication going on while shooting.

Figuring out hearing protection can be daunting. Using the decibel measurement, an average conversation is about 65 decibels, and old Aunt Martha could go on for hours exposing your ears to a constant 65 decibels. Recommended exposure limits for 90 decibels is about 8 hours. So it’s a matter of the sound’s frequency, how loud it is, and how long you are exposed to the sound.

Gunfire of most firearms is around the 150 to 170 decibel range. The exposure length of the sound would be much shorter time than what Aunt Martha would be giving, but it would be a whole lot more as far as level goes. A .357 Magnum at around 165 decibels is going to cause damage. It is not beyond possibility for some individuals to go deaf from the exposure to a single shot from a .357 Magnum. A friend of mine was exposed to the sound from a tiny .22 Long Rifle pistol, and she told me that her ears rang for hours. She experienced a degree of hearing loss even though she may not immediately be aware of it for it is a cumulative process.

I really like Caldwell’s new Platinum Series G3 Electronic Stereo Hearing Protectors. And at a retail cost of only $79.99, they have high-end features at a low-end product price. I believe these new hearing protectors from Caldwell will take the market by storm once the word gets out.

Protect your ears! You will need them to hear that sociopath trying to sneak up on you in a dimly lit parking lot. While you are at it, protect your eyes too! You won’t have much of a chance at self-defense if you can’t see them or hear them coming. Caldwell has eye protection to go along with their hearing protectors HERE. To see the new Platinum Series G3 Electronic Stereo Hearing Protection available at a retail cost of only $79.99, click HERE.

Go to www.caldwellshooting.com to see all of Caldwell’s fine products.

I would like to hear from you. Email me at: cody@uscca.us. Twitter me.

I am not writing to ask a question, I am writing to say thanks for the Beat the Ban. I thought I was ahead of the curve, but only realized I had been putting off buying what I may need and what I really wanted before the Obamanation takes place. I wanted to beat the ban.

I was going to joke and say your Beat the Ban cost more than 17.00 dollars, hell I bought a Saiga 12 Shotgun overpaid but got it anyway and to 2 RRA AR15s at retail cost due to having a gunsmith relationship. I also bought some fantastic 5.56 ammo and over 2k rounds of practice ammo.

My next purchase will probably be an SKS or AR47. I have read a great deal more about my rights to arm myself and to protect my country from a threat.

Thanks for placing me ahead of the curve and your book only cost me over 2800.00 dollars in guns and ammo. Well lets just say it was a good investment in my family’s future! Best to you and your family and may you continue with success and great health.

-Mike P.
Proud USCCA Member
Proud Member of the NRA
Proud American!

This is a DIGITAL PRODUCT on PDF and MP3, so you get this timely information instantly delivered to your inbox, so you can Beat the Ban ASAP!

== USCCA Members-Only ==
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!
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Discovered a new use for my hat…

Lately I have had a few experiences where I am beginning to think I must have “mess with me” tattooed on my forehead, or a sign on my pickup that says same. Nothing serious in these instances, but just enough to make me go from condition “yellow” to “orange.”

The most recent was this morning. I’m driving my Toyota Tacoma pickup in town, by myself, running a few errands, speed limit 30 mph, 4-lane road. I stop at the light and wait for it to turn green. Just before it turns green, a late 90’s Ford pickup with two (black) male passengers in their early twenties approaches from my right, stops, and then makes a right turn into the right hand lane just as the light turns green. I’m in the left hand lane, proceed through the intersection, and slowly accelerate to the speed limit. The other truck is moving at a speed just under the posted speed limit, which allows my vehicle to slowly and unintentionally pull alongside. As I caught up with the other truck, I’m thinking to myself that an old pickup is an unusual choice of vehicles for these two young fellows. Apparently it was owned by one of them — windows were rolled down and a tricked-out stereo system was booming. But, hey … it’s a free country. Each to his own.

As I pull alongside and slowly start to pass, the other truck speeds up to maintain speed with me. The driver of the truck starts to gun his engine, causing it to quickly lunge forward and then drop back, lunge forward and drop back, repeatedly. I maintain speed and never look over. This goes on for 15-20 sec’s. Realizing he wasn’t getting my attention, the driver of the truck starts to weave back-and-forth within his lane, all the while gunning his engine as before. I still maintain speed and ignore them.

Apparently frustrated by my lack of response, both driver and passenger start yelling something (unintelligible) out the window at me. I continued to maintain speed and never looked over at them. HOWEVER, I did reach down to retrieve my ball cap on the passenger seat beside me that says on the front, in big gold lettering, “NRA - Life Member” — and, without looking over, held up the hat so my friends next door could get a good look at it.

Apparently they could read. Not only that, they apparently clearly understood what “NRA” stands for. They gunned the engine of their truck one last time and quickly sped off ahead of me, not to be seen again

-Seawolf
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Commercial ammo tolerances?

I have recently started giving my commercial ammo a quality check before using it in my guns. I check for overall length, gross weight (in grains) and high primers. I haven’t really had any problems to prompt this but since I spend so much time checking my guns (I LTI before each range session and then function check thoroughly after cleaning) that it only made sense to start checking the ammo. As I hand loaded for years I know what I am looking for. Mostly I want uniformity within a lot.

Now here is the question: How critical should I be in overall weight? I have noticed weight deviations within a lot in even the best quality ammo of .2-.5 Grains. I have also noticed up to 1.0 grains difference between, different lots of same cartridge but different lots, is this normal (fluctuation in powder types,brass, bullets etc?)

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“In Theatre Civilian Service” question

I’m 100% Disabled, VA.

I find myself in a situation where I don’t really have a life anymore. I’ve been wondering if someone in my situation could find something to do in Afghanistan or Iraq helping out, even though I can’t hump a ruck sack, or much more than my own increasing weight and a sidearm anymore.

If there were a situation like that, would I lose my Disability, here, to pay the bills?

Who would I even ask?

I know at least one of you work for KBR. I think there are several here who are connected at one level or another to those elements in theatre, or even here in support.

I need drugs for my back so I can function, tobacco, and transportation back and forth. (Being allowed to carry my own sidearm would be nice too but that might be too much to hope for)…

Could those of you who have any ideas please give it some thought and get back with me? MP, post it here or if you have my email address, send it there. Coastie, OMA/Tim, and Volcav have my email if you want to forward it through one of them.

Thanks for the consideration.

Joe
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== Video of the Week ==

USCCA VIDEO OF THE WEEK

== “Tim-spiration” of the Week ==

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 QUOTE OF THE WEEK

Sometimes a good quote will inspire or motivate you. Sometimes, they’ll just put a smile on your face! Here is the quote for this week…

“The two most important rules in a gunfight are: always cheat and always win.”

-Clint Smith

Cruising is not just for the affluent. Think about this!

It’s Vacation Time!

Plan A:

Pack up the car, drive 1,500 miles, sleep in two drafty motels on the way to your destination, eat at greasy spoons along the highway. Arrive beat. Spend three luxurious days at your destination recovering from your road trip. Pack up the car, drive 1,500 miles, sleep in two drafty motels on the way home and eat at greasy spoons along the highway. Arrive beat. Cost? All expenses considered, probably two or three thousand, but we had fun, right? We’re pooped, but back to work tomorrow. This is even more fun with children.

Plan B:

Get dropped off at the airport, check luggage. Fly to Vancouver. Meet bus to pier. Board ship, get lunch on the Lido deck. Luggage shows up outside your cabin door. Unpack once, your hotel follows you for a week. Eat all meals on board, wide range of choices. Visit several resorts, enjoys shows and stuff on the ship, see many sights for the whole seven days. Pack up and put luggage outside cabin door. Meet luggage at terminal, get charter bus to airport. Fly home. Cost about the same and there is no doubt that you had fun for the whole week. Children? No problem, the ship has special activities for children.

“A few years ago,” confesses Craig Brownell, “my wife and I were on a cruise vacation and I saw a bunch of people doing business meetings aboard the ship. I instantly thought, ‘Wow! What a great idea!’ They got a nice vacation and got some work done too.”

Thus the idea of a Cruise with Class was born. Craig, a certified firearms instructor, teaches students what they need to know to be qualified to carry in no less than 33 states. As the ship –Carnival Spirit – cruises the scenic waters of the beautiful Alaskan Inside Passage, Craig offers three short class sessions presenting the concealed-carry basics to his students. He provides all paperwork and helps students get their applications prepared to submit.

The ship docks for one day each in Juneau, Skagway, Ketchikan and Sitka. In Sitka, a brief range session completes the requirements for the firearms classes. Since firearms are not allowed in Canada or aboard the cruise ship, the range provides all necessary equipment including firearms.

Meanwhile, students and their families enjoy the visit to a world where bald eagles are as common as city pigeons, and where seals and whales frolic in the waves alongside towering cliffs and scenic fjords. Participants can trek into Alaska’s historic settlements, or spend a day cruising Prince William Sound and College Fjord or even spend a day aboard a crab fishing boat. Aboard the ship, vacationers awaken to buffet-style breakfasts, linger over lunches on the Lido Deck, and feast on gourmet meals in the dining room. Meals and room service are included in the cost of the cruise. The ship boasts a fitness club, gourmet coffee shop, wine bar, casino, pools, spas, and nightclubs. Two free Vegas-style shows play in the on board theater every evening. For those with children, there’s Camp Carnival, which provides age-appropriate activities for kids from 2 to 17.

Already mentally packing your bags? For specific price information (prices change rapidly as the departure date nears), call The Cruiseman at (800) 889-7683 and mention Cruise with Class. For more information, visit www.mnpistolclass.com online, or phone (651) 649-4878.

Important note…the group is now CLOSED. After June 1, all bookings are now at prevailing rates!

Self Defense Story OF THE WEEK

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!

From: KIAH of July 1, 2009

Sugar Land, Texas Man Shoots Intruder — Residents are on alert tonight after a man tries to break into a Sugar Land home.

The man was shot after trying to break into an apartment on Long Reach Drive near Lexington in Sugar Land.

Going by his first name only, James, a computer technician, who works the graveyard shift was sleeping in his apartment when he was awaken by his barking dog around noon.

“That alarmed me so I picked up my gun just to have it with me in case someone was there,” said James.

And there was; an unidentified intruder who apparently entered through a kitchen window.

“I opened my bedroom door and saw the guy,” said James. “It looked like he was running towards me with a weapon like a screwdriver and I was scared.”

The 33 year-old pulled the trigger striking the suspect in the upper body. James was dialing 911, when he says the suspect ran out through the front door.

“The suspect description that we have is a Hispanic male in his 20’s,” said Doug Adolf, a Sugar Land City Spokesperson. “We were told he might have fled in a silver-colored SUV.”

The suspected get-away vehicle, which was stained with blood, was later discovered 10 miles away near a southwest Houston Long John Silver Restaurant.

Police say the suspect walked to a nearby clinic, and was eventually taken to Ben Taub hospital.

Surprisingly, James says he feels bad for the man.

“If he hears this, I hope he lives,” said James. “I’m sorry that I had to shoot him. I was scared and he shouldn’t be getting into people’s apartment and trying to rob them.”

“That makes me feel great that there is someone out there that will defend themselves and their community,” said Courtney Huckaby, a neighbor.

Police say when the suspect took himself to a clinic he actually claimed a robber had shot him. It’s unclear his exact condition at this time, and whether charges have been filed against him.

Sugar land PD says there has been an increase in apartment burglaries and a task force was created to combat the problem.

Closing Thoughts