Armed American Report

I hope you had an awesome Thanksgiving Day yesterday, and if you’re going to be out braving the shopping crowds, have fun and watch your six!

As always, I’ve got a solid issue of the Armed American Report loaded with crucial information all ready to go for you.

You know, one of the biggest benefits of being a USCCA member, is that you get access to tons of articles that help you understand the legal aspect of carrying concealed, and what you may be faced with in the event that you are forced to defend yourself. I’m sharing one of those articles with you this week.

Let’s get started.

It Doesn’t Have to Make Sense: It’s Just the Law - Statements

“…Written statement: a VERY BAD idea! ….”

by K.L. Jamison

In 1996, an unhappy consumer attacked the City Marshal of Lancaster, Missouri with a hammer.(1) The Marshal defended himself and later vented his adrenaline to the responding Sheriff stating, “I hope the son-of-a-bitch is dead.” This led to the Marshal’s conviction for involuntary manslaughter and a sentence of seven years in prison.(2) The story had a happy ending, but a story four years and tens of thousands of dollars in the making, and not a story the Marshal enjoyed very much. The Marshal might have avoided the worst part of the story had he not confused his right to remain silent with the right of free speech.

In the movie, Under Pressure, a woman tried to explain the stalking and implied threats of a neighbor. After a disorganized and unconvincing recitation of ambiguous events she lamely concludes, “I’m not a very good story teller.” Most people tell stories badly. In the aftermath of self-defense there can be a giddy stream of consciousness statement which has more to do with the effects of adrenaline than reality. The basic legal advice is “DON’T.”

The first question is, “What is a statement?” In a nation which counts exotic dancing as freedom of speech, a statement is also broadly construed. In 1996, the Missouri Supreme Court ruled that a suspect’s refusal to uncross his legs during questioning could be taken as a statement when later charged with murder.(3) In a separate death penalty case, the court found that the defendant had purchased a used car which sported the bumper sticker, “I’m the person your mother warned you about.” At trial the prosecution argued that the fact he did not remove this bumper sticker revealed something about his character. The Missouri Supreme Court ruled that it was perfectly acceptable for the state to kill this man, in part, because of his failure to remove the bumpersticker.(4) One can imagine the effect of bumper stickers bought in jest such as, “Keep Honking, I’m Reloading.” If this case does not also inspire a re-evaluation of one’s T-shirt collection, nothing will.

There is also the problem of nicknames. As of this writing, a rapper who rejoices in the stage name “C-Murder” is on trial for murder. If I were asked to defend a man named “Murder” or any variation thereof, I would charge more. Massad Ayoob testified in favor of a police officer who had killed a felon nicknamed “Snake.” Captain Ayoob slipped the nickname into his testimony which seems to have had an effect on the jury.

Written statement, a VERY BAD idea!

There is a cynical defense attorney saying: “Anything you say will be misquoted and used against you.” In the movie, My Cousin Vinnie, two, unfortunate Yankees are suspected of murder and during questioning are accused of shooting a clerk. One incredulously asked, “I shot the clerk?” This is taken down and read in court as a confession. Theater audiences laughed, defense attorneys smiled and nodded. There have even been cases where comments by other persons have been attributed to the defendant, and used against him; complete silence is the only bulwark against these mistakes.

The first statement is the 911 call. These calls are recorded and if the call sounds bad for the defendant, it will be played over and over again at trial. In one case, a man cocked his double-action revolver and went after a person who was shooting out windows. When he caught up with the threat he extended his revolver and in the process tripped the light single action trigger pull; arguably an accidental discharge. His 911 call records him saying that he thought he had just shot someone. The 911 operator, trained to keep him on the line and keep him talking, asked why he thought he had shot someone. The man replied, “Lady, I think I’m a pretty good shot.” This callous-sounding statement took accident off the table and the man had to live or die with a self-defense case. This all important introduction to law enforcement must be planned in advance.

The first words out of the caller’s mouth should be the location of the incident. If the battery then dies, or the minutes run out, or some other technological catastrophe occurs the authorities will know that something of interest is at that location, and the caller’s cell phone records can prove that he or she made the call. The next statement is the caller’s name. The core of the 911 call consists of three sentences:

“He tried to kill me.”
“I was never so scared in my life.”
“Send an ambulance.”(5)

The first sentence serves to introduce the roles of the parties, the caller is the victim, the other person the attacker. Being in reasonable fear of life or limb is a prerequisite to acting in self-defense. The phrase “I was never so scared…” is to preclude the prosecutor from claiming that the citizen never said he was scared “until he talked to a lawyer.”(6) The phrase “Send an ambulance” says that the caller does not want anyone to die.

When the police arrive, they will want a more elaborate statement; this should consist only of:

1. He attacked me.
2. I will sign a complaint.
3. There is the evidence.
4. I WANT A LAWYER.

Good Advice.

This restates part of the 911 call and points out critical evidence. One cannot expect the “CSI” team to be called out to pick up every fiber and hair. If a real forensic team routinely conducted the investigations shown on television, its budget would last about a week.

The demand for a lawyer is both the best thing one can do, and a damaging statement. Anyone who is questioned by police has the right to a lawyer; this includes victims. The problem is that the police, and potential jurors, take a demand for a lawyer as evidence of something to hide. To compound the problem, the victim’s decision to remain silent and demand for a lawyer can be used again him or her in court. In the criminal system, one does not have rights, until arrested; it doesn’t have to make sense, it’s just the law. It is a left-handed fortune that people who act in self-defense are routinely arrested. It may be called something else such as “detained” or given the “Alice in Wonderland” explanation “You’re being handcuffed for your own protection.” Whenever a person is not allowed to leave, he is placed under arrest regardless of descriptive terms. If one is arrested, generations of TV shows advise us to remain silent.

Western Missouri Shooters Alliance President Sheila Stokes-Begley employs a cell phone and CZ75 compact.

If the circumstances are ambivalent, simply state a fear of being sued, and demand a lawyer to protect against frivolous litigation. Bernard Goetz was acquitted of criminal charges in the shooting of four thugs on the subway, but was sued for $43 million and lost. Police are frequently sued by criminals and the explanation is likely to ring a bell.

Self-defense cases bring out the curious, the media in the forefront. Comments to friends will be confused and used against you, comments to family will be mistaken and used against you. Both family and friends can be subpoenaed and forced to testify against you. Comments to the media will be sensationalized and this is never good. The New York City prosecutor’s office had determined not to charge Bernard Goetz, until he made unwise remarks to the news media. At some point a statement must be made. The impression is that the earlier a statement is made, the more reliable it is. In reality, the earlier a statement is made, the less reliable it is. The effects of stress will confuse the statement and even cause temporary amnesia. Inaccuracies in the initial statement will convince authorities that the survivor is both a liar and a murderer. A lawyer must be immediately engaged to organize the statement.

A lawyer is a professional storyteller. He will not tell the client how to lie, he will tell him how to tell the truth, a more complicated process than most imagine. The statement must contain facts which track the elements of self-defense. In the case of defense of home or defense of other persons, there may be other elements as well. Knowledge of the assailant’s reputation for violence would certainly be relevant. The most important element to include is fear. A police statement is no place for macho posturing. One cannot use violence against another person unless in fear of life or limb. The survivor must go over every detail of why he or she was terrified, weak-kneed, pants-pissing afraid. If one does foul one’s pants, a not uncommon event, make sure that goes into the statement. No matter how ineffective a storyteller the survivor might be, the jury is sure to believe that.

(1)1 A City Marshal is a law enforcement officer position used in Third and Fourth Class towns in Missouri.
(2) State v Beeler, 12 S.W.3d 294 (Mo. 2000) at 296.
(3) State v Kinder, 942 S.W.2d 313 (Mo en banc 1996) at 325.
(4) State v Six, 805 S.W.2d 159 (Mo. Ban. 1991) at 167.
(5) Taken from the Western Missouri Shooters Alliance “Stay Out of Jail” card, see www.WMSA.net.
(6) A claim I have heard, even when false.

Kevin L. Jamison is an attorney in the Kansas City Missouri area concentrating in the area of weapons and self-defense.

This information is for legal information purposes and does not constitute legal advice. For specific questions you should consult a qualified attorney.

USCCA Toon of the Week

by Chaim’s Cartoons

Part Two of The Henry Repeating Arms Survival Rifle Review

USCCA Gear Review

by Cody Alderson

Part One of this review is HERE.

I received a whole bunch of emails regarding Part One of this review. Apparently it evoked plenty of memories. I received emails from folks telling me about a Henry Survival Rifle they may have owned years ago, many from those who own them now, those who won’t go on any outdoor excursion without one as a primary or backup weapon, and even an email from an Alaskan pilot.

Now the one from the pilot was the most memorable to me because it was just hilarious. Here’s what he wrote:

For most of my twenty years flying the bush in Alaska, the law required us to have a survival weapon in the aircraft. The company I flew for much of the time supplied us with the AR7 along with the rest of the state required survival material. It was a great little thing to use and a good feeling to have it on board. Then came along that conservative who mishandled so many things and the State of Alaska was required to meet what are called “federal standards.” No more guns in the aircraft as a requirement to stay alive. I liked that thing (the Henry Survival Rifle). It was perfect for the job. Why, even though it wouldn’t stop most bears, you could wound the other guy so that you could run faster than he could and get away.

That part about how to use the little AR-7 in case of bear attack got me laughing. I must say that I really like emails from folks who have a great sense of humor.

Now a couple of emails addressed some issues that were experienced with the lightweight gun that is perfect for a backpack. One person emailed me that theirs had a trigger pull that felt like it was twenty pounds. My experience with the trigger on this little rifle was one hundred percent positive. I was actually amazed at how good it was. There was no perceptible take up, it broke clean, and there was no overtravel. And for a rifle chambered in .22 Long Rifle that is so lightweight to begin with, a good trigger is a must to be able to stay on target.

A reader also emailed me that they had a hard time getting the buttstock open. I found that if I tried to pry open the end of the buttstock to get the parts out, I couldn’t do it by pulling from the top or sides. However, if I pulled from the bottom of the buttstock cover, where there are grooves in the cover, it opened quite easily. Easy enough to do one-handed actually.

Another emailer mentioned problems with ammo that they felt should work in the gun. I used Federal Premium Ammunition Gold Medal Target .22 Long Rifle 40 grain solid with a muzzle velocity rated at 1200 feet per second. I had one solitary failure to eject that was completely my fault. I pulled back on the gun while the action was cycling thereby removing the solid platform for the action to work against.

In rapid fire testing, I emptied magazine after magazine without a hiccup. The magazines would fall free when I pressed the release that is at the front of the trigger guard. One hundred percent reliability during my test firing session.

I do think that the flawless functioning had to do not only with excellent manufacturing, all US made parts, and excellent ammo, but also preparing the rifle for use before touching off that first round.

I believe there may be many shooters that don’t clean a new gun before they fire it, or may not fully prepare a new gun for use. Though the Henry Survival Rifle didn’t arrive with a bunch of thick grease in critical spots to protect during long term storage and shipping, it still needed a cleaning and proper lube. I feel that my cleaning the gun before shooting it, use of Sentry Solutions Bore Kote, and working the action at least a hundred times got all the kinks worked out before the hammer dropped on any ammo.

The Sentry Solutions products can slick up an action really nice without any gunky junk to slow things down. Plus using it in the barrel can actually increase velocity of a rifle you’ve been using for years to the point that you need to re-zero your optics! But this review is about the rifle. I did one about Sentry Solutions products some time ago.

So how does it shoot? Well I know I’d be able to take some small game under survival conditions with the little rifle. It’s even light enough to hold in one hand if I have been injured. I received an email from someone who told me that they have taken coyote with the Henry Survival Rifle. And a magazine of twenty-twos emptied into center mass of a two legged predator trying to kill you could very well save your life if it got real bad. The fact is to not overestimate nor underestimate the capabilities of the .22 Long Rifle in competent hands.

I got to my shootin’ spot late in the afternoon. I had my headlights on as I was driving there because dusk was quickly settling in. Below is the photo of the target set up at fifty yards. This is how it looked to me using the open rear peep and front blade sights on the rifle. The rear sight of the rifle is adjustable for elevation with the dovetail front sight being adjustable for windage.

The older I get, the smaller and more blurry these targets look. Even up close! I like these Caldwell Tip Top sighting in targets. The bullet holes look like someone took a paper punch to the target. No tearing, and the targets are not paper so they archive nicely.

At 25 yards I got groups that stayed around what the following target shows. There is a 2 1/8 inch spread between the farthest holes on this target where a 5-shot group is shown.

At 50 yards, when the light was getting quite dim, I was able to keep getting about the same pattern in three shot groups as shown in the following photo. There is a 3 inch spread between holes on this target shot at 50 yards.

I think that after I finish up the thousand rounds of Federal Gold Medal Target loads that I have, I will be able to tighten up these groups a bit more. Since the rifle is short and there is no fore end, I just need to find the most effective way to hold it consistently steady. I gripped the rifle just below the barrel nut with my fingers wrapped around the magazine and magazine well. I did use the little Caldwell Pistolero Pistol Rest to help steady me a bit more as I was using the hood of my Jeep as a shooting platform.

I also wanted to mention that I unintentionally squeezed the trigger on an empty chamber which is not really a good idea for a rimfire gun. With a centerfire the firing pin doesn’t hit anything when dry fired, but on a rimfire it can cause the firing pin to strike hard metal instead of the soft brass of the primer. This could cause the firing pin to break. Well, my couple of unintentional drops of the firing pin on an empty chamber due to not counting my rounds didn’t cause any problems yet.

If I could change anything about the rifle it would be the design of the bolt handle. Until the barrel is attached, the bolt handle could possibly fall out. It’s easy to prevent by keeping the receiver right side up while attaching the barrel, and even if the bolt would be lost, the action could be cycled with an improvised implement. With the width of the buttstock, I do not know if a fixed bolt handle would be able to fit in the small space and still be usable though.

I am confident that if I was stuck out in the middle of nowhere with just this little Henry Survival Rifle to harvest some meat and even defend myself, that I could do what I needed to do. Of course I would prefer a larger caliber centerfire rifle for such an occasion as any sort of natural or man-made disaster may bring, but this little rifle is the one that is most likely to make it into Bug Out Bags as well as being packed out for day hikes.

I was wondering why the scope rib was included as part of the design of a rifle that comes apart to be stowed in a compact self-contained package. I think I know now. This little gun will probably spend more time assembled than disassembled so having that rib for an inexpensive red dot sight or scope is perfectly logical. As a matter of fact I plan on getting a Tasco Red Dot for it. I’ll let you know how that works out. Now all I need is a nice ammo box to keep 500 rounds of .22 Long Rifle dry and ready.

If you get to shoot one, they are just plain fun. If you buy one, you will probably want two—one to pack in the Bug Out Bag, and one to shoot every chance you get. Check out the remake of the AR-7 as well as Henry Repeating Arms other fine rifles at www.henryrepeating.com.

Comments? I’d love to hear from you!
E-mail me at: cody@uscca.us
Follow Me on Twitter

Quote of the Week

“Please eat more beef!”

-Mr. Turkey

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!

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

My First Question - A Big One?

I am a new member here, so first - hello to all!

Both here and in general I hear from people that are happy that Obama is our new president, yet it doesn’t really seem that they agree with his stated positions or voting record. These people say they hope things will ‘get better now’ that he is president or something similar, but never really elaborate. I am trying (struggling) to understand.

Keeping it related to this forum - in another thread some members expressed being happy that Obama is president. Obviously all that are on this forum cherish their 2nd amendment rights and from his statements, recent appointments, and voting record Obama does not. Why would that person be happy he was elected? Is there something about him, or something you think he will accomplish that is more important to you than your 2nd amendment rights and you would give them up for?

Please understand I have nothing against anyone that is happy Obama is president, I am just trying to understand why - particularly when these same people do not seem to agree with his positions. Is it not one of our duties to our country to make sure we elect those that will uphold the constitution and agree with our values?

I’m trying to understand why people elect those that do not agree with their own positions. I have been for some time as I am from the Northeast US where nearly everyone I know complains about the state of affairs, yet somehow they keep electing the same career politicians over and over even when there are great alternatives.

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Gotta Love My Grand Daughter!

We were on the back patio checking out my grandson’s (He’s 10) newest Airsoft gun when I allowed my granddaughter (nearly 6 years old) to fire the Airsoft pistol. I told her to always keep it pointed down range…’that way only’ and to keep her finger off the trigger until she’s ready to fire and she looks at me with her hands and feet together with a giddy grin on her face….”Oh boy! My first training!”

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USCCA Forums Has me Running Scared

The following post is an example of the learning curve that we go through as responsible citizens who take seriously the “self” in self-defense. First the awareness that we indeed can become a victim of violent crime, then the concern over our current ability to rightfully defend our own lives, and then the seeking of qualified training to become confident.

I hope I have gotten your attention and I certainly hope I get some response. I’m not sure of what I’m looking for in responses, but hopefully these responses will make me feel more at ease. Here is why I am running scared. As I have written in some of my other posts. I have had a CCW for over 25 Years and seldom carried and recently I have acquired an uneasy feeling about the condition our country as well as the world is in. Well now I carry all the time and even keep my loaded Glock 19 nearby, by the way it’s only my wife and I at home so I do not have to worry about children.

I guess it’s probably all the negative news being shown to us all the time and becoming very aware of my surroundings. I recently renewed my membership in the NRA and I saw an ad about USCCA. I immediately went to the site and joined it. I have been a member of USCCA for about a month. Well over the course of this past month I have dug around extensively on this site. The more I read the more nervous I become.

I’m nervous about using deadly force, not so much as having to take a Human Life but more so about the legal end of it. It has bothered me so much that I just joined an Armed Security Coarse that is approximately 50Hrs. I have also signed up for a Personal Protection Coarse that I will take in February.

These Courses teach a lot about the Law and the consequences of using Deadly Force. I live in upstate New York and I have read Article 35 of the NYS Penal Law. The Law here is if you don’t have a 100% ironclad reason why you shot someone you will be going to prison and you will be sued.

Do any of you members feel this way or had felt this way? If so what made you comfortable if you need to use deadly force? Am I a nut or just over cautious? I would hate to go to prison because some prosecutor got me found guilty because of a mistake I may have made. What say you?

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

It seems that when anything is done for a mass public audience it gets dumbed down to the point of almost being ineffective. For those of you who lived through the era of the “Drop & Cover” safety films, this one might appear eerily familiar even though it is new.

Please don’t be a sheep. The tips in this video aren’t bad, but a real self-defense mindset does take quite a bit more. Have my fellow USCCA members taken some time to really get their friends and family up to speed about holiday safety? It’s not too late.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vbv6-2yJTc8

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!

November 21, 2009

East St. Louis, Illinois

From: KSDK

Prosecutor: Would-Be Robber Charged With Accomplice’s Death

St. Clair County State’s Attorney Robert Haida has charged a suspected robber for the murder of his fellow accomplice, who was shot and killed by a store clerk during an attempted robbery in East St. Louis.

Michael Hunter is charged with first-degree murder for Larando King’s death, even though Hunter did not fire a shot during the attempted robbery. Under Illinois law, a person can be charged with murder if anyone, including an accomplice, is killed in the commission of a felony.

King was killed Thursday morning while he, Hunter and other suspects attempted to break into the BFM Market in the 1000 block of Bond Avenue around 3 a.m. A clerk was in the business at the time and shot King in the chest as King pried open the front door.

Hunter took King to an East St. Louis hospital where he eventually died.

Haida said the clerk will not face charges since the shooting was in self-defense.

The case remains open since police may charge others involved in the attempted robbery. No word if Hunter will face any other charges in the case.

Closing Thoughts

I was carrying a Ruger P95 9mm CC. I did not like the idea of such a small caliber bullet, so I switched to a 45 colt. I think this should have the stopping power I am looking for. I know it is a single action revolver, but I am partial to revolvers anyway. What are your thoughts on this subject?

Time and time again, I’ve heard stories that confirm one thing: .380, 9mm, .40, or .45… there is no handgun that has any sort of “stopping power”. It’s all about shot placement.

Now, there are limits, and I do think it’s best to carry the most powerful gun that you can, but you really have to be prepared to do whatever it takes to stop a violent attacker, which seems to usually include landing several solid shots.

I remember one story in particular, where a man with a 1911 shot at a charging attacker three or four times, with one shot hitting the attacker in the chest and demolishing the lower half of the man’s heart.

Even with what would seem like a ‘perfect’ hit, the attacker jumped on the victim and dealt some serious damage with his fists and teeth for a full 45 seconds before dying.

However, I’ve also heard a story of a shop owner firing ONE round of .38 special at an attacker, having it hit him in the chest, and the attacker dropped on the spot- I don’t know where exactly he hit him, but I think a lot of it has to do with the will of your attacker.

It’s certain that we can’t count on getting lucky, but I would suggest putting my eggs in the “quick follow-up shot” basket instead of the “huge caliber single-action” basket. For some, this could mean a ‘Colt’ 1911 style .45 ACP, or for some it may mean a Ruger P95 9mm.

Just practice quick shots, and be prepared to shoot to LIVE, and to shoot to stop the threat.
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!

I’d like to pause for a moment, to mourn the 12 people who were killed in Texas at Fort Hood yesterday, and for the 30+ people who were wounded. We will know all the details of what caused this and why soon enough, but one thing is already clear: An active shooter can strike anywhere, be it a college campus, a cafe, or a military base.

Be extra vigilant, my friends.

The Good Fight

“…it is hard to be treated in such a condescending manner because you actually took the time to study the issue and realize having a gun is the best way to keep your family safe….”

by Gerard Valentino

Every vocal pro-gun advocate is familiar with the condescending look of so-called friends or family members who are sure we’re nothing but bloodthirsty members of the NRA cult. We’ve all been there when someone belittles our judgment by saying, “I hope you have those guns locked up so your kids won’t get them,” or asking, “Aren’t you afraid you will shoot a family member by accident?” You might even get to hear my favorite silly anti-gun statement, “You know, someone who keeps a gun in the house is 75% more likely to kill a friend of family member than an intruder.”

Personally, I have a family member who is a self-described intellectual and, based on the desire to feed his feelings of superiority, he looks down his nose at anyone who carries a gun for self-defense.

A common answer when asked, “Why do you keep a gun in the house with those kids?” is to simply say, “I have it because I love my children and value their lives.” Usually, that is followed by a nod as if the person asking the question understood my answer, and then a puzzled furrowing of their eyebrows. No reason to go any further at that point, since usually the antagonist walks away wondering if you’ve lost your mind. Jim Irvine, Buckeye Firearms Association’s Chairman, delivers the line better than anyone I’ve met, with equal parts sarcasm and scorn. His delivery is a joy to behold.

But the unfortunate reaction to the social crusaders who want to tell us how to keep our family safe is to react with anger. Nobody wins if that happens since the person spewing the misguided anti-gun propaganda is probably parroting the rhetoric heard on the latest episode of Ellen or Oprah. It only shows a lack of willingness to investigate an issue properly as opposed to true anti-gun feeling. Still, it is hard to be treated in such a condescending manner because you actually took the time to study the issue and realize having a gun is the best way to keep your family safe.

As pro-gun advocates, we have an obligation to lay out our arguments in a calculating and logical manner. To do so isn’t easy. I fail to tolerate the simple minded nature of our anti-gun adversaries on a daily basis. Like most pro-gun advocates it is beyond my ability to comprehend that people still believe in the validity of gun-control after the mounds of evidence that has disproved it over the last thirty years. Even worse is trying to educate the establishment media on how much they don’t understand about guns. Anger is never the answer, however, since it only reinforces the idea that people who own guns can’t be trusted–an ironic twist since it is backward anti-gun ravings that should incur the scorn of every day Americans.

In contrast to my so-called intellectual family member is a sister with an autistic son. There is true concern over keeping a gun in the house under those circumstances, and I have the utmost respect for their decision to not keep one. Although my nephew is a wonderful child, it is simply impossible to adequately teach him not to touch a gun. My sister’s situation teaches me that my choice to own a gun isn’t practical for everyone I come across in daily life. I actually have more respect for people who might want to keep a gun at home but have honest reasons that make it impossible compared to those who simply have their heads in the sand. The same people who think their house is utterly secure scoff at the thought that keeping a gun is akin to having a smoke detector or fire extinguisher.

Some of the people who obsess the most about picking the right car seat, the safest crib and go to great lengths to baby-proof their house don’t take simple precautions to keep their kids from becoming the victim of a gun accident. The benefits of the NRA’s Eddie Eagle program are lost on people who refuse to look at the gun issue logically and instead react out of emotion. A failure to teach your kids how to avoid becoming an accidental gun death is equivalent to not teaching them to be careful with strangers, look both ways before crossing the street, or wear a helmet while riding a bike.

Still, your well-intentioned friends at work don’t see it that way. To many of them, keeping a gun in the house is equal to child abuse because their favorite anti-gun celebrity said so. Their gullible nature has been crafted by years of anti-gun establishment media misinformation and they are also guilty of taking political advice from the likes of Rosie O’Donnell, Sean Penn or Ellen DeGeneres. Only when we succeed in changing the culture will we succeed in changing the minds of those so enamored with celebrity they would vote based on their favorite actor’s political endorsement or demonstrate in front of a Marine Corps recruiting station because their favorite celebrity said it was the right thing to do.

While we have logic, statistics, facts and even moral rightness on our side, one thing pro-gun advocates can’t account for is how hard people will resist changing long-held beliefs. That holds true whether those beliefs are based on emotion, faith, or in the case of gun control, poorly executed social policy. For millions of Americans who grew up in cities such as Chicago, Boston, New York or Washington D.C., the never-ending drumbeat of anti-gun propaganda wore down the citizen’s objectivity. The overwhelming evidence which proves that gun control led to the exact type of crime it was designed to stop leaves people even more confused. They have shut down on the issue and stick by their misguided values.

The simple fact is that the establishment media and media elites in our country are very good at their job. For years that included selling the value of gun-control with the all the gusto they could muster and an uncanny ability to drown out dissent. To overcome that bias will take time and dedication to the cause. It helps that we are right but that only goes so far. Unless all gun owners protect their right to bear arms with unwavering dedication they will one day be confiscated.

It’s our job to keep that from happening.
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Gerard Valentino is the Buckeye Firearms Association Central Ohio Coordinator, BuckeyeFirearms.org, teaches the Ohio concealed carry class through Center Mass Ltd. and writes for the ValentinoChronicle.com

USCCA Laugh of the Week

by Chaim’s Cartoons

Coming Up On Armed American Radio

The Official Voice of the USCCA

by Mark Walters

The happenings at AARadio just keep happening!  I received news from the syndicators at the network yesterday that we continue to add new affiliate stations across the country!  Missoula Montana is now joining the AARadio family LIVE this week!!  But wait, that’s not all. Meridian Idaho, YOU are joining the Armed American Radio family THIS week also. The excitement continues to build but WAIT, there’s more!

Armed American Radio is now going to 3, count em, 3 solid hours beginning November 21st!  Can ya believe it?  I can. Because of YOU we are outgrowing our britches and are currently the fastest growing radio program in America!

Coming up this week my guests include the ever popular Kathy Jackson who will be tipping her hat and telling you about weeks of intense product trials that are sure to make your carrying habits a little easier. Also joining me for the full second hour is Suzanna Hupp. Yep, that Suzanna Hupp who was inside the Luby’s Cafeteria in 1991 when whack job murderer George Hennard opened fire killing 23 innocent people including Suzanna’s parents in cold blood. Suzanna will be discussing her new book From Luby’s to the Legislature. You don’t want to miss AARadio this week!!!!

For more info on where to listen check out www.armedamericanradio.org!

Also a big thanks to those of you who are making our book,Lessons from Armed America a great success. Co written with Kathy Jackson, Lessons from Armed America is selling great and making some waves. Check it out for yourself at Amazon or Whitefeatherpress.com

See YOU on the radio!

Mark Walters

Review Of Wilderness Medical Systems Denali Kit

USCCA Gear Review

by Cody Alderson

Right off the bat, I need to tell everyone who is reading this review that first it is imperative that you get some emergency medical training, whether it is a basic first-aid course with CPR, or an advanced wilderness medicine course. Second, everyone needs to have more than one comprehensive medical kit packed and ready to be used at all times no matter where they may be.

You should have at least one comprehensive medical kit at home and one in the vehicle that is used most often. I also strongly advocate that some basic supplies be packed in a purse, backpack, briefcase, or whatever and be carried everywhere. And I’m not talking about packing a few Band-Aids and Neosporin (although they are handy to have). I’m talking about packing at least two methods to stop a serious bleed, a CPR face shield, and at least one pair of latex, vinyl, or nitrile exam gloves.

If everyone carried a couple of feminine sanitary napkins (the thicker overnight maxi pad size), a couple of tampons, a pack of 3M Vet Wrap, and an envelope of Celox along with a CPR face shield and a pair of exam gloves, more injured people could be saved. How could more injured people be saved with such simple items that can be packed in about as much space as an average man’s fist would take up?

Celox is a proven lifesaver and is also available in an applicator form to better get the chitosan into a penetrating wound. You need to research this stuff to know how it could be a very beneficial product to own.

Well, what kills a person the fastest for those who survive the initial trauma event in the first place is bleeding to death. Bleeding has to be controlled first and fast. In a survival situation, severe bleeding has to be controlled before consideration of the maintenance of the airway. A person can bleed to death faster than dying from lack of oxygen.

In CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) the ABC’s are taught. Airway, Breathing, and Circulation. Simply put, ya gotta have enough blood in the body to make any of the ABC’s worth working on as a First Responder. Without enough blood, an unobstructed airway with strong breaths going in and out of the lungs along with a heart that is pumping away will serve no purpose if the blood is squirting out of the body instead of circulating inside it.

That’s why for purposes of writing this article for the United States Concealed Carry Association’s Armed American Report, I want everyone to think about the seriousness of obtaining some medical training in order to facilitate a higher chance of surviving any natural or man-made disaster. And since we carry guns for defense, we should be well aware that if we ever need to defend ourselves that the likelihood of being shot or stabbed is still as real for us as it is for the unarmed. We just carry a means of stopping an attack, where the unarmed probably won’t be around long enough to be able to treat any injuries sustained in an attack.

As each of us obtains some emergency medical training we need to have available to us some tools to save a life. That’s where a comprehensive medical kit comes in. Not a ten dollar first-aid kit from a department store, but a kit packed with the right stuff to treat various ailments and injuries. The mindset behind the choice of many of the materials in a good kit is packing items that are compact in size to make them more easily portable with those items being products and methods to sustain life until better treatment can be obtained.

The first-aid kits found in pharmacies and department stores are what I call boo-boo kits. They are great for grabbing a Band-Aid and some Neosporin to treat minor wounds, but are woefully inadequate as far as materials needed to treat even a moderate bleed. I have a boo-boo kit I use for example purposes. It has a few tiny gauze pads which could be used to pack a serious laceration, but there aren’t enough of them. Next to my Denali kit from Wilderness Medical Systems, the boo-boo kit is practically worthless. The boo-boo kit only cost ten bucks, and a good medical kit costs significantly more. In this instance it is true that one gets what is paid for. So why am I reviewing a Wilderness Medical Kit?

I’m reviewing this kit from Wilderness Medical Systems because it is packed with items to treat injuries and ailments expected to occur in a wilderness setting. Most of us have a Bug Out Bag packed and ready to go during a time of any disaster where evacuation is right now with no time to waste. Most of us also know that in a Bug Out situation we need to be prepared to make it through everything from staying in a shelter to living outdoors until order can be restored. Many of the injuries and ailments that can occur in a wilderness setting are the same that can occur when we are in a disaster survival situation.

The kits from Wilderness Medical Systems are designed with outdoor enthusiasts in mind according to the following criteria:

1. The number of people the kit will support
2. The length of stay
3. Probability of rescue in 24-48 hours

This same criteria works for a medical kit we would pack for a Bug Out type of situation. It also works for a kit kept around the house waiting to be of assistance with solid medical materials to treat injuries and ailments.

The kits from Wilderness Medical Systems have all of the good points I look for. Items are packed according to what they are made to treat such as wounds or burns, and the items are separated and packed in water proof zippered bags. All of the items are then fitted into a soft-sided case that is a bright color. Plus, kits can be customized to suit specific needs. I had Celox added to my kit. Celox is the chitosan granules that have proven to be a battlefield lifesaver when it comes to controlling severe bleeding.

With Wilderness Medical Systems offering free customization services (you pay for the materials not the time to obtain and pack them) as well as membership in their service that reminds you about refill of products and new items that are available, they are my go to source for a great medical kit. In fact I am working with them to get a kit packed exactly to my specifications, and when it is available I will let everyone else know about it so they can check it out to see if it suits their needs.

No, I’m not getting paid for it. In fact anyone could design a custom kit and give it a name to identify it. If Tim made a kit that would suit his personal needs and called it the Tim Kit, then anyone who wanted a kit with those exact contents would just need to contact Wilderness Medical Systems and tell them that they would like to order the Tim Kit. That way when your friends see what your kit contains, and they want a kit exactly like it, then they need only ask. And they still can further customize that kit with specific items to suit their own needs.

That’s what I did with the Denali. For my kit I started with the Denali contents, and refined it by adding and taking away to suit my own needs for a comprehensive medical kit that is good at home, on the road, or in the woods. If I ever get to travel with my evangelist friend to places such as Bolivia or India, my kit will be going with me.

Let’s take a look at the contents of a standard Denali kit. The Denali is packed to support 1-6 people for a period of time of 7-14 days with the probability of rescue (or access to more advanced medical care) greater than 50% in 8-12 hours. Those criteria are extremely important to understand when choosing or packing a medical kit. That’s why training is imperative.

The Denali kit weighs in just under 3 pounds and has a current price of $266.00. Yes, it is way more than the ten buck boo-boo kit I got at Walmart, but it is also capable of treating more serious injuries where the boo-boo kit is not. We all know that healthcare isn’t cheap, nor is the products designed to treat injuries and ailments. It’s something the reader needs to decide. Is the new toy a priority over having the tools and materials available to save a life? That’s a question I cannot answer for anyone other than myself.

Denali™ Modules and Contents

BLISTERS & SPRAINS
BLIST-O-BAN (large) hi-tech, ultra-thin blister pads 8
ELASTIC BANDAGE 3″ 2
ELASTIC BANDAGE 6″ 1
MOLEFOAM 4″ X 3.5″ (pressure point padding) 2
MOLESKIN PLUS 4″ X 3.5″ (prevent & care for blisters) 2

BURN, RASH & STING, SUNSCREEN HYDROCORT CREAM 1% (unit dose) (allergic skin rashes) 4
INSECT STING RELIEF small (use also for rash, sunburn) 2
NEW SUPER MESH-KNIT TAPE, WATER-RESISTANT ADHESIVE, FLEXIBLE, DURABLE (use over blister/hot spot or to secure Spenco Second Skin..) 6
SPENCO SECOND SKIN (2″ X 3″) (sterile gel pad, burn dressing) 2
SUN SCREEN 1
TEGADERM (lightweight, transparent wound and blister dressing) 2
TICK (&SPLINTER /THORN) REMOVAL MODULE (incl. Uncle Bill’s tweezer, magnifying lens & tick removal instructions) 1

EYE, NOSE, THROAT EYE PADS 2
NASAL SPRAY 1 squeeze bottle (colds, stuffy nose, blocked sinuses) 1
STERILE EYEWASH 1
TONGUE DEPRESSORS (use as small splints, medication application, tinder, etc) 5

INSTRUMENTS
FORCEPS 4.5″ 1
GLOVES, LATEX 1 pr 1
SAFETY PINS 5
SCISSORS 5.5″ 1

MEDICATIONS
ACETAMINOPHEN 1 pkt
8 BISMUTH TABS 12 tabs (anti-diarrhea)
2 IBUPROFEN 1 pkt 8

POCKET CONTENTS
AIRWAY - ADULT MEDIUM 2
FLASHCARDS™ (waterproof, tearproof first aid manual for wilderness medical emergencies) 1
SAM SPLINT (flexible splinting) 1
WOUND BANDAGING
1″ X 3″ POLYMEM MEDICATED MEMBRANE DRESSING (7 day super band-aid with colloidal dressing 6
2″ X 4″ POLYMEM MEDICATED MEMBRANE DRESSING (7 day super band-aid with colloidal dressing) 3
BANDAGE 4X4 STERILE 6
BANDAGE, NON-ADHERENT 3″ X 4″ STERILE 4
BAND-AID 1″ 10
CONFORMING BANDAGE 3″ 2
STERI-STRIPS (3) (minor wound closure) 2
TAPE, ADHESIVE 1″ 1
TAPE, BLACK SUPER 2″ X 10′ (a waterproof, stickier, more durable version of duct tape) 1

WOUND CLEANING, TREATING, SURVIVAL
APPLICATORS STERILE 4
COTTON BALLS (10) 2
IODINE WIPES 6
POLYSPORIN OINTMENT (unit dose) (broad spectrum topical antibiotic) 6
SUPERGLUE™ (state of the art wound closure) 2
SURVIVAL BLANKET 1
VIONEX SURGICAL SOAP 10

If you happen to be really going into a remote location, an absolutely fantastic service available from Wilderness Medical Systems is the consultation service with an M.D. to obtain prescription meds appropriate to where one is going. Going on an African Hunt? Be prepared. No, the service is not available for those purchasing a kit for home use. For prescription medications to be packed in a home kit one must consult with their own doctor. But for those going away, the service is a must because it is not just any medical doctor, it is Doctor Arthur S. Dover who will know what you will be facing depending on where you are going in the world. He used to work for the Parasitic Disease Branch of the CDC so he has some experience your local doc just may not have.

Wilderness Medical Systems has a medical director that is an M.D. He is Doctor Gilbert A. Preston. This gives me confidence in my purchase of a medical kit from Wilderness Medical Systems. Another person at Wilderness Medical Systems gives me confidence in their services and products. That person is Donna Von Nieda. She’s the one who will source the materials for custom kits, and give the best price to the customer. She will also point out things one may forget no matter how well thought out the custom kit may be.

I wanted to have a couple of pairs of sterile gloves in my kit for use during wound closure during a protracted situation where more advanced medical care wasn’t not available. I forgot to tell her the sizes I wanted. Something simple and easy to overlook. The folks at Wilderness Medical Systems have the needed experience for packing out a comprehensive medical kit for any adventure or scenario. In fact, my Denali kit with a bit of customization is great, but inadequate for a protracted disaster scenario. For that type of situation one must, at a minimum, move up to the Humbug II kit. It would probably be better to move up to a kit specifically designed to parameters where the likelihood of rescue in hours is remote. For those situations check out the Absorkee or Kilimanjaro kits.

No matter which prepacked kit one may start with from the Grasshopper to the Kilimanjaro, one can rest assured that it is far from just being a boo-boo kit. Take a look at the contents of each kit. Have a conversation with a medical professional you trust. Let them suggest some additional materials, or even suggest the removal from the kit of any materials they know you would not need due to your unique circumstances. Email your list to Donna and get a price for your own custom kit.

This is not the last you will be hearing from me about the need for comprehensive medical kits in every home, vehicle, and at work. I plan on a nice little video segment to tell you more, plus the good folks at USCCA are taking serious the need to educate as many as possible about how necessary it is to get some training and have medical materials ready to be put into action at a moments notice.

Please take some time to really take a close look at what is offered at Wilderness Medical Systems at www.wildernessmedical.com. And when you contact Donna, make sure you tell her that you heard about them due to this review. No, I’m not getting anything for this. I just want her to know where her inquiries are coming from.

Comments? I’d love to hear from you!
E-mail me at: cody@uscca.us
Follow Me on Twitter

Quote of the Week

“To ban guns because criminals use them is to tell the innocent and law-abiding that their rights and liberties depend not on their own conduct, but on the conduct of the guilty and the lawless, and that the law will permit them to have only such rights and liberties as the lawless will allow… For society does not control crime, ever, by forcing the law-abiding to accommodate themselves to the expected behavior of criminals. Society controls crime by forcing the criminals to accommodate themselves to the expected behavior of the law-abiding.”

-Jeff Snyder, author American Handgunner, Second Amendment Foundation Officer

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!

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Do you have two-cents that you would like to add to any of the following forum posts? Well if you do, then you should join USCCA’s Members Only Forums. We learn from and share with one another. And since it is only for USCCA members, there aren’t any of the problems that can be found with some other Internet forums.

A Tent Question

Hey fellahs and gals, what, in your expert opinion, is the best bang for the buck for a decent 2-3-4 person tent. And a manufacture name as well.

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Missing Brass

I used to laugh to myself when I would see people at the range scouring the ground for those couple pieces of missing brass at the end of their shooting sessions. I could not understand the obsession. I figured they were already saving money by reloading their ammo; so why worry about a couple pieces of brass? Well, I recently started reloading and find myself searching and searching for every last piece of brass before I head home. When I first did this I laughed to myself all the way home because I was now “that guy”. I do not believe we search for that brass because we are cheap…we search for that brass because we know its there somewhere and it couldn’t have simply disappeared. Has anyone else out there realized they have this obsession?

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What Do You Need A Gun For?

(Quote was in last week’s Armed American Report newsletter)

“What do you need a gun for?”

“That quote is one that most of us have heard over and over from friends, family, and coworkers when it may have been discovered that either we carry a gun or that we promote the carrying of firearms.”

When you hear that quote, “DO YOU HAVE A POWERFUL AND APPROPRIATE ANSWER?” You should have a quick answer that will get them to think and not just dismiss your answer, and you should have the facts for an in-depth conversation that may then result

GREAT QUOTE … from USCCA.
I would appreciate some well thought out answers.
What would you say?

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Keep a File on Self Defense Training

I have come to realize that it very well could be important to keep a personal file of any self defense training you have gone through. Could be formal or something as simple as reading publications on your own. Even this forum is good training. Being a member of the USCCA is hands on ongoing training. Did you or have you ever thought of this forum as being a place of further preparation and training?

Here in TN., we must go through 8 hours of training, from a qualified instructor, just to get our HCP. A record of any additional training could be helpful should you be involved in any self defense situation in the future.

I have studied several books and many articles trying to educate myself on how to avoid such confrontations. I also belong to the Armed Citizens Legal Defense network which provides 3 very informative DVD to help educate you further. I receive monthly periodicals to further educate myself. The USCCA magazine being one of them.

It occurred to me I need to make a list of these attempts so I can have a readily available record of proof that I have been attempting to train and improve myself in this area. I am also going to keep a log of my firing time practice from now on.

Education is of paramount importance in this area. If and when you are involved in a situation, it most likely will not be the time to be digging up pertinent information to present and bolster your defense, should you need it.

Just think about this……What are your thoughts?

Video of the Week

Ron Paul vs. Michael Moore on Larry King CNN 10/29/2009

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!

October 22, 2009

San Marcos, Texas

From: The Statesman

Intruder shot in San Marcos

A man San Marcos police said was shot after breaking into a home on Oscar Smith Drive armed with a BB gun, is in stable condition today at University Medical Center Brackenridge, police Commander Penny Dunn said.

Police released no names involved in the shooting as they continued their investigation, Dunn said. No charges have been filed in the case, she said.

Officers were first called at 9:50 p.m. Wednesday from someone reporting a break-in in progress at the back door of a home in the 700 block of Oscar Smith Drive, Dunn said.

One of three people in the home at the time fired several shots at a man Dunn said was armed with a BB handgun. The intruder then fled on foot wounded, she said.

Dunn said police were alerted that a man with several gunshot wounds came to Central Texas Medical Center in San Marcos after 10 p.m. Doctors there gave him primary treatment and the suspect was transferred to Brackenridge, she said.

Closing Thoughts

Tim How do I get my wife to accept the fact that I carry? She makes me feel like I’m a criminal when she finds out I’m armed then refuses to come with me in public. I secretly arm myself before we go out when she is with me and try to avoid her body coming in contact with my weapon (Glock 26, 9 mm). Appreciate any advise on this. Richard
Richard, that is a very difficult situation. My heart is with you, because YOU know that your wife is a big part of the reason you are going armed. You understand that it’s your duty to protect her, and you’ve decided (correctly) that armed self defense is the best way to do so.

Some people’s minds change easier than others, and so it could be years before she warms up to the idea. Sadly- she may never become truly comfortable with it, but if concealed carry is a life decision that you eel strongly about, then your wife must accept it.

The editor or our very own Concealed Carry Magazine, Kathy Jackson, has a private website called ‘CorneredCat.com’. It’s a brilliant site, and within it there is a page called “Recurring Questions” which I think you are going to find helpful.

Have a look here: http://www.corneredcat.com/Men/recurring.aspx

If all else fails, jump on the USCCA member’s forum, and pose the question to the ladies and gentlemen there. Someone will have some advice for you. It’s member-ony access, so if you’re not a member, go here to become one. You should be.

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!